CIS Football: 13 reasons to watch this weekend

Concordia (1-1) at No. 1 Montreal (2-0) (Friday)
 

The nationally top-ranked Carabins made a statement last week in their home opener against Bishop’s, dominating the Gaiters 61-0 and holding their opponents to three first downs – including one on a penalty – and 48 yards of total offence. Montreal should face stiffer competition on Friday night from the Stingers and reigning Quebec conference MVP Trenton Miller, who managed to throw for 361 yards last Saturday in a loss to powerhouse Laval. For the Carabins, new No. 1 pivot Samuel Caron has been named the RSEQ player of the week on offence following each of his first two career starts and has completed an impressive 73.2 percent of his passes so far this season.
 

No. 2 Calgary (2-0) at No. 10 Saskatchewan (2-0) (Friday)
 

Only seven of 27 teams across the country still have unblemished records, and something will have to give on Friday night in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan’s nationally ninth-ranked offence (35.0 points per game) goes against Calgary’s fifth-ranked defence (11.0 ppg), which has allowed only two touchdowns in two games against high-scoring Manitoba and defending Vanier Cup champion UBC. The Dinos have defeated the Huskies in nine straight overall since 2011, including three times a year ago when they prevailed 59-19 (at Calgary), 44-15 (at Saskatoon) and 37-29 (Canada West semifinal at Calgary).
 

Bishop’s (0-2) at McGill (1-1) (Friday)
 

Looking for their first winning campaign since 2002, the Redmen can’t afford a setback against the rebuilding Gaiters following one of their biggest wins in recent seasons, a 19-18 come-from-behind victory at Sherbrooke. A pair of McGill freshmen, linebacker Antoine Mongeau and 18-year-old kicker Findlay Brown, were among the CIS players of the week unveiled Wednesday. McGill swept Bishop’s 10-3 (at McGill) and 53-11 (at Bishop’s) a year ago.
 

Alberta (0-2) at Manitoba (0-2) (Friday)
 

Manitoba and Alberta both had high expectations heading into this season, with the Bisons hoping to extend their streak of four straight playoff appearances and the Golden Bears aiming for their first winning campaign since 2005. Even though it’s still early in the season, Friday’s duel has a must-win feel for both teams as Manitoba is set to face No. 10 Saskatchewan next week while Alberta will host reigning Vanier Cup champ UBC.   
 

Mount Allison (0-1) at Saint Mary’s (0-1) (Friday)
 

Mount Allison’s Scott Brady and Saint Mary’s James Colzie III are still looking for their first win as CIS head coaches after their troops dropped their AUS openers 29-14 to StFX and 30-1 to Acadia, respectively. In losing causes, Mounties running back Chris Reid (104 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns) and Huskies receiver D’Shawn Miller (5 receptions for 119 yards) had strong season debuts.
 

No. 7 Laurier (2-0) at No. 4 Carleton (2-1) (Saturday)
 

Both in their fourth season at the helm, head coaches Michael Faulds of Laurier and Steve Sumarah of Carleton lead two of the upstart programs in CIS football. In the first prospect list of the season released on Thursday by the CFL Scouting Bureau, Laurier defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng and linebacker Nakas Onyeka were ranked second and 16th, respectively, while Carleton receiver Nate Behar and offensive lineman Kwabena Asare took the eighth and 19th spots. Both coming off OUA semifinal appearances a year ago, the two teams have battled only once since the Ravens returned to the league in 2013, a dominating 53-3 Golden Hawks win in 2014.
 

No. 5 Western (2-1) at Queen’s (0-2) (Saturday)
 

Saturday will be a historical day in Kingston as it will mark the Gaels’ first game at the new Richardson Stadium, which underwent a $20 million renovation. It also marks the first CIS Football Game of the Week of the season on City (1 p.m. EST), with three more nationally televised games coming up on Sept. 24 (Western at Guelph), Oct. 1 (Ottawa at Carleton – Panda Game) and Oct. 15 (Mount Allison at Acadia). On paper, No. 5 Western and its nationally top-ranked offence (61.3 points per game) looks like an overwhelming favourite in this one but there’s no doubt Queen’s will be motivated to christen the new Richardson Stadium with its first win of the campaign.
 

