UFRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#9): Laval returns to No. 1

OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or are back to a familiar place as they return to the top of the UFRC – CIS football rankings after spending two weeks at No. 2.

Laval had led 25 straight national polls – and 44 of 45 polls dating back to the start of the 2005 season – before surrendering the No. 1 spot to archrival Montreal following a 28-7 loss to the Carabins on Oct. 4.

The defending champions reclaim their throne thanks to a 73-7 interlock domination of Mount Allison (0-6) combined to a 34-15 upset win by Sherbrooke (3-3) over Montreal, which falls to No. 4 in the new rankings.

The Rouge et Or received 45 of the available 55 first-place votes and 1,712 points in the ninth Top 10 of the campaign. Laval, which extended its CIS-record streak to 34 straight home wins overall with the victory over Mount A, could clinch first place in the Quebec conference with a win at Sherbrooke on Saturday.

Rounding out the new UFRC poll are the No. 2-Queen’s Gaels (7-0), No. 3-Calgary Dinos (5-1), No. 5-Saskatchewan Huskies (5-1), No. 6-Western Ontario Mustangs (5-2), No. 7-Saint Mary’s Huskies (5-1), No. 8-Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-2), No. 9-St. Francis Xavier X-Men (5-1), and No. 10 McMaster Marauders (5-2).

Queen’s, which received eight first-place nods, moves up two spots to a season-high No. 2 following a dramatic 27-26 win over Western that clinched first place in the OUA for the Gaels. The Kingston squad, which extended its school-record streak to 17 consecutive regular-season victories, wraps up conference play Saturday at Laurier (5-2).

Calgary, which earned the remaining two first-place votes, holds on to No. 3 for the fourth straight week and for the sixth time this fall. The Dinos, who enjoyed a bye last weekend and are currently tied with Saskatchewan for first place in the Canada West, resume conference play on Saturday (Shaw TV, 1 p.m. Mountain Time) when they host Regina (3-3).

No. 4-Montreal hopes to rebound Saturday at Bishop’s (2-4). The Gaiters are coming off a huge 33-12 upset win at StFX.

No. 5-Saskatchewan moves up two positions to its best ranking in four weeks following a 31-11 win at Manitoba. The Huskies, who finally seem on track after a slow start having outscored their opponents 75-18 in their last two outings, host Alberta (3-3) Friday night.

No. 6-Western, loser of two of its last three games, is in a four-way tie for second place in the OUA standings heading into its regular-season finale against Toronto (1-6) on Saturday (Rogers TV London, 1 p.m.). With 13 possible scenarios, the Mustangs can finish as high as second and as low as fifth.

No. 7-Saint Mary’s is tied atop the AUS standings for the first time this fall after a 39-23 interlock win over McGill combined to StFX’s loss to Bishop’s.

First place in the Atlantic conference will be on the line Friday night when the Huskies host the X-Men. Saint Mary’s wraps up conference play against 1-5 Acadia on Oct. 30, while StFX ends the schedule against 0-6 Mount Allison.

Ottawa, at a season-high No. 8 and part of the four-way tie for second place in Ontario, hopes to conclude conference play with a fifth straight victory Saturday against Windsor (2-5). The Gee-Gees are coming off a 54-31 win over York.

No. 9-StFX hopes to rebound from its first loss of the campaign Friday at Saint Mary’s. The X-Men took the first end of the two-game season series 24-19 back on opening night, on Sept. 12.

No. 10 McMaster is also in the hunt for second place in the OUA after surviving a 15-14 overtime affair at Windsor last Saturday. The Marauders host Guelph (3-4) Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.).

UFRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#9)

Pts (1st place) – Last week

1. Laval (5-1) – 1712 (45) – 2
2. Queen’s (7-0) – 1523 (8) – 4
3. Calgary (5-1) – 1517 (2) – 3
4. Montreal (4-2) – 1071 – 1
5. Saskatchewan (5-1) – 1062 – 7
6. Western Ontario (5-2) – 899 – 5
7. Saint Mary’s (5-1) – 671 – 8
8. Ottawa (5-2) – 470 – 9
9. StFX (5-1) – 260 – 6
10. McMaster (5-2) – 157 – 10

Other teams receiving votes: Wilfrid Laurier (103), Sherbrooke (43), Alberta (15), Guelph (2), Simon Fraser (1).

CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 9 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Friday, Oct. 23
19:00 No. 9-StFX (5-1) at No. 7-Saint Mary’s (5-1)
19:00 Alberta (3-3) at No. 5-Saskatchewan (5-1)
19:00 Manitoba (2-4) at UBC (1-6)

Saturday, Oct. 24
13:00 No. 4-Montreal (4-2) at Bishop’s (2-4)
13:00 McGill (3-3) at Concordia (2-4), Radio-Canada
13:00 York (0-7) at Waterloo (2-5)
13:00 No. 2-Queen’s (7-0) at Laurier (5-2)
13:00 Windsor (2-5) at Ottawa (5-2), Rogers TV (Ottawa) / SSN Canada (webcast)
13:00 Guelph (3-4) at McMaster (5-2), The Score
13:00 Toronto (1-6) at No. 6-Western (5-2), Rogers TV (London)
13:00 Regina (3-3) at No. 3-Calgary (5-1), Shaw TV
14:00 Acadia (1-5) at Mount Allison (0-6), EastLink
16:00 No. 1-Laval (5-1) at Sherbrooke (3-3)

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