CIS football : Mitchell Bowl: A head-to-head look

OTTAWA (CIS) – A pair of dream match-ups are set for Saturday’s CIS football national semifinals.

At Richardson Stadium in Kingston, Ont., the top-ranked and defending Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or (9-1) square off against the No. 4 Queen’s Gaels (9-1) in the Mitchell Bowl.
The duel between the QUFL and OUA champions gets under way at 1 p.m. Eastern and is live on TSN and Radio-Canada.

At Huskies Stadium in Halifax, the No. 2 Calgary Dinos (9-1) visit the No. 6 Saint Mary’s Huskies (8-1) in the Uteck Bowl.

The much-anticipated affair between the Canada West and AUS champions kicks off at 1 p.m. Atlantic and can be seen on TSN at 4 p.m. Eastern.

The winners advance to the Desjardins Vanier Cup, Saturday, November 28 in Quebec City, live on TSN and Radio-Canada.

The Rouge et Or, who last year captured an unprecedented fourth national title in six years, go into the weekend with the best Bowl record among the four contenders with five wins in eight tries since their first semifinal appearance in 1999. The Dinos are 5-4 all-time, the Huskies 9-11 and the Gaels 4-7.

Laval and Queen’s have never met in the postseason but battled five time in conference play between 1996 and 2000 when they were part of the defunct OQIFC. The Rouge et Or had a 3-2 advantage including wins in the last three meetings.

Calgary and Saint Mary’s have met three times on the national stage including a pair of Bowl games at Huskies Stadium. The Dinos prevailed in the 1988 Vanier Cup in Toronto (52-23), the Huskies took the 1992 Atlantic Bowl (21-11) and Calgary won 37-23 in the most recent rendez-vous, the 1993 Atlantic Bowl.

Saturday’s Mitchell Bowl sees Laval’s CIS-leading defence go head-to-head against an explosive Queen’s offence that lit up Western for 43 points and 598 yards last Saturday in one of the most exciting Yates Cup finals in recent history.

The Rouge et Or led the nation for least points allowed for the second straight season and the fifth time in seven years in conference play, allowing only 61 points in eight contest (7.6 per game). Laval’s D was number one in CIS both against the pass (162.4 yards per game) and the run (76.9 per game). In 10 overall outings, Laval has held its opponents to eight points or less nine times.

The Quebec champions’ offence was no slouch either finishing second in the country with 333 points (41.6 ppg), a mere two points behind Western (41.9 ppg).

Reigning Hec Crighton trophy winner Benoit Groulx was as good as ever in 2009 en route to his third QUFL MVP title. The fifth-year senior from Montreal had an 18-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio in conference play – his 18 TDs tied for the nation’s lead - and has been intercepted in only one of eight overall games. He had a CIS-best 73.2 completion percentage, marking the fifth time in five seasons he’s led the nation in that category. .

His counterpart on Saturday, fellow fifth-year senior Dan Brannagan, simply had one of the best seasons in CIS history. The Burlington, Ont., native was second in the nation averaging 369 passing yards per outing over seven conference matches and finished his career second on the all-time list with 10,714 yards. In the OUA final, he racked up 515 yards and five TD passes to lead the Gaels to a 43-39 win over archrival Western and a first Yates Cup title since 1978.

Queen’s is making its first national semifinal appearance since a 23-16 Churchill Bowl win over Guelph in 1992. That victory was followed by a 31-0 shutout of Saint Mary’s for the program’s third and last Vanier Cup triumph.

Laval travels to Kingston with a 1-3 all-time road record in Bowl games. The Rouge et Or have lost semifinals away from home to Saint Mary’s in 2007 and Saskatchewan in 2005 since beating McMaster in Hamilton in 2003.

The storyline of the Uteck Bowl is of course the return of Calgary head coach Blake Nill and all-star quarterback Erik Glavic to Halifax.

Nill had a phenomenal record in eight campaigns at the helm of the Huskies before taking over the U of C program in 2006. From 1998 to 2005, he had a 61-20 mark overall and led the team to six AUS championships, four Bowl wins and a pair of Vanier Cup titles in 2001 and 2002.

Glavic captured the Hec Crighton trophy as a sophomore in his final season at Saint Mary’s in 2007, when he helped the Huskies score a huge upset over Laval in the Uteck Bowl before being sidelined with a knee injury that would keep him out of the Vanier Cup final and almost the entire 2008 schedule.

The native of Pickering, Ont., has been nothing short of sensational this fall in his first year with the Dinos. He claimed Canada West MVP honours, led Calgary to a 7-1 conference record - the program’s best since 1988 - and was at his best in the Hardy Cup final passing for 479 yards and three touchdowns and adding another 106 yards and one TD on the ground in a 39-38 come-from-behind road win over No. 3 Saskatchewan.

