UFRC - CIS Top 10 (#3): No. 1-Laval rolls over Concordia in opener

OTTAWA (CIS) - For the third time in as many weeks, the defending 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 51 of the past 52 national rankings dating back to the start of the 2005 season, earned the 55 available first-place votes and 1,730 points in the third Top 10 of 2009.

Laval (1-0) proved as dominant as ever in its regular season opener on Sunday crushing the visiting Concordia Stingers 51-0 in front of a PEPS Stadium crowd of 15,607. Reigning Hec Crighton trophy winner Benoit Groulx picked up where he left off throwing four touchdown passes in three quarters of action.

The Rouge et Or go for a 14th victory in a row Saturday when they visit Bishop's (0-1) in Sherbrooke, Que. (Radio-Canada, 1 p.m.).

Concordia (0-1), which was ranked No. 6 going into the contest, drops to No. 9 in the new poll.

The 2008 Vanier Cup finalist Western Ontario Mustangs (1-0) remain at No. 2 for the third consecutive week after they also opened conference play with a win on Sunday. The reigning OUA champions travelled to Ottawa and outscored the Gee-Gees 32-17 in a re-match of last year's Yates Cup final.

Ottawa (0-1), ranked No. 10 in the first two polls of the season, drops out of the Top 10 this week.

In what was considered the marquee duel of Week 2, the Saskatchewan Huskies (1-0) edged the visiting Calgary Dinos (0-1) 34-33 in overtime on Friday night. Saskatchewan moves up one position to No. 3 in the national rankings, while reigning Canada West champion Calgary slides two spots to No. 5.

Rounding out the new Top 10 are the defending AUS champion Saint Mary's Huskies (0-0), up one spot to No. 4; Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (1-0), up one to No. 6; Queen's Gaels (1-0), up one to No. 7; Montreal Carabins (1-0), up one to No. 8; and Simon Fraser Clan (1-0), who make their way into the Top 10 for the first time this fall, at No. 10.

No. 4 Saint Mary's opens conference play Saturday at StFX (EastLink, 2 p.m. Atlantic Time).

Laurier, Queen's and Montreal were all victorious in their regular-schedule debuts. The Golden Hawks blanked Toronto 36-0, the Gaels edged Guelph 52-49 and the Carabins dominated McGill 66-14.

Marquee match-ups on Week 3 include No. 6-Laurier at No. 2-Western on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.), and No. 8-Montreal at No. 9-Concordia on Sunday.

NOTE: Season outlooks for all 27 CIS football programs are posted at
www.universitysport.ca/e/football.

UFRC - CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#3)

Pts (1st place) Last week

1. Laval (1-0) 1730 (55) 1
2. Western Ontario (1-0) 1578 2
3. Saskatchewan (1-0) 1418 4
4. Saint Mary's (0-0) 1053 5
5. Calgary (0-1) 989 3
6. Wilfrid Laurier (1-0) 860 7
7. Queen's (1-0) 783 8
8. Montreal (1-0) 662 9
9. Concordia (0-1) 203 6
10. Simon Fraser (1-0) 175 NR

Other teams receiving votes: Regina (80), Sherbrooke (66), Ottawa (22), McMaster (9), Guelph (2), UBC (1).

CIS FOOTBAL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Friday, Sept. 11
19:00 Sherbrooke (1-0) at McGill (0-1)
19:00 Regina (1-0) at No. 3-Saskatchewan (1-0)
19:00 Manitoba (0-1) at No. 10-Simon Fraser (1-0)

Saturday, Sept. 12
13:00 No. 1-Laval (1-0) at Bishop's (0-1), Radio-Canada
13:00 Ottawa (0-1) at Waterloo (0-1)
13:00 No. 6-Laurier (1-0) at No. 2-Western (1-0), The Score
13:00 McMaster (1-0) at No. 7-Queen's (1-0)
13:00 York (0-1) at Guelph (0-1)
13:00 Alberta (0-1) at No. 5-Calgary (0-1)
14:00 No. 4-Saint Mary's (0-0) at StFX (0-0), EastLink
14:00 Mount Allison (0-0) at Acadia (0-0)
19:00 Toronto (0-1) at Windsor (1-0)

Sunday, Sept. 13
16:30 No. 8-Montreal (1-0) at No. 9-Concordia (0-1)

About University Football Reporters of Canada

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.


-CIS-