FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#9): Undefeated Dinos climb up to No. 1

Photo credit David Moll, Calgary

OTTAWA (CIS) – The University of Calgary Dinos are the only remaining undefeated team in CIS football, and they rightfully find themselves atop the Football Reporters of Canada rankings with one week to go in the regular season.

After spending the last two weeks in second place behind the Western Ontario Mustangs, the Dinos move up to No. 1 thanks to 23 first-place votes and 282 points from the 29-member media panel. Calgary had last topped the national poll in the opening week of the 2010 campaign.

The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or also move up one position, to No. 2, after earning four first-place nods and 262 points. The McMaster Marauders (209 points) are up two spots to No. 3, Western (206) drops all the way to No. 4, while the Montreal Carabins (174) climb up from sixth place to complete the leading quintet.

Western and Montreal each received a first-place vote.

Rounding out the ninth FRC poll of the season are the No. 6 Sherbrooke Vert & Or (157), down two spots; No. 7 UBC Thunderbirds (98), up one; No. 8 Queen’s Gaels (80) and No. 9 Acadia Axemen (58), both unranked a week ago; and the Saskatchewan Huskies (40), who stay put at No. 10.

Calgary (7-0) clinched first place in the Canada West conference for the first time since 1995 this past weekend with a convincing 41-24 home win over Manitoba (3-4). The Dinos have a chance to complete the first unblemished regular season in program history when they visit No. 7 UBC in Vancouver on Saturday.

Laval (7-1) secured first place in Quebec for the seventh straight year with a 40-10 domination of No. 6 Sherbrooke in front of 15,910 fans, who witnessed the Rouge et Or’s 49th consecutive overall victory on home field since 2004, a CIS record. The defending national champs wrap up conference play at Bishop’s (2-6) on Saturday.

McMaster (7-1) outscored Ottawa (5-3) 51-24 to clinch second place in Ontario and a bye in the first round of the OUA playoffs.

Western (7-1) saw its dream of a perfect campaign go up in smoke in Kingston, where the Mustangs dropped a lopsided 37-0 decision to No. 8 Queen’s, marking the first time they were shut out since 1973. Having secured first place in the OUA the previous week, the Mustangs, who will also enjoy a bye this weekend, rested numerous starters and injured players.

Montreal beat Concordia (3-5) 36-1 to improve to 6-2. The result sets up a showdown for second place in Quebec on Saturday, when the Carabins host Sherbrooke.

The Vert & Or (6-2), who will try to rebound from a tough loss in Quebec City, won the first head-to-head meeting of the season against Montreal, 20-11 on Oct. 1. With a victory on Saturday, Sherbrooke would book a first home playoff date since its return to CIS football in 2003.

UBC (5-2) reached the five-win mark for the first time since 2004 thanks to a 39-22 defeat of Alberta (0-7). The T-Birds can clinch second place in the West with a victory over top-ranked Calgary or a Saskatchewan loss against Alberta.

Queen’s (6-2), which is riding a six-game winning streak after starting the season 0-2, is ranked for the first time in 2011 following its impressive victory over previously undefeated Western. The Gaels open the OUA playoffs at home on Saturday against Laurier (4-4), a team they beat 58-35 on Sept. 17 in Kingston to start their current streak.

Acadia (6-1) is also ranked nationally for the first time this fall after clinching top spot in the AUS thanks to a 41-28 win over Saint Mary’s (5-2). The Axemen, who hadn’t finished first in the Atlantic since 2006, close out conference play against StFX (2-5).

Saskatchewan (4-3) barely squeaked by provincial rival Regina (2-5), 16-15, to remain in the hunt for second place in Canada West and home-field advantage in the first round of the post-season.