Calgary’s high-flying offence, which ranked third in the nation with 39.5 points per game and racked up a CIS-best 283 rushing yard per outing, doesn’t stop with Glavic however.

Matt Walter, last year’s Canada West MVP, was second in the country with 1,103 yards on the ground, while Anthony Parker (46 receptions, 816 yards) and Nathan Coehoorn (41 – 765) were among CIS leaders in all receiving categories.

Saint Mary’s counters with an exceptional defensive unit that ranked third in CIS in conference play allowing only 14.9 points per game and was second against the pass holding opponents to 174 yards per duel through the air.

In his first full season as the starting quarterback, Jack Creighton of Buffalo, NY, was solid if not spectacular averaging 233 yards per outing while throwing only six interceptions.

Should the affair come down to a last-minute field goal, the Huskies know they can count on fourth-year veteran Justin Palardy, who led the nation with 23 field goals and 96 points in 2009 while rewriting the AUS records book.

Saint Mary’s is 3-0 at home in national semifinals since a 40-36 loss to Regina in 2000. Calgary is looking for a first Bowl win since 1995 – the Dinos’ last Vanier Cup year – and a first CIS semifinal victory on the road since 1993 against the Huskies.

MITCHELL BOWL

When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 1 p.m.

Where: Richardson Stadium, Kingston, Ont.

Who: No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or (9-1) at No. 4 Queen’s Gaels (9-1)
TV: Live on TSN & Radio-Canada

UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL ROUGE ET OR (QUFL champions)

2009 season
Overall record: 9-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff results: 63-1 home win vs. Concordia (SF), 31-7 home win vs. No. 8 Montreal (F)
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 3): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (11 weeks): No. 1 (9 weeks: first 6 polls, last 3 polls)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (11 weeks): No. 2 (2 weeks: 7th and 8th polls)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (11 weeks): 11
Regular season offence (333 points / 41.6 per game): 1st QUFL / 2nd CIS
Regular season passing offence (291.8 yards per game): 2nd QUFL / 6th CIS
Regular season rushing offence (194.5 yards per game): 2nd QUFL / 6th CIS
Regular season defence (61 points / 7.6 per game): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season passing defence (162.4 yards per game): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season rushing defence (76.9 yards per game): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS

2009 QUFL individual honours
Major awards: QB Benoit Groulx (MVP), DT David Bouchard (best lineman)
All-stars offence: Benoit Groulx (QB), Julian Feoli-Gudino (WR), Louis-David Gagné (C), Pascal Baillageon (G), David Bouchard (T)
All-stars defence: Marc-Antoine Beaudoin-Cloutier (DE), Jean-Philippe Gilbert (DT), Kelly Hilaire (LB), Maxime Bérubé (DB), Alex Surprenant (DB), Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau (CB), Jonathan Laliberté (S)
All-stars special team: Christopher Milo (P)

All-time head-to-head vs. Queen’s
Overall record: 3-2

2000 (away): 33-14 win (OQIFC regular season)
1999 (home): 23-0 win (OQIFC regular season)
1998 (home): 13-10 win (OQIFC regular season)
1997 (away): 32-7 loss (OQIFC regular season)
1996 (away): 18-7 loss (OQIFC regular season)

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Last Bowl appearance: 2008 Uteck Bowl 59-10 home win vs. Calgary
All-time Bowl record: 5-3
All-time Bowl record on the road: 1-3
Mitchell Bowl record: 1-1
Mitchell Bowl record on the road: 1-1

2008 (home): 59-10 win vs. Calgary (Uteck)
2007 (away): 24-2 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Uteck)
2006 (home): 57-10 win vs. Acadia (Uteck)
2005 (away): 29-27 loss vs. Saskatchewan (Mitchell)
2004 (home): 30-11 win vs. Laurier (Uteck)
2003 (away): 36-32 win vs. McMaster (Mitchell)
2001 (away): 48-8 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic) *
1999 (home): 27-21 win vs. Saskatchewan (Churchill)

* Following the 2001 season, Laval forfeited all its games due to the use of an ineligible player.

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 5-0

2008: 44-21 win vs. Western
2006: 13-8 win vs. Saskatchewan
2004: 7-1 win vs. Saskatchewan
2003: 14-7 win vs. Saint Mary's
1999: 14-10 win vs. Saint Mary's

Head coach: Glen Constantin
Year: 9th
Career regular season record: 58-14 *
Career playoff record: 22-6 *
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 80-20 *
Career record vs. Queen’s: 0-0
Bowl record: 4-3
Bowl wins: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Bowl losses: 2007, 2005, 2001
Vanier Cup record: 4-0
Vanier Cup wins: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: None

* In 2001, Laval finished with a 5-3 regular season record and a 2-1 playoff record but forfeited all 7 wins due to the use of an ineligible player.

