UBC quarterback Michael O'Connor, seen here playing at East-West-Bowl, will hope to lead the T-Birds back to the Vanier Cup. (U SPORTS Photo/Michel Bélanger)
The 2018 U SPORTS season began with a bang last weekend, as reigning champion Western was pushed to the brink by Carleton and Waterloo quarterback Tre Ford threw for a ridiculous six touchdowns.
Week 2 means different things for different conferences; Ontario, Atlantic and Quebec schools are looking to build momentum into the middle portion of their seasons, while Canada West programs aim to get their seasons started on the right foot.
UBC and Calgary will once again be the odds-on favourites to emerge from the CW Conference; Blake Nill’s Thunderbirds added former Ticats offensive coordinator Stef Ptaszek to their staff, while the Dinos will hope senior quarterback Adam Sinagra can lead them to the promised land with a deep receiver group.
UBC senior quarterback Michael O’Connor transferred to UBC from Penn State, and promptly won a Vanier Cup in 2015. Expectations are high on the Pacific coast this season. (U SPORTS Photo/Mathieu Bélanger)
This week’s #UniversityBlitz matchups are:
Acadia @ St. FX (AUS) | Friday, 6 p.m. ET
The reigning AUS champions open their season on the road at St. FX (0-1) on Friday night in a rematch of an Aug. 18 pre-season game. Acadia won 15-4 that day, and swept the X-Men (38-24, 35-17) last season; the Axemen are seen as AUS favourites again this year, while St. FX struggled to generate offence in its season-opening loss at Saint Mary’s.
Alberta @ Saskatchewan (CW) | Friday, 9 p.m. ET
Two CW Conference teams looking to improve on sub-.500 records in 2017 will meet in Saskatoon on Friday evening. U. of S. is entering year two under former Montreal Alouette Scott Flory, after posting a disappointing 2-6 record last season — the program’s worst since 2000. Alberta, meanwhile, broke a seven-year playoff drought last season but will need to fill the holes left by CFLers Mark Korte and Justin Lawrence on its offensive line.
Sherbrