OTTAWA (CIS) – The Laval Rouge et Or top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the second straight week, this time in unanimous fashion after receiving all 40 first-place votes in the national poll.

The seven-time defending Quebec champions, who occupy the No. 1 spot for the 49th time in 53 polls dating back to the start of the 2005 campaign, moved to 2-0 in conference play over the weekend with a convincing 36-6 road win over Sherbrooke (0-2).

Laval travels to Halifax on Saturday (SRC & EastLink, 2 p.m. Atlantic Time / 1 p.m. Eastern) for an interlock meeting with the Saint Mary’s Huskies (0-1). The reigning Atlantic champions were ranked No. 4 a week ago but are booted out of the new Top 10 following a shocking 17-7 loss to Acadia in their AUS opener.

There are many changes to the third FRC poll of the fall following a week that saw no less than five ranked teams suffer defeats (Saskatchewan, Saint Mary’s, McMaster, Regina, Concordia).

The new rankings are completed by the No. 2 Ottawa Gee-Gees (3-0), No. 3 Montreal Carabins (2-0), No. 4 Calgary Dinos (1-1), No. 5 Western Ontario Mustangs (2-1), No. 6 Saskatchewan Huskies (1-1), No. 7 Alberta Golden Bears (2-0), No. 8 McMaster Marauders (2-1), No. 9 Regina Rams (1-1) and No. 10 Acadia Axemen (1-0).

It marks the first time four Canada West schools are ranked simultaneously since Oct. 16, 2006 (That week: No. 2 Manitoba, No. 6 Saskatchewan, No. 8 Alberta, No. 9 UBC).

The only OUA team sporting a 3-0 record, Ottawa moves up one spot this week following a lopsided 45-3 win over York. It marks the Gee-Gees’ highest ranking since 2006 when they were voted No. 2 in each of the final six polls of the season.

After opening the Canada West schedule with an impressive 34-13 victory at Calgary, Saskatchewan drops four positions after being upset 31-12 on home turf by UBC.

Alberta and Acadia both crack the Top 10 for the first time this fall. The Bears – the lone remaining undefeated team in Canada West – were last ranked nationally in 2006, when they reached the No. 10 spot in the next to last poll of the campaign (Oct. 24). The Axemen were also last ranked late in 2006, in the final Top 10 (Oct. 31), when they replaced Alberta at No. 10.

A trio of Top-10 matchups highlight the upcoming weekend of CIS football – all on Saturday: No. 8 McMaster at No. 2 Ottawa; No. 4 Calgary at No. 7 Alberta; No. 6 Saskatchewan at No. 9 Regina.

No. 1 Laval (2-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 36-6 win at Sherbrooke (0-2)… This week: Visit Saint Mary’s (0-1) on Saturday (EastLink & SRC, 2 p.m. Atlantic Time)… Heads-up: Laval leads all-time series 6-3 including wins in the 1999 (14-10) and 2003 (14-7) Vanier Cup finals.

No. 2 Ottawa (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Up one position from No. 3… Last week: 45-3 win at York (0-2)… This week: Host No. 8 McMaster (2-1) on Saturday (Rogers TV Cable 22 in Ottawa / Cable 14 in Hamilton, 1 p.m.)… Heads-up: Rematch of 2009 OUA quarterfinals that saw fifth-seeded McMaster upset fourth-seeded Ottawa 27-15 in the nation’s capital.

No. 3 Montreal (2-0): Top 10 ranking: Up four positions from No. 7… Last week: 29-8 win at Concordia (1-1)… This week: Visit StFX (0-1) on Saturday… Heads-up: Since a 21-4 loss to Mount Allison in its inaugural season in 2002, Montreal is 10-0 versus AUS rivals including wins over StFX in 2003 (14-9), 2004 (56-15) and 2008 (33-9).

No. 4 Calgary (1-1): Top 10 ranking: Up one position from No. 5… Last week: 24-21 home win over No. 9 Regina (1-1)… This week: Visit No. 7 Alberta (2-0) on Saturday… Heads-up: Calgary swept all three head-to-head meetings a year ago defeating their provincial rivals 34-31 and 40-5 in conference play and 45-13 in a Canada West semi-final.

