FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#4): Laval still No. 1, many changes to national poll

Photo credit Yan Dublet, Laval

OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the fourth time in as many polls this season.

Laval, now the only undefeated team in the Quebec conference following a come-from-behind 40-27 win over the No. 5-ranked Sherbrooke Vert & Or, received 27 of 29 first-place nods and 288 points from FRC voters to remain in front of the Western Ontario Mustangs (2 first-place votes & 260 points)) and the Calgary Dinos (230 points), who hold on to the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the rankings, respectively.

There is a lot of movement behind the Big Three in the new poll as five teams ranked last week suffered their first loss of the young season over the weekend including the Saskatchewan Huskies, Sherbrooke, the Saint Mary’s Huskies, Ottawa and Windsor.

Rounding out the latest Top 10 are the No. 4 Montreal Carabins (2-1), Sherbrooke (2-1), the No. 6 McMaster Marauders (2-1), No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1), No. 8 Saint Mary’s (1-1), the No. 9 UBC Thunderbirds (2-1) and the No. 10 Manitoba Bisons (2-1).

Laval occupies the No. 1 position for the 60th time in 64 national polls dating back to the start of the 2005 schedule.

The Rouge et Or trailed 21-14 early in the third quarter at Sherbrooke but outscored their opponents 26-6 the rest of the way to capture their 16th consecutive overall win dating back to the 2009 Mitchell Bowl, three shy of their own CIS record set over the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

The eight-time defending Quebec champions will try to add to another CIS mark on Sunday when they host McGill (0-3). Laval has won its last 45 home games overall since a 14-13 conference loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004.

Western (3-0), the reigning OUA champion, also overcame a slow start to down Ottawa (2-1) 41-13 in a rematch of last year’s Yates Cup. The Mustangs dominated the second half 35-10 thanks in large part to super freshman Tyler Varga, who scored three rushing touchdowns to up his CIS-leading total to nine in only three outings.

Calgary (3-0), the three-time defending Canada West champion, scored early and often at Regina en route to a 51-1 domination of the Rams (0-3). The Dinos host Saskatchewan on Friday night in the first of two regular season match-ups between the perennial powerhouses.

Montreal edged Saint Mary’s 11-10 in an interlock defensive battle in La Belle Province. The Carabins move up two spots in the poll, while the Huskies stay put.

McMaster did just enough at Windsor without starting quarterback Kyle Quinlan to beat the then-No. 10 Lancers 21-19. The Marauders gain one Top 10 position thanks to the win.

Saskatchewan was upset 26-16 by Manitoba at Winnipeg. The loss cost the Huskies three positions in the poll, while the Bisons are ranked nationally for the first time since the second week of 2008 (Sept. 9), the year after they claimed their third Vanier Cup.

UBC outscored winless Alberta (0-3) 40-30 at home to return to the Top 10 after a one-week absence.

No. 1 Laval (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 40-27 win at No. 5 Sherbrooke (2-1)… This week: Host McGill (0-3) Sunday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Laval is looking to add to its own CIS record with a 46th consecutive overall win at home…

No. 2 Western (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 41-13 home win over then-No. 9 Ottawa (2-1)… This week: Visit Laurier (1-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Western has won four straight overall against Laurier since 2008 including a lopsided 46-1 victory in the lone duel in 2010…

No. 3 Calgary (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 51-1 win at Regina (0-3)… This week: Host No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. MT… Heads-up: Calgary has lost four straight to Saskatchewan in the regular season including a 34-13 home defeat and a 36-17 setback in Saskatoon in 2010…

No. 4 Montreal (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up two positions… Last week: 11-10 home win over No. 8 Saint Mary’s (1-1)… This week: Visit Bishop’s (1-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Montreal split its season series with Bishop’s a year ago losing 39-21 on the road and winning 37-7 at home…

No. 5 Sherbrooke (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 40-27 home loss to No. 1 Laval (3-0)… This week: Visit Concordia (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. ET… Heads-up: The only meeting between Sherbrooke and Concordia a year ago was a spectacular one, the Vert & Or prevailing 39-36 in overtime despite 516 passing yards by Stingers’ quarterback Terrance Morsink, the third highest single-game total in Quebec conference history…

No. 6 McMaster (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 21-19 win at then-No. 10 Windsor (2-1)… This week: Visit Guelph (1-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: McMaster has won its last five regular season games against Guelph but the last four have been decided by eight points or less including in 2010 (43-35), 2009 (32-29), 2008 (32-31) and 2007 (37-36)…

No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Down three positions… Last week: 26-16 loss at then-unranked Manitoba (2-1)… This week: Visit No. 3 Calgary (3-0) Friday at 7 p.m. MT… Heads-up: Saskatchewan’s last conference loss to Calgary was a 20-19 setback in Saskatoon on Oct. 13, 2007…

No. 8 Saint Mary’s (1-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 11-10 loss at then-No. 6 Montreal (2-1)… This week: Visit Mount Allison (0-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. AT… Heads-up: In their last trip to Sackville, N.B., a year ago (Sept. 25), the Huskies were upset 23-21, which marked their first loss to the Mounties since Oct. 24, 1998 (36-3)…

No. 9 UBC (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 40-30 home win over Alberta (0-3)… This week: Host No. 10 Manitoba (2-1) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT… Heads-up: UBC has lost its last three against Manitoba including its last two in Vancouver, 35-25 last season and 25-17 in 2009…

No. 10 Manitoba (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 26-16 home win over then-No. 4 Saskatchewan (2-1)… This week: Visit No. 9 UBC (2-1) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT… Heads-up: The Bisons are looking for their first three-game winning streak since they went undefeated in 2007 and won their opener in 2008…

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#4)

Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Laval (3-0) 288 (27) 1
2. Western (3-0) 260 (2) 2
3. Calgary (3-0) 230 3
4. Montreal (2-1) 180 6
5. Sherbrooke (2-1) 172 5
6. McMaster (2-1) 126 7
7. Saskatchewan (2-1) 119 4
8. Saint Mary’s (1-1) 60 8
9. UBC (2-1) 52 NR
10. Manitoba (2-1) 36 NR

Other teams receiving votes: Windsor (23), Acadia (21), Ottawa (18), Concordia (16), Toronto (2), Queen’s (1).

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

September 23
19:00 ET Sherbrooke (2-1) at Concordia (2-1), SSN webcast
19:00 MT Saskatchewan (2-1) at Calgary (3-0), CanadaWest.tv webcast

September 24
13:00 AT Saint Mary’s (1-1) at Mount Allison (0-2) (in Moncton, N.B.)
13:00 ET Windsor (2-1) at Waterloo (0-3), SSN webcast
13:00 ET Queen’s (1-2) at York (1-2), SSN webcast
13:00 ET McMaster (2-1) at Guelph (1-2), The Score
13:00 ET No. 2 Western (3-0) at Laurier (1-2), WLU webcast
13:00 ET Toronto (2-1) at Ottawa (2-1), SSN webcast
13:00 ET Montreal (2-1) at Bishop’s (1-2), Radio-Canada
13:00 MT Regina (0-3) at Alberta (0-3), CanadaWest.tv webcast
14:00 PT Manitoba (2-1) at UBC (2-1), CanadaWest.tv webcast
19:00 AT StFX (0-2) at Acadia (2-0), EastLink

September 25
13:00 ET McGill (0-3) at No. 1 Laval (3-0)

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.

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