No. 1 Calgary (7-0): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 41-24 home win over Manitoba (3-4)… This week: Visit No. 7 UBC (5-2) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT… Heads-up: The Dinos beat UBC 30-25 on Sept. 9 in Calgary thanks to a Steven Lumbala touchdown with 18 seconds left in regulation, marking their sixth straight win over the Thunderbirds since a 22-16 conference loss on Sept. 2, 2006…

No. 2 Laval (7-1): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 40-10 home win over then-No. 4 Sherbrooke (6-2)… This week: Visit Bishop’s (2-5) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: The Rouge et Or defeated Bishop’s 57-9 on Oct. 16 in Quebec City for their 13th consecutive overall win over the Gaiters since a forfeit loss in 2001…

No. 3 McMaster (7-1): Top 10 ranking: Up two positions… Last week: 51-24 home win over then-No. 9 Ottawa (5-3)… This week: Bye in first round of OUA playoffs…

No. 4 Western (7-1): Top 10 ranking: Down three positions… Last week: 37-0 loss at Queen’s (6-2)… This week: Bye in first round of OUA playoffs…

No. 5 Montreal (6-2): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 36-1 win at Concordia (3-5)… This week: Host No. 6 Sherbrooke (6-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: The Carabins lost 20-11 at Sherbrooke on Oct. 1st and also dropped the last head-to-head meeting in Montreal, 33-26 in last year’s RSEQ semifinals…

No. 6 Sherbrooke (6-2): Top 10 ranking: Down two positions… Last week: 40-10 loss at then-No. 3 Laval (7-1)… This week: Visit No. 5 Montreal (6-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Sherbrooke has already set a single-season team record with six wins and is now looking to top a pair of third-place finishes in 2010 and 2008…

No. 7 UBC (5-2): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 39-22 win at Alberta (0-7)… This week: Host No. 1 Calgary (7-0) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT… Heads-up: UBC has not won six games in a season since the T-Birds finished conference play with a 7-1 record in 1999…

No. 8 Queen’s (6-2): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 37-0 home win over then-No. 1 Western (7-1)… This week: Host Laurier (4-4) in OUA quarter-finals Saturday at 1 p.m. ET… Heads-up: Queen’s is 1-2 all-time versus Laurier in the playoffs including a 36-33 OT loss in the OUA semifinals in 2003, a 29-27 quarter-final win in 2001, and a 42-22 Churchill Bowl loss in 1991…

No. 9 Acadia (6-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week… Last week: 41-28 home win over then-No. 7 Saint Mary’s (5-2)… This week: Visit StFX (2-5) Saturday at 2 p.m AT… Heads-up: Acadia has already defeated StFX 43-10 and 33-14 this season and is riding a four-game winning streak against the X-Men since a 33-30 loss in the 2009 AUS semifinals…

No. 10 Saskatchewan (4-3): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 16-15 win at Regina (2-5)… This week: Visit Alberta (0-7) Saturday at 1 p.m. MT… Heads-up: The Huskies, who opened the season with a 38-7 win over Alberta on Sept. 2, had finished first in Canada West each of the past three years and hasn’t placed out of the top two since 2007 (third)…

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#9)

Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Calgary (7-0) 282 (23) 2
2. Laval (7-1) 262 (4) 3
3. McMaster (7-1) 209 5
4. Western (7-1) 206 (1) 1
5. Montreal (6-2) 174 (1) 6
6. Sherbrooke (6-2) 157 4
7. UBC (5-2) 98 8
8. Queen’s (6-2) 80 NR
9. Acadia (6-1) 58 NR
10. Saskatchewan (4-3)40 10

Other teams receiving votes: Saint Mary’s (16), Ottawa (6), Windsor (1).

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

October 29 – OUA playoffs
13:00 ET Laurier (4-4) at No. 8 Queen’s (6-2), The Score (TV & webcast)
13:00 ET Windsor (5-3) at Ottawa (5-3), SSN (webcast)

October 29 – regular season
13:00 ET No. 6 Sherbrooke (6-2) at No. 5 Montreal (6-2), Radio-Canada (TV & webcast)
13:00 ET No. 2 Laval (7-1) at Bishop’s (3-5), SSN (webcast)
13:00 ET Concordia (3-5) at McGill (0-8), SSN (webcast)
13:00 CT Regina (2-5) at Manitoba (3-4), Shaw (TV – in Manitoba)
13:00 MT No. 10 Saskatchewan (4-3) at Alberta (0-7), CanadaWest.tv (webcast)
14:00 AT Mount Allison (0-7) at Saint Mary’s (5-2), sportstream.ca (webcast)
14:00 AT No. 9 Acadia (6-1) at StFX (2-5), EastLink (TV & webcast) / SSN (webcast)
14:00 PT No. 1 Calgary (7-0) at No. 7 UBC (5-2), Shaw (TV)

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.