No. 5 Western (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up three positions from No. 8… Last week: 50-19 home win over No. 8 McMaster (2-1)… This week: Visit Windsor (1-2) on Saturday (TVCogeco Local 11 in Windsor / Rogers TV Cable 13 in London, 7 p.m.)… Heads-up: Western is riding a six-game winning streak against Windsor – including a 60-7 conference win in 2009 – since a 21-18 loss to the Lancers in the quarterfinal round of the 2003 OUA playoffs.

No. 6 Saskatchewan (1-1): Top 10 ranking: Down four positions from No. 2… Last week: 31-12 home loss to UBC (1-1)… This week: Visit No. 9 Regina (1-1) on Saturday… Heads-up: Like Calgary against Alberta, Saskatchewan tallied three wins over provincial rival Regina a year ago prevailing 10-9 and 42-17 in conference play and 53-23 in a Canada West semi-final.

No. 7 Alberta (2-0): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 31-6 win at Manitoba (0-2)… This week: Host No. 4 Calgary (1-1) on Saturday… Heads-up: Since 1997, Alberta has started 3-0 on only two occasions, opening conference play with four wins in both 2004 and 2005.

No. 8 McMaster (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Down two positions from No. 6… Last week: 50-19 loss at No. 6 Western (2-1)… This week: Visit No. 2 Ottawa (3-0) on Saturday (Rogers TV Cable 22 in Ottawa / Cable 14 in Hamilton, 1 p.m.)… Heads-up: McMaster is 8-2 overall versus Ottawa since the Gee-Gees returned to the Ontario conference in 2001.

No. 9 Regina (1-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 24-21 loss at No. 4 Calgary (1-1)… This week: Host No. 6 Saskatchewan (1-1) on Saturday… Heads-up: Regina is 0-4 overall against provincial rival Saskatchewan since a 19-13 win in a 2007 Canada West semi-final.

No. 10 Acadia (1-0): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: Opened season with 17-7 home win over Saint Mary’s (0-1)… This week: Visit Bishop’s (1-1) on Saturday… Heads-Up: Acadia has lost five straight against Quebec opponents and is 4-13 overall since the start of interlock play in 2002 including a 2-1 mark versus Bishop’s (Note: record vs. Quebec teams includes a Uteck Bowl loss to Laval).

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#3)

Pts (1st place) – Last week

1. Laval (2-0) 500 (40) 1
2. Ottawa (3-0) 435 3
3. Montreal (2-0) 357 7
4. Calgary (1-1) 328 5
5. Western (2-1) 313 8
6. Saskatchewan (1-1) 253 2
7. Alberta (2-0) 168 NR
8. McMaster (2-1) 86 6
9. Regina (1-1) 68 9
10. Acadia (1-0) 57 NR

Other teams receiving votes: UBC (33), Saint Mary’s (31), Queen’s (22), Guelph (17), Wilfrid Laurier (16), Concordia (14), Sherbrooke (10), Bishop’s (4).
CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Note: Complete webcast and radio schedules at [URL]http://english.cis-sic.ca/sports/fball/2010-11/schedule

September 17
19:00 Concordia (1-1) at McGill (0-2)
19:00 Mount Allison (1-0) at Sherbrooke (0-2)

September 18
13:00 No. 10 Acadia (1-0) at Bishop’s (1-1)
13:00 No. 8 McMaster (2-1) at No. 2 Ottawa (3-0) (Ottawa: Rogers TV Cable 22 / Hamilton: Cable 14)
13:00 York (0-2) at Toronto (0-3)
13:00 Queen’s (1-1) at Guelph (2-0) (The Score)
13:00 No. 4 Calgary (1-1) at No. 7 Alberta (2-0)
13:00 Manitoba (0-2) at UBC (1-1)
14:00 No. 3 Montreal (2-0) at StFX (0-1)
14:00 No. 1 Laval (2-0) at Saint Mary’s (0-1) (EastLink & SRC)
19:00 No. 5 Western (2-1) at Windsor (1-2) (Windsor: TVCogeco Local 11 / London: Rogers TV Cable 13)
19:00 No. 6 Saskatchewan (1-1) at No. 9 Regina (1-1)

About Football Reporters of Canada – University Division

The Football Reporters of Canada – University Division represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958 the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) have 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.

The 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 the FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.