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY GAELS (OUA champions)

2009 season
Overall record: 9-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff results: 32-6 home win vs. No. 9 McMaster (SF), 43-39 home win vs. No. 5 Western (F)
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 3): No. 4
Best Top 10 ranking (11 weeks): No. 2 (1 week: 9th poll)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (11 weeks): No. 8 (2 weeks: first 2 polls)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (11 weeks): 11
Regular season offence (272 points / 34.0 per game): 3rd OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season passing offence (348.4 yards per game): 2nd OUA / 2nd CIS
Regular season rushing offence (146.6 yards per game): 7th OUA / 15th CIS
Regular season defence (149 points / 18.6 per game): 4th OUA / 8th CIS
Regular season passing defence (230.8 yards per game): 5th OUA / 12th CIS
Regular season rushing defence (97.9 yards per game): 1st OUA / 3rd CIS

2009 OUA individual honours
Major awards: LB T.J. Leeper (Russ Jackson award nominee)
All-stars offence (First Team): Matt O’Donnell (T), Scott Valberg (IR)
All-stars offence (Second Team): Dan Brannagan (QB), Vince DeCivita (G)
All-stars defence (First team): Osie Ukwuoma (DE), Jimmy Allin (CB)
All-stars defence (Second Team): David Rooney (DB)
All-stars special teams (First Team): Stephen Laporte (cover)
All-stars special teams (Second Team): Dan Village (PK), Jimmy Allin (KR)

All-time head-to-head vs. Laval
Overall record: 2-3

2000 (home): 33-14 loss (OQIFC regular season)
1999 (away): 23-0 loss (OQIFC regular season)
1998 (away): 13-10 loss (OQIFC regular season)
1997 (home): 32-7 win (OQIFC regular season)
1996 (home): 18-7 win (OQIFC regular season)

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Last Bowl appearance: 1992 Churchill Bowl 23-16 win vs. Guelph (neutral site: SkyDome, Toronto)
All-time Bowl record: 4-7
All-time Bowl record at home: 1-0
Mitchell Bowl record: 0-0
Mitchell Bowl record at home: 0-0

1992 (neutral site: SkyDome, Toronto): 23-16 win vs. Guelph (Churchill)
1991 (neutral site: SkyDome, Toronto): 42-22 loss vs. Wilfrid Laurier (Churchill)
1989 (away): 40-10 loss vs. Saskatchewan (Churchill)
1984 (away): 29-17 loss vs. Mount Allison (Atlantic)
1983 (home): 22-7 win vs. Toronto (Western)
1981 (away): 40-14 loss vs. Acadia (Atlantic)
1979 (away): 32-14 loss vs. Western (Yates Cup)
1978 (away): 32-10 win vs. StFX (Atlantic)
1977 (away): 35-22 loss vs. Acadia (Atlantic)
1970 (away): 24-20 OT loss vs. Manitoba (Western)
1968 (away): 29-6 win vs. Manitoba (Western)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 3-1

1992: 31-0 win vs. Saint Mary’s
1983: 31-21 loss vs. Calgary
1978: 16-3 win vs. UBC
1968: 42-14 win vs. Waterloo Lutheran

Head coach: Pat Sheahan
Year: 21st (10th at Queen’s / 11 at Concordia 1989-1999)
Career regular season record: 98-63-1 (50-30 with Queen’s)
Career playoff record: 13-14 (7-6 with Queen’s)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 111-77-1 (57-36 with Queen’s)
Career record vs. Laval: 5-2 (all with Concordia)
Bowl record: 1-1 (both with Concordia)
Bowl wins: 1998
Bowl losses: 1993
Vanier Cup record: 0-1 (with Concordia)
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: 1998

