CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — For the second consecutive week, the only two undefeated teams in CIS football are unanimous choices at No. 1 and No. 2 in the national media poll.
The Laval Rouge et Or (7-0) received all 11 first-place votes for the eighth week in a row and are ranked first for the ninth time in as many polls in 2008 following a dominating 41-3 win over then-No. 9 Sherbrooke (5-2) that clinched first place in Quebec for the five-time defending QUFL champions.
The Rouge et Or, who have now been ranked No. 1 in 47 of the past 48 CIS polls, dating back to 2005, will go for a second straight 8-0 season and the fourth perfect campaign in the program’s 13-year history when they host winless McGill (0-7) Saturday at 1 p.m.
Laval, which shows a remarkable 44-3 conference record since the start of 2003, is doing it on defence this year leading the nation in points allowed (52) as well as total yards (254) and passing yards (175) allowed per game. The Rouge et Or (78 yds/g) is second in CIS against the run behind StFX (77).
The Queen’s Gaels (8-0) once again swept the second-place votes and remained right behind Laval in the national poll for the fourth consecutive week after they completed their first perfect season since 1989 (7-0) with a 38-22 victory over Waterloo.
The Gaels, who had not finished in first place within their conference since topping the defunct OQIFC with a 6-2 record in 1997, have a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will host an OUA semi-final on November 1.
Western Ontario (7-1) and Calgary (5-2) hold on to the No. 3 and No. 4 positions in the new poll following wins over Guelph and Manitoba, respectively.
The Mustangs took second place in the OUA and, like Queen’s, get to enjoy a well-deserved break until November 1. The Dinos sit in a three-way tie for first place in Canada West on the eve of the final weekend of conference play.
Saskatchewan (5-2), Saint Mary’s (6-1) and Simon Fraser (5-3) each move up one spot to Nos. 5-7, while Wilfrid Laurier (6-2) improves two positions to No. 8.
Saskatchewan and Simon Fraser are in a battle for first place out West with No. 4 Calgary. The final weekend of the season will see the Huskies visit UBC (2-5) Friday night and the Dinos visit Alberta (1-6) Saturday afternoon, while the Clan can only wait and hope for a couple of upsets.
Saint Mary’s has already clinched first place in the AUFC and hosts StFX (4-3) Friday night for its regular season finale.
Laurier hosts McMaster (4-4) Saturday at 1 p.m. in one of two OUA quarter-finals.
The Concordia Stingers (4-3) are the main losers in this week’s Top 10 dropping four spots to No. 9 following a 33-25 loss to Bishop’s (3-4). Despite the setback, the Stingers can still finish as high a second in the QUFL. They wrap up the season against Sherbrooke (5-2) Saturday.
Rounding out the new poll at No. 10 are the Montreal Carabins (4-3) who will fight for a playoff spot in Quebec when they host Bishop’s Saturday.
MITSUBISHI TOP 10 (#8)
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 11 members of media from across Canada. A total of nine national rankings will be released for the 2008 season, with the final Top 10 being released once all teams have completed the regular season.
| Pts (1st place) | Last week | |
| 1. Laval (7-0) | 110 (11) | 1 |
| 2. Queen’s (8-0) | 99 | 2 |
| 3. Western Ontario (7-1) | 77 | 3 |
| 4. Calgary (5-2) | 75 | 4 |
| 5. Saskatchewan (5-2) | 71 | 6 |
| 6. Saint Mary’s (6-1) | 53 | 7 |
| 7. Simon Fraser (5-3) | 34 | 8 |
| 8. Wilfrid Laurier (6-2) | 28 | 10 |
| 9. Concordia (4-3) | 26 | 5 |
| 10. Montreal (4-3) | 22 | NR |
Other teams receiving votes: Sherbrooke (8), Bishop’s (2).
CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 10 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)
Friday, Oct. 24
7:00 pm StFX (4-3) at No. 6 Saint Mary’s (6-1)
7:00 pm Manitoba (3-4) at Regina (4-3)
7:00 pm No. 5 Saskatchewan (5-2) at UBC (2-5)
Saturday, Oct. 25
1:00 pm OUA quarter-final: Ottawa (4-4) at Guelph (4-4), The Score
1:00 pm OUA quarter-final: McMaster (4-4) at No. 8 Laurier (6-2)
1:00 pm Bishop’s (3-4) at No. 10 Montreal (4-3), RDS
1:00 pm Sherbrooke (5-2) at No. 9 Concordia (4-3)
1:00 pm McGill (0-7) at No. 1 Laval (7-0)
1:00 pm No. 4 Calgary (5-2) at Alberta (1-6), Shaw TV
2:00 pm Acadia (0-7) at Mount Allison (2-5), EastLink