Regina (1-1) at No. 6 UBC (1-1) (Saturday)
  Regina is coming off its first win since 2014, while reigning national champ UBC was humbled by Calgary a week ago. Who would have thought the Rams would have momentum going into this Week 3 confrontation? Regina quarterback Noah Picton, the back-to-back CIS offensive player of the week, is off to an incredible start, averaging a CIS-high 490 passing yards per game with eight touchdown tosses against only one interception. Reigning Vanier Cup MVP Michael O’Connor is off to a more modest start for the T-Birds with 225 yards per outing and four passing majors.
 

Guelph (2-1) at No. 8 Ottawa (2-0) (Saturday)
 

After setting an OUA record with 3,136 passing yards last season, Ottawa quarterback Derek Wendel is at it again this fall with 830 yards and eight touchdown passes in his first two games, including 441 yards and three majors last Saturday against powerhouse McMaster. For their part, the reigning OUA champion Gryphons have had a see-saw season so far including a solid 41-22 win over Toronto, a stunning 33-29 loss at Windsor and a an unconvincing 38-29 victory over Queen’s. Guelph prevailed 48-26 in the only head-to-head meeting last season, also in the nation’s capital.
 

No. 9 McMaster (2-1) at Waterloo (0-3) (Saturday)
 

Last weekend, Waterloo faced a Western team that was coming off a disappointing loss and things didn’t go well for the Warriors, who were crushed 75-14 by the Mustangs. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they face a similar scenario on Saturday against the Marauders, who are coming off a 30-8 setback versus Ottawa. In the loss to the Gee-Gees, Asher Hastings, who in 2015 set a CIS record with 31 touchdown passes, failed to find a receiver in the end zone for the first time since he took over as McMaster’s starting quarterback last season.
 

Acadia (1-0) at StFX (1-0) (Saturday)
 

It’s early in the AUS schedule but first place in the league standings will be on the line Saturday afternoon in Antigonish, N.S. In 2015, Acadia and StFX split their regular season series (31-15 Acadia win, 7-5 StFX win) but the X-Men prevailed 26-4 at home in the AUS semifinal en route to their first conference title since 1996. StFX receiver Dejuan Martin opened the 2016 campaign last Saturday with eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown against Mount Allison.
 

York (2-1) at Toronto (0-3) (Saturday)
 

Toronto has had the upper hand in recent years in the annual Red & Blue Bowl, winning the Argo cup each of the past three seasons and seven of the last eight years. It could be a different story this time around however as York enters the contest with a 2-1 record, scoring over 50 points in both of its wins, while the Varsity Blues are 0-3 after allowing 46.0 points per game. In 2015, the Blues won 40-3 at York. 
 

Sherbrooke (1-1) at No. 3 Laval (1-1) (Sunday)

After a close loss to Montreal on home turf in its season opener two weeks ago, Laval rebounded last Saturday with a solid 37-18 win at Concordia. On Sunday, the Rouge et Or hope to improve to 23-0 overall against Sherbrooke since the Vert & Or made their RSEQ debut in 2003. Sherbrooke came oh-so-close to breaking that streak in the first of two-head-to-head duels a year ago, taking Laval to overtime before dropping a heartbreaking 27-24 decision.

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE (all times local)
 

NOTE: Click HERE for the complete 2016 regular season schedule & results
 

September 16
19:00   Mount Allison (0-1) at Saint Mary’s (0-1) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
19:00   Bishop’s (0-2) at McGill (1-1) (StretchTV)
19:00   Concordia (1-1) at No. 1 Montreal (2-0)
19:00   Alberta (0-2) at Manitoba (0-2) (CanadaWest.TV)
19:00   No. 2 Calgary (2-0) at No. 10 Saskatchewan (2-0) (Shaw TV/Access & CanadaWest.TV)
 

September 17
13:00   No. 9 McMaster (2-1) at Waterloo (0-3) (Rogers TV Waterloo & OUA.TV)
13:00   No. 7 Laurier (2-0) at No. 4 Carleton (2-1) (OUA.TV)
13:00   Guelph (2-1) at No. 8 Ottawa (2-0) (Rogers TV Ottawa & OUA.TV)
13:00   York (2-1) at Toronto (0-3) (Rogers TV Toronto & OUA.TV)
13:00   No. 5 Western (2-1) at Queen’s (0-2) (City & OUA.TV)
14:00   Acadia (1-0) at StFX (1-0) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
17:00   Regina (1-1) at No. 6 UBC (1-1) (CanadaWest.TV)
 

September 18
12:00   Sherbrooke (1-1) at No. 3 Laval (1-1) (TVA Sports)

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four conferences vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
 

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Alan Hudes       
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Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242
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ahudes@universitysport.ca

Pat Park
Communications
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
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