FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#5): No. 1 McMaster, all-star QB Quinlan keep rolling

The Marauders (4-0) received 29 first-place votes and 299 points from the 30-member FRC panel, with the remaining first-place nod going to the Calgary Dinos (4-0), who earned 268 points to remain comfortably in second place for the third consecutive week.

The No. 3 Montreal Carabins (4-0), No. 4 Laval Rouge et Or (4-0), No. 5 Queen’s Gaels (3-1) and No. 6 Western Mustangs (3-1) also stay put in the new media poll. Montreal and Laval both tallied 223 points and the same number of second-place votes, but the Carabins edged their archrivals for third spot thanks to a greater number of third-place votes.

Rounding out the new Top 10 are the No. 7 Regina Rams (3-1), up two positions from last Tuesday; the No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (3-1), who stay put this week; the No. 9 Sherbrooke Vert & Or (2-2), up one spot; and the No. 10 Saskatchewan Huskies (2-2), down three.

Top-ranked McMaster passed its stiffest test of the young season with flying colours last Saturday, opening up a 33-3 lead in the third quarter en route to a 33-20 home win against Queen’s. Things don’t get any easier for the CIS champs this weekend as they travel to London on Saturday to face No. 6 Western (1 p.m. ET, theScore).

All-Canadian quarterback Kyle Quinlan was once again stellar in the latest Marauders’ victory with 340 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air. At the midway mark of the OUA regular schedule, last year’s Vanier Cup MVP averages 307 passing yards a game, leads the country with a remarkable 74.1 completion percentage, and has passed for 10 touchdowns without throwing a single interception. He also averages 67 yards on the ground per contest with four rushing majors.

Both Calgary and Laval easily improved to 4-0 over the weekend, dominating UBC 62-7 and McGill 69-0, respectively. Montreal also remained perfect in conference play but had to battle inclement weather and a tough Sherbrooke defence to prevail 15-6 on home turf.

Other results by Top-10 teams this past week were Western 43, Windsor 26 (at Western); Regina 35, Saskatchewan 26 (at Saskatchewan); Manitoba 51, Alberta 38 (at Manitoba).

In addition to the McMaster-Western clash on Saturday afternoon, three more Top-10 battles highlight the Week 5 schedule, including No. 8 Manitoba at No. 7 Regina on Friday night, as well as No. 4 Laval at No. 9 Sherbrooke (1 p.m. ET, Radio-Canada) and No. 10 Saskatchewan at No. 2 Calgary (5 p.m. MT, Shaw TV) on Saturday.

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#5)

Pts (1st place) Last week
1. McMaster (4-0) 299 (29) 1
2. Calgary (4-0) 268 (1) 2
3. Montreal (4-0) 223 * 3
4. Laval (4-0) 223 4
5. Queen’s (3-1) 162 5
6. Western (3-1) 143 6
7. Regina (3-1) 129 9
8. Manitoba (3-1) 92 8
9. Sherbrooke (2-2) 32 10
10. Saskatchewan (2-2) 25 7

* Montreal and Laval received the same number of second-place votes but Montreal had more third-place votes.

Other teams receiving votes: Acadia (21), Guelph (17), Windsor (1).

No. 1 McMaster (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 33-20 home win over No. 5 Queen’s (3-1)… This week: Visit No. 6 Western (3-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 2 Calgary (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 62-7 win at UBC (0-4)… This week: Host No. 10 Saskatchewan (2-2) Saturday at 5 p.m. MT…

No. 3 Montreal (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 15-6 home win over then-No. 10 Sherbrooke (2-2)… This week: Visit Concordia (2-2) Friday at 7 p.m. ET…

No. 4 Laval (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 69-0 win at McGill (1-3)… This week: Visit No. 9 Sherbrooke (2-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 5 Queen’s (3-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 33-20 loss at No. 1 McMaster (4-0)… This week: Host Ottawa (0-4) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 6 Western (3-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 43-26 home win over Windsor (2-2)… This week: Host No. 1 McMaster (4-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 7 Regina (3-1): Top 10 ranking: Up two positions… Last week: 35-26 win at then-No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-2)… This week: Host No. 8 Manitoba (3-1) Friday at 7 p.m. CT…

No. 8 Manitoba (3-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 51-38 home win over Alberta (0-4)… This week: Visit No. 7 Regina (3-1) Friday at 7 p.m. CT…

No. 9 Sherbrooke (2-2): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 15-6 loss at No. 3 Montreal (4-0)… This week: Host No. 4 Laval (4-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 10 Saskatchewan (2-2): Top 10 ranking: Down three positions… Last week: 35-26 home loss to then-No. 9 Regina (3-1)… This week: Visit No. 2 Calgary (4-0) Saturday at 5 p.m. MT…

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE: WEEK 5 (all times local)

September 28
19:00 No. 3 Montreal (4-0) at Concordia (2-2), SSNCanada.ca (web)
19:00 No. 8 Manitoba (3-1) at No. 7 Regina (3-1), CanadaWest.tv (web)

September 29
13:00 McGill (1-3) at Bishop’s (1-3), SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 No. 4 Laval (4-0) at No. 9 Sherbrooke (2-2), Radio-Canada (TV & web)
13:00 Guelph (3-1) at Laurier (2-2), Rogers Waterloo (TV) & www.laurierathletics.com/live (web)
13:00 Toronto (1-3) at Waterloo (1-3), SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 No. 1 McMaster (4-0) at No. 6 Western (3-1), theScore (TV & web)
13:00 Ottawa (0-4) at No. 5 Queen’s (3-1), Cogeco (TV – tape delay)
13:00 UBC (0-4) at Alberta (0-4), CanadaWest.tv (web)
14:00 Saint Mary’s (0-3) at StFX (1-2), Eastlink (TV & web) & SSNCanada.ca (web)
14:00 Mount Allison (1-2) at Acadia (2-1)
17:00 No. 10 Saskatchewan (2-2) at No. 2 Calgary (4-0), Shaw (TV) & CanadaWest.tv (web)
19:00 York (1-3) at Windsor (2-2), Cogeco (TV)