FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#4): Laval remains at No. 1 for third week

OTTAWA (CIS) – The Laval Rouge et Or top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the third straight week following a dominating interlock performance in Halifax. 
 
The seven-time defending Quebec champions, who occupy the No. 1 spot for the 50th time in 54 polls dating back to the start of the 2005 campaign, moved to 3-0 in regular-season play on Saturday with a 45-7 victory over AUS rival Saint Mary’s (0-2). Third-year running back Sébastien Lévesque scored two rushing touchdowns for the third consecutive game and leads the nation with six majors.
 
The Rouge et Or, who received 42 out of a possible 43 first-place votes in the fourth national poll of the campaign, will try to extend a trio of impressive streaks Sunday when they host the Sherbrooke Vert & Or (1-2), an opponent they’ve already defeated once this fall, 36-6 on the road on Sept. 11. Laval is riding a 38-game overall winning streak at home (since a 14-13 loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004), is 10-0 overall versus Sherbrooke since the Vert & Or joined CIS in 2003, and is looking to start the season with four straight wins for the sixth year in a row.
 
The rest of the top five also remains unchanged in the new FRC poll with the Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-0), Montreal Carabins (3-0), Calgary Dinos (2-1) and Western Ontario Mustangs (3-1) following in order.
 
The Regina Rams (2-1) move up three spots to No. 6, Alberta (2-1) and McMaster (2-2) stay put at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, while No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1) and No. 10 Guelph (3-0) both make their way into the Top 10 for a first time this fall.
 
Bishop’s was last ranked nationally on Sept. 30, 2008 (No. 9), while Guelph’s previous Top-10 appearance dated back to Oct. 6, 2009 (No. 9).
 
The only OUA team sporting a 4-0 record, Ottawa received the other first-place nod in the poll following a spectacular, come-from-behind 43-35 win over McMaster. The Gee-Gees erased a 35-17 deficit to prevail.
 
Montreal, which edged Calgary by a single point in the FRC voting (333-332), kept pace with Laval in the QUFL standings with a 27-10 interlock win over StFX.
 
Calgary scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat provincial rival Alberta 23-14, while Western doubled Windsor 30-15.
 
The No. 5 Mustangs visit No. 10 Guelph Saturday in the lone Top-10 match-up of the coming weekend, a duel that can be seen live on The Score Television Network at 1 p.m. The undefeated Gryphons are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1997.
 
No. 1 Laval (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 45-7 win at Saint Mary’s (0-2)... This week: Host Sherbrooke (1-2) on Sunday... Heads-up: Laval leads the all-time overall series 10-0 since Sherbrooke joined CIS in 2003 - including a 36-6 road win earlier this season (Sept. 11) - and is riding a 38-game overall winning streak at home since a 14-13 loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004...   
 
No. 2 Ottawa (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 43-35 home win over then-No. 8 McMaster (2-2)... This week: Visit Queen’s (1-2) on Saturday (TVCogeco Local 13, 1 p.m. – tape delayed)... Heads-up: Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli leads CIS in passing yards per game (367.0), passing yards (1,468), TD passes (11), completions (94), attempts (152) and interceptions (9)...
 
No. 3 Montreal (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 27-10 win at StFX (0-2)... This week: Host McGill (0-3) on Friday... Heads-up: Since a pair of lopsided losses to McGill (41-0, 58-0) in their first year back in CIS in 2002, the Carabins are 10-0 overall against their cross-town rivals, including a 66-14 win in the lone head-to-head meeting in 2009...
 
No. 4 Calgary (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 23-14 win at No. 7 Alberta (2-1)... This week: Visit Manitoba (1-2) on Saturday... Heads-up: Calgary has won the last three head-to-head meetings – including 35-24 in the lone 2009 match-up – since a 27-5 Canada West semi-final loss in 2007, when Manitoba went on to capture the Vanier Cup...
 
