FRC-CIS Football Top 10 (3): Laval remains No. 1, Western picks up first-place vote

***UPDATED: September 10/13 @ 5:45EST

NOTE:  Canadafootballchat.com contributes to the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) CIS Top 10 rankings

Ottawa – The Laval Rouge et Or top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the third time in as many polls this season, but for the first time this fall, the reigning Vanier Cup champions were no a unanimous choice for the number one position.

Laval (2-0) received 29 of 30 first-place votes and 299 points from the FRC panel this week, with the remaining first-place nod going to the impressive Western Mustangs (3-0), who move up one spot to No. 3 in the new poll.

Rounding out the third Top 10 of 2013 are the No. 2 Queen’s Gaels (3-0 / no change), No. 4 Montreal Carabins (2-0 / down one), No. 5 Calgary Dinos (2-0 / no change), No. 6 Saskatchewan Huskies (2-0 / up two), No. 7 Guelph Gryphons (2-0 / no change), No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (1-1 / up one), No. 9 McMaster Marauders (1-2 / down three), as well as the previously unranked Saint Mary’s Huskies (1-0).

Top-ranked Laval improved to 2-0 on the season last Saturday thanks to a 20-0 road win over Sherbrooke (0-2). The Rouge et Or now get ready for an interlock confrontation against the two-time defending AUS champ Acadia Axemen (0-1), a rival they dominated 42-7 in last year’s Uteck Bowl national semifinal.

Laval sports an all-time overall record of 16-3 versus opponents from the Atlantic conference, including 7-0 against Acadia.

Meanwhile in the OUA, Queen’s and Western both moved to a perfect 3-0 over the past weekend. The Gaels won a 49-34 shootout at home against Windsor (1-2), while the Mustangs crushed two-time conference champion McMaster 58-15, handing the Marauders their first home loss in 13 contests dating back to September of 2011.

Western has outscored its opponents 179 to 33 in its first three outings, with sophomore quarterback Will Finch completing a CIS-best 76 percent of his passes for 1,164 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception.

Other Week 3 results from Top-10 teams included Montreal 44, Bishop’s 18 (at Montreal); Calgary 34, Regina 27 (at Regina); Saskatchewan 36, Manitoba 34 (at Manitoba); Saint Mary’s 14, Acadia 11 (at Saint Mary’s).

Seventh-ranked Guelph enjoyed a bye week in the OUA.

Thirteen games are on the schedule this coming weekend, all on Saturday, including four RSEQ-AUS interlock duels. Highlighting Week 4 are Top-10 matchups between No. 10 Saint Mary’s and Montreal, as well as No. 6 Saskatchewan and No. 5 Calgary.

 

The Saint Mary’s at Montreal contest is televised on Radio-Canada at 1 p.m. ET, while the Sportsnet 360 game of the week is Guelph at Toronto (1-2), also at 1 p.m.

 

                  Pts (1^st place)  Last week

1. Laval (2-0)               299 (29)           1

2. Queen’s (3-0)          245                  2

3. Western (3-0)           241 (1)             4

4. Montreal (2-0)         224                  3

5. Calgary (2-0)           165                  5

6. Saskatchewan (2-0) 141                  8

7. Guelph (2-0)            131                  7

8. Manitoba (1-1)         76                    9

9. McMaster (1-2)        58                    6

10. Saint Mary’s (1-0) 26                    NR

 

Other teams receiving votes: Ottawa (11), Sherbrooke (11), Bishop’s (7), Regina (3), McGill (3), StFX (3), Acadia (1), Windsor (1).

 

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE (all times local)

 

NOTE 1: Click HERE for the complete 2013 regular season schedule.

 

September 14 

13:00   No. 7 Guelph (2-0) at Toronto (1-2) (Sportsnet 360)

13:00   Carleton (0-2) at Windsor (1-2) (TVCOGECO & live webcast)

13:00   York (1-1) at No. 9 McMaster (1-2) (Cable 14 TV & live webcast)

13:00   StFX (1-0) at Concordia (0-2) (live webcast)

13:00   Ottawa (2-1) at No. 3 Western (3-0) (Rogers TV London)

13:00   No. 10 Saint Mary’s (1-0) at No. 4 Montreal (2-0) (Radio-Canada TV & live webcast)

14:00   No. 1 Laval (2-0) at Acadia (0-1) (live webcast English & live webcast French)

14:00   McGill (1-1) at Mount Allison (0-1) (Eastlink TV & live webcast)

14:00   No. 8 Manitoba (1-1) at UBC (1-1) (live webcast)

17:00   No. 6 Saskatchewan (2-0) at No. 5 Calgary (2-0) (live webcast)

17:00   Regina (0-2) at Alberta (0-2) (SHAW TV & live webcast)

19:00   Laurier (0-3) at Waterloo (1-2) (live webcast)

19:00   Bishop’s (1-1) at Sherbrooke (0-2)

 Photo credit:  Yan Doublet