CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA – For the fourth consecutive year, the Laval Rouge et Or top the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport football media poll of the season.
The five-time defending Quebec conference champion Rouge et Or (0-0), set to open the 2008 campaign at home Sunday against arch-rival Montreal (0-0), received five of 10 first-place votes to edge the reigning Vanier Cup champion Manitoba Bisons (1-0) for first position.
The No. 2 Bisons, who earned four first-place nods, began their CIS title defence Saturday with a 25-12 win over Regina, in a rematch of last year’s Canada West final.
Laval, ranked No. 1 in the nation for the 40th time in the past 41 media polls, ran the table in the QUFL in 2007 before seeing its quest for an unprecedented fourth Vanier Cup championship in five years come to an end against the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the Uteck Bowl national semifinal.
The AUFC champion Huskies (0-0) open at No. 3, followed by No. 4 Saskatchewan (1-0), No. 5 Western Ontario (1-0), No. 6 Wilfrid Laurier (1-0), No. 7 Queen’s (1-0), No. 8 Ottawa (0-1), No. 9 Concordia (0-0) and No. 10 Bishop’s (0-0).
Saskatchewan shut out Calgary 25-0 in its 2008 opener. Defending Yates Cup champion Western overcame a 31-13 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Ottawa 35-31. Laurier edged Guelph 15-13. Queen’s dominated McMaster 35-11.
A pair of Top-10 clashes highlights the coming weekend’s schedule. Bishop’s visits Concordia at 7 p.m. on Friday (RDS), while Western is at Laurier at 7 p.m. on Saturday (The Score).
CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#1)
Voting is based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point system, with a first-place vote worth 10 points. The CIS Football Top Ten Committee is made up of 10 media members from across Canada. A total of 10 national rankings will be released for the 2007 season, with the final Top 10 being released once all teams have completed the regular season.
Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Laval (0-0) 93 (5) –
2. Manitoba (1-0) 89 (4) –
3. Saint Mary’s (0-0) 78 (1) –
4. Saskatchewan (1-0) 70 –
5. Western Ontario (1-0) 63 –
6. Wilfrid Laurier (1-0) 38 –
7. Queen’s (1-0) 30 –
8. Ottawa (0-1) 24 –
9. Concordia (0-0) 22 –
10. Bishop’s (0-0) 19 –
Other teams receiving votes: Regina (17), Alberta (2), Montreal (1), Calgary (1), StFX (1).
CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)
Friday, Sept. 5
7:00 pm Acadia at No. 3 Saint Mary’s
7:00 pm No. 10 Bishop’s at No. 9 Concordia (RDS)
Saturday, Sept. 6
1:00 pm York at No. 8 Ottawa
1:00 pm No. 7 Queen’s at Guelph (The Score)
1:00 pm Toronto at Windsor
1:00 pm McMaster at Waterloo
1:00 pm No. 2 Manitoba at Calgary
2:00 pm Mount Allison at StFX (EastLink)
2:00 pm Alberta at UBC (Shaw TV)
3:00 pm No. 4 Saskatchewan at Regina
7:00 pm No. 5 Western at No. 6 Laurier (The Score)
7:00 pm McGill at Sherbrooke
Sunday, Sept. 7
1:00 pm Montreal at No. 1 Laval