No. 5 Western (3-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 30-15 win at Windsor (1-3)... This week: Visit No. 10 Guelph (3-0) on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: Western is 14-1 in its last 15 overall games against Guelph since 1997 (inclusive) – including a 37-18 OUA quarterfinal win and a 41-39 regular-season victory in 2009 – with the Mustangs’ lone loss over that period a 31-17 setback on Sept. 22, 2007...
 
No. 6 Regina (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up three positions from No. 9... Last week: 37-26 home win over then-No. 6 Saskatchewan (1-2)... This week: Visit UBC (1-2) on Friday (Shaw, 7 p.m. Pacific Time)... Heads-up: Regina has won its last three head-to-head match-ups against UBC and leads the all-time overall series 8-7 since joining CIS in 1999...
 
No. 7 Alberta (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 23-14 home loss to No. 4 Calgary (2-1)... This week: Host Saskatchewan (1-2) on Friday... Heads-up: Alberta split its two-game series with Saskatchewan a year ago, winning 27-7 at home and losing 39-3 in Saskatoon...
 
No. 8 McMaster (2-2): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 43-35 loss at No. 2 Ottawa (4-0)... This week: Host Windsor (1-3) on Saturday (Cable 14 in Hamilton / TVCogeco 11 in Windsor, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: McMaster is riding a 14-game winning streak against Windsor – including a 15-14 overtime win in 2009 – since a 37-0 loss on Oct. 5, 1996...
 
No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 31-16 home win over then-No. 10 Acadia (1-1)... This week: Visit Concordia (2-1) on Saturday (Radio-Canada, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: Bishop’s lost the first head-to-head match-up of the season 17-14 at home on Sept. 4 but had won their previous two duels with the Stingers... 
 
No. 10 Guelph (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 21-15 home win over Queen’s (1-2)... This week: Host No. 5 Western (3-1) on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.)... Heads-Up: The Gryphons, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2004 (when they finished 4-4), are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1997, when they won their first six games en route to a 6-2 conference record...
 
FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#4)
 
                    Pts (1st place)  - Last week
 
1. Laval (3-0)         499 (42)        1
2. Ottawa (4-0)      434 (1)          2
3. Montreal (3-0)     333              3
4. Calgary (2-1)       332              4
5. Western (3-1)      308              5
6. Regina (2-1)        227              9
7. Alberta (2-1)       129              7
8. McMaster (2-2)     84              8
9. Bishop’s (2-1)       70 *          NR
10. Guelph (3-0)       70             NR 
 
* Bishop’s received the highest ranking following tie-breaking procedures.
 
Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (69), Saskatchewan (59), Sherbrooke (42), Acadia (3), Manitoba (1).

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)
 
Note: Complete webcast and radio schedules at http://english.cis-sic.ca/sports/fball/2010-11/schedule 
 
September 24
19:00   McGill (0-3) at No. 3 Montreal (3-0)
19:00   Saskatchewan (1-2) at No. 7 Alberta (2-1)
19:00   No. 6 Regina (2-1) at UBC (1-2) (Shaw)
 
September 25
13:00   Saint Mary’s (0-2) at Mount Allison (1-1) (at Moncton)
13:00   No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1) at Concordia (2-1) (SRC)
13:00   York (0-3) at Laurier (1-2)
13:00   Windsor (1-3) at No. 8 McMaster (2-2) (Cable 14 in Hamilton / TVCogeco 11 in Windsor)
13:00   No. 2 Ottawa (4-0) at Queen’s (1-2) (TVCogeco 13 – tape delayed)
13:00   No. 5 Western (3-1) at No. 10 Guelph (3-0) (The Score)
13:00   No. 4 Calgary (2-1) at Manitoba (1-2)
19:00   StFX (0-2) at Acadia (1-1) (EastLink)
 
September 26
13:00   Sherbrooke (1-2) at No. 1 Laval (3-0)
 
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. 
 
 
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