ALL-TIME CIS BOWL RESULTS

2008
Uteck: Laval 59, Calgary 10
Mitchell: Western 28, Saint Mary’s 12

2007
Uteck: Saint Mary’s 24, Laval 2
Mitchell: Manitoba 52, Western 20

2006
Uteck: Laval 57, Acadia 10
Mitchell: Saskatchewan 35, Ottawa 28

2005
Uteck: Wilfrid Laurier 31, Acadia 10
Mitchell: Saskatchewan 29, Laval 27

2004
Uteck: Laval 30, Wilfrid Laurier 11
Mitchell: Saskatchewan 31, Saint Mary’s 16

2003
Uteck: Saint Mary’s 60, Simon Fraser 9
Mitchell: Laval 36, McMaster 32

2002
Churchill: Saint Mary’s 36, McMaster 25
Mitchell: Saskatchewan 22, McGill 0

2001
Churchill: Manitoba 27, McMaster 6
Atlantic: Saint Mary’s 48, Laval 8

2000
Churchill: Ottawa 20, McMaster 15
Atlantic: Regina 40, Saint Mary’s 36

1999
Churchill: Laval 27, Saskatchewan 21
Atlantic: Saint Mary’s 21, Waterloo 14

1998
Churchill: Saskatchewan 33, Western 17
Atlantic: Concordia 25, Acadia 24

1997 (1)
Churchill: Waterloo 1, Ottawa 0
Atlantic: UBC 34, Mount Allison 29

1996
Churchill: Saskatchewan 33, Guelph 9
Atlantic: StFX 13, Ottawa 5

1995
Churchill: Calgary 37, Ottawa 7
Atlantic: Western 55, Acadia 45

1994
Churchill: Western 41, Bishop’s 24
Atlantic: Saskatchewan 35, Saint Mary’s 24

1993
Churchill: Toronto 26, Concordia 16
Atlantic: Calgary 37, Saint Mary’s 23

1992
Churchill: Queen’s 23, Guelph 16
Atlantic: Saint Mary’s 21, Calgary 11

1991
Churchill: Wilfrid Laurier 42, Queen’s 22
Atlantic: Mount Allison 31, Saskatchewan 14

1990
Churchill: Saskatchewan 41, Bishop’s 13
Atlantic: Saint Mary’s 31, Western 30

1989
Churchill: Saskatchewan 40, Queen’s 10
Atlantic: Western 38, Saint Mary’s 33

1988
Western: Calgary 34, Western 15
Atlantic: Saint Mary’s 44, Bishop’s 10

1987
Western: UBC 33, Wilfrid Laurier 31
Atlantic: McGill 30, Saint Mary’s 29

1986
Central: UBC 32, Bishop’s 30
Atlantic: Western 29, Acadia 22

1985
Central: Calgary 56, Carleton 14
Atlantic: Western 54, Mount Allison 3

1984
Central: Guelph 12, Calgary 7
Atlantic: Mount Allison 29, Queen’s 17

1983 (2)
Western: Queen’s 22, Toronto 7

1982
Western: Western 17, Concordia 7
Atlantic: UBC 54, StFX 1

1981
Western: Alberta 32, Western 31
Atlantic: Acadia 40, Queen’s 14

1980
Western: Alberta 14, Western 4
Atlantic: Ottawa 28, Acadia 8

1979
Yates Cup: Western 32, Queen’s 14
Atlantic: Acadia 23, Alberta 7

1978
Western: UBC 25, Wilfrid Laurier 16
Atlantic: Queen’s 32, StFX 10

1977
Forest City: Western 24, Calgary 22
Atlantic: Acadia 35, Queen’s 22

1976
Forest City: Western 30, UBC 8
Atlantic: Acadia 18, Ottawa 16

1975
Central: Ottawa 45, Windsor 6
Atlantic: Calgary 38, Acadia 16

1974
Central: Western 41, Saskatchewan 17
Atlantic: Toronto 45, Saint Mary’s 1

1973
Western: McGill 16, Manitoba 0
Atlantic: Saint Mary’s 19, Wilfrid Laurier 17

1972
Western: Alberta 58, Loyola 6
Atlantic: Waterloo Lutheran 50, Saint Mary’s 17

1971
Western: Alberta 53, Bishop’s 2
Atlantic: Western 44, Saint Mary’s 13

1970
Western: Manitoba 24, Queen’s 20 (OT)
Atlantic: Ottawa 24, UNB 13

1969
Western: Manitoba 41, Windsor 7
Atlantic: McGill 20, UNB 6

1968
Western: Queen’s 29, Manitoba 6
Atlantic: Waterloo Lutheran 37, Saint Mary’s 7

1967 (3)
Atlantic: McMaster 7, StFX 0

NOTES:

(1) In 1997, Ottawa beat Waterloo 44-37 but later forfeited the game due to the use of ineligible players (official score: 1-0 Waterloo).

(2) In 1983, AUAA chose not to participate in a Bowl game as a protest against CIAU. WIFL champion
Calgary received a direct berth in the national final.

(3) In 1967, OQAA voted against any league participation in the Vanier Cup championship game. WIFL
champion Alberta received a direct berth in the national final.


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