CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — The University of Western Ontario Mustangs are the new top-ranked team in CIS football.
After spending the first six weeks of the season in second place behind the reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or, the Mustangs (6-0) move up to No. 1 thanks to 21 of 29 first-place votes and 279 points from the Football Reporters of Canada panel.
The Last time the Mustangs reached the top of the poll was Nov. 1, 1999. It also marks the first time since 2001 that an OUA team finds itself atop the CIS Top 10. That year, the Ottawa Gee-Gees spent the first six weeks in first place.
The Calgary Dinos (5-0) also move past Laval in the new national poll thanks to 258 points from FRC voters, including seven first-place nods.
The Rouge et Or (5-1), who had led 15-straight polls since opening the 2010 season in second position, drop to No. 3 after suffering their first loss in almost two years.
Playing without injured quarterback Donnie Marshall, Western remained the only undefeated team in Ontario on Saturday with a thrilling 33-29 home victory over Guelph (1-5). Mike Spence was the hero with an interception in his own end zone in the final minute of regulation.
No. 2 Calgary, No. 7 Saskatchewan and No. 9 UBC all enjoyed a week off, as the Canada West Conference was taking its annual Thanksgiving break. The Dinos, the only other unbeaten team in the country, face the Huskies in Saskatoon on Friday night in the lone Top-10 battle of the weekend.
No. 3 Laval came up just short in its bid to tie its own CIS record of 19 consecutive overall wins, dropping a 17-12 decision to the Carabins in Montreal. The Rouge et Or, who are now tied with Sherbrooke atop the Quebec standings, had not tasted defeat since a 33-30 loss to Queen’s in the 2009 Mitchell Bowl.
Lineman Jonathan Pierre-Étienne, a former draft pick of the BC Lions, led a spectacular defensive effort for No. 5 Montreal with 4.5 quarterback sacks. The Carabins were also the last Quebec team to beat Laval, 28-7, on Oct. 4, 2009.
No. 4 Sherbrooke continued to roll with a 38-11 decision over cross-town rival Bishop’s (2-4). The Vert & Or, winners of three-straight since a 40-27 loss to Laval on Sept. 17, travel to Quebec City in two weeks to face the Rouge et Or.
No. 6 McMaster drops one spot in this week’s FRC poll despite a convincing 50-14 win over Toronto (2-4). The Marauders are undefeated since a 48-21 loss to Western in week two.
No. 8 Saint Mary’s easily downed St. FX (1-4) 40-16 to remain in a tie with Acadia atop the AUS standings. The Huskies, who beat the Axemen 8-3 two weeks ago, visit Acadia on Oct. 22.
Rounding out the Top 10 are the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s, who return to the Top 10 after a one-week absence following a 65-12 domination of York (1-5).
| Rank | Team | Pts. (1st place) | Last Week |
| 1. | Western (6-0) | 279 (21) | 2 |
| 2. | Calgary (6-0) | 258 (7) | 3 |
| 3. | Laval (5-1) | 232 | 1 |
| 4. | Sherbrooke (5-1) | 205 | 4 |
| 5. | Montreal (3-3) | 172 (1) | 6 |
| 6. | McMaster (5-1) | 164 | 5 |
| 7. | Saskatchewan (3-2) | 105 | 7 |
| 8. | Saint Mary’s (4-1) | 91 | 8 |
| 9. | UBC (3-2) | 60 | 9 |
| 10. | Ottawa (4-2) | 15 | NR |
Other teams receiving votes: Queen’s (11), Acadia (5), Wilfrid Laurier (5) Concordia (3).
