FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#2) McMaster remains No. 1 following convincing opener

The reigning Vanier Cup champions received all 30 first-place nods and 300 points from FRC voters to remain in front of the No. 2 Laval Rouge et Or (256 points), No. 3 Calgary Dinos (249), No. 4 Montreal Carabins (220), No. 5 Western Mustangs (161) and No. 6 Queen’s Gaels (156) in the national rankings.

The No. 8 Saskatchewan Huskies (93) and No. 9 Acadia Axemen (51) also stay put in the new poll. The only changes from last Tuesday see the Windsor Lancers (95) move up three positions to No. 7, and the previously unranked Manitoba Bisons (44) crack the leaders list at No. 10.

A week ago, McMaster had earned 25 first-place votes, with the others going to Laval (4) and Calgary (1).

The Marauders (1-0) opened the defence of their first-ever national title with a convincing 50-9 home win over Guelph on Monday. Senior quarterback Kyle Quinlan, last year’s Vanier Cup MVP, was solid in his official 2012 debut completing 17 of 26 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. McMaster hits the road on Saturday to face Waterloo (0-1).

Second-ranked Laval (1-0) kicked off conference play on Sunday with a 33-15 victory over visiting McGill (0-1) which extended its CIS-record home winning streak to 52 consecutive games overall, a sequence that dates back to 2004. The 2011 CIS finalists visit Bishop’s (0-1) on Saturday.

Other results by Top-10 teams on opening weekend were Calgary 37, Regina 21 (at Calgary); Montreal 38, Sherbrooke 14 (at Sherbrooke); Western 54, Waterloo 10 (at Waterloo); Queen’s 48, York 13 (at Queen’s); Windsor 63, Ottawa 18 (at Windsor); Saskatchewan 32, Alberta 0 (at Saskatchewan); Manitoba 31, UBC 24 (at UBC). Acadia lost 24-21 to StFX in pre-season action.

NOTES: In Windsor’s impressive win over Ottawa, pivot Austin Kennedy was simply stellar, breaking his own single-game team record with 482 passing yards and tying the Lancers’ mark of six touchdown tosses… Kennedy’s favourite target, 2011 all-Canadian Jordan Brescacin, caught 13 balls for 214 yards and three scores… No. 8 Saskatchewan visits No. 10 Manitoba on Saturday in the only Top 10 match-up of Week 2.

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#2)

Pts (1^st place)  Last week

1. McMaster (1-0)    300 (30)    1
2. Laval (1-0)   256   2
3. Calgary (1-0)   249 3
4. Montreal (1-0) 220   4
5. Western (1-0)    161   5
6. Queen’s (1-0) 156   6
7. Windsor (1-0) 95 10
8. Saskatchewan (1-0) 93 8
9. Acadia (0-0) 51 9
10. Manitoba (1-0)    44 NR

Other teams receiving votes: UBC (12), Regina (8), Concordia (5), Guelph (2), Sherbrooke (1), Toronto (1).

No. 1 McMaster (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 50-9 home win over Guelph (0-1)… This week: Visit Waterloo (0-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 2 Laval (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 33-15 home win over McGill (0-1)… This week: Visit Bishop’s (0-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 3 Calgary (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 37-21 home win over Regina (0-1)… This week: Host Alberta (0-1) Friday at 5:30 p.m. MT…

No. 4 Montreal (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 38-14 win at Sherbrooke (0-1)… This week: Host Concordia (1-0) Friday at 7 p.m. ET…

No. 5 Western (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 54-10 win at Waterloo (0-1)… This week: Host Toronto (1-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 6 Queen’s (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 48-13 home win over York (0-1)… This week: Visit Laurier (0-1) Saturday at 8 p.m. ET…

No. 7 Windsor (1-0): Top 10 ranking: Up three positions… Last week: 63-18 home win over Ottawa (0-1)… This week: Host Guelph (0-1) Saturday at 7 p.m. ET…

No. 8 Saskatchewan (1-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 32-0 home win over Alberta (0-1)… This week: Visit No. 10 Manitoba (1-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. CT…

No. 9 Acadia (0-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week (PRE-SEASON): 24-21 home loss to StFX… This week: Host Saint Mary’s (0-0) Saturday at 2 p.m. AT…

No. 10 Manitoba (1-0): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 31-24 win at then-No. 7 UBC (0-1)… This week: Host No. 8 Saskatchewan (1-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. CT…

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE: WEEK 2 (all times local)

Click HERE for the complete 2012 CIS football regular season schedule, including all broadcast info (television, webcast, radio).

September 7
17:30   Alberta (0-1) at No. 3 Calgary (1-0), CanadaWest.tv (webcast)
19:00   StFX (0-0) at Mount Allison (0-0)
19:00   Sherbrooke (0-1) at McGill (0-1), SSNCanada.ca (webcast)
19:00   Concordia (1-0) at No. 4 Montreal (1-0)
19:00   UBC (0-1) at Regina (0-1), Shaw TV (TV) / CanadaWest.tv (webcast)

September 8
13:00   No. 1 McMaster (1-0) at Waterloo (0-1)
13:00   Toronto (1-0) at No. 5 Western (1-0)
13:00   No. 2 Laval (1-0) at Bishop’s (0-1), Radio-Canada (TV) / Radio-Canada & SSNCanada.ca (webcast)
13:00   Ottawa (0-1) at York (0-1), SSNCanada.ca (webcast)
13:00   No. 8 Saskatchewan (1-0) at No. 10 Manitoba (1-0)
14:00   Saint Mary’s (0-0) at No. 9 Acadia (0-0), Eastlink TV (TV & webcast)
19:00   Guelph (0-1) at No. 7 Windsor (1-0)
20:00   No. 6 Queen’s (1-0) at Laurier (0-1), theScore (TV & webcast)

About Football Reporters of Canada

Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.