OTTAWA (CIS) – For the second consecutive week, the reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or were a unanimous No. 1 selection in the UFRC – CIS football poll.
The Rouge et Or, who have topped 50 of the past 51 national rankings dating back to the start of the 2005 season, earned the 55 available first-place votes and 1,730 points in the second Top 10 of 2009.
The Top 10 remains unchanged this week with the defending OUA champion and Vanier Cup finalist Western Ontario Mustangs at No. 2 with 1,578 points, followed in order by reigning Canada West champion Calgary (1,138), Saskatchewan (1,106), AUS titlist Saint Mary’s (1,102), Concordia, Wilfrid Laurier, Queen’s, Montreal and Ottawa.
No. 1-Laval showed last Sunday it was ready for the new campaign blanking Western 27-0 at home in its lone contest of the pre-season, which was a rematch of last year’s CIS final won 44-21 by the Rouge et Or. The five-time Vanier Cup champions open conference play on Sunday in Quebec City against the No. 6 Concordia Stingers, who dropped a 28-17 decision to Laval in the QUFL championship game last fall.
No. 2-Western and No. 3-Calgary also kick off the regular schedule with Top-10 duels. The Mustangs travel to the nation’s capital on Sunday to take on No. 10-Ottawa, while the Dinos face No. 4-Saskatchewan in Saskatoon on Friday night.
The 2009 regular season got under way last Saturday with Simon Fraser (1-0) defeating cross-town rival UBC (0-1) 26-7. The Clan, who reached the Canada West final a year ago, sit just outside the Top 10 for a second straight week.
NOTE: Season outlooks for all 27 CIS football programs are posted at www.universitysport.ca/e/football.
UFRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#2)
Pts (1st place) – Last week
1. Laval 1730 (55) 1
2. Western Ontario 1578 2
3. Calgary 1138 3
4. Saskatchewan 1106 4
5. Saint Mary’s 1102 5
6. Concordia 792 6
7. Wilfrid Laurier 548 7
8. Queen’s 508 8
9. Montreal 332 9
10. Ottawa 242 10
Other teams receiving votes: Simon Fraser (165), Manitoba (128), Sherbrooke (18), StFX (9), McMaster (6), Guelph (4), Regina (4), UBC (1).
CIS FOOTBAL WEEK 2 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)
Thursday, Sept. 3
19:00 McGill at No. 9-Montreal
Friday, Sept. 4
19:00 Bishop’s at Sherbrooke
19:00 No. 3-Calgary at No. 4-Saskatchewan (Shaw TV)
19:00 Manitoba at Regina
19:00 UBC at Alberta
Sunday, Sept. 6
14:00 No. 6-Concordia at No. 1-Laval (Radio-Canada)
17:00 No. 2-Western at No. 10-Ottawa
Monday, Sept. 7
13:00 Windsor at York
14:00 Waterloo at McMaster
14:00 Guelph at No. 8-Queen’s
19:00 No. 7-Laurier at Toronto
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The University Football Reporters of Canada represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. The UFRC’s primary objective is to work with CIS, its institutions and football programs to build resources and exposure for Canadian University Football from coast to coast through the contribution of the media.
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