Gryphons.ca
CIS-SIC.ca Staff
OTTAWA (CIS) – The Laval Rouge et Or (6-0) top the CIS football national rankings for the eighth time in as many media polls this season following another remarkable performance by rookie sensation Hugo Richard.
For the eighth consecutive week, the reigning two-time Vanier Cup champions received all 30 first-place votes and a perfect 300 points from the Football Reporters of Canada panel.
While the Calgary Dinos (5-1) and McMaster Marauders (7-0) hold on to the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively, there is a lot of movement behind the leading trio in the new media poll.
Following in order are the Montreal Carabins (5-1 / up one position) and Guelph Gryphons (6-1 / up two), who find themselves in a tie for fourth place, the No. 6 Western Mustangs (5-2 / down two), No. 7 Mount Allison Mounties (7-0 / no change), No. 8 Concordia Stingers (4-2 / up one), No. 9 Manitoba Bisons (3-3 / previously unranked) and No. 10 Saskatchewan Huskies (4-2 / down two).
Top-ranked Laval dominated Bishop’s 64-3 on Sunday in front of 13,242 in Quebec City to extend its CIS-record streaks for consecutive wins overall (24) and consecutive victories on home turf (69).
Quarterback Hugo Richard continued to make a case for rookie-of-the-year or even league-MVP honours as he threw for an RSEQ-record seven touchdown passes along with 506 yards, a new team standard, in three quarters of action. The super freshman currently leads the country in passing yards per game (343.5) and TD strikes (19), while his completion percentage (68.4) ranks second in the nation.
Meanwhile at Guelph, in the most-anticipated game of the past weekend, Daniel Ferraro kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1.7 seconds left on the clock to lift the Gryphons to a thrilling 49-46 triumph over Western. Senior quarterback Jazz Lindsey was also a major factor in the win with a school-record 514 yards and four touchdowns through the air.
Other results from Top-10 teams over the weekend included Calgary 52, Alberta 37 (at Alberta); McMaster 27, Laurier 10 (at McMaster); Mount Allison 33, Acadia 5 (at Acadia); Manitoba 41, Saskatchewan 8 (at Manitoba).
Montreal and Concordia both enjoyed a break in their RSEQ schedule.
Western is once again involved in the CIS “game of the week” this coming weekend as league play comes to an end in Ontario. The Mustangs host Windsor (5-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. for third place in the OUA standings (Rogers TV & Rogers Sports + & OUA.TV).
NOTES: The 50th TELUS Vanier Cup Tour makes a pair of visits to Sherbrooke, Que., on Saturday, stopping at Bishop’s for the Carabins-Gaiters duel at 1 p.m. (live on Radio-Canada) before making its way down the road for the Concordia-Sherbrooke contest at 4 p.m…. For all the information on the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup (including ticket info) visit vaniercup.com.
| Week 7 Rankings | |||||
| Rank | School | Record | FRC Points | 1st Place | Last week |
| 1 | Laval | (5-0) | 300 | 30 | 1 |
| 2 | Calgary | (4-1) | 267 | – | 2 |
| 3 | McMaster | (6-0) | 242 | – | 3 |
| T4 | Montreal | (5-1) | 193 | – | 4 |
| T4 | Guelph | (6-1) | 193 | – | 6 |
| 6 | Western | (5-2) | 135 | – | 4 |
| 7 | Mount Allison | (7-0) | 126 | – | 7 |
| 8 | Concordia | (4-2) | 78 | – | 9 |
| 9 | Manitoba | (3-3) | 48 | – | NR |
| 10 | Saskatchewan | (4-2) | 34 | – | 8 |
Other teams receiving votes: Sherbrooke (33) and Windsor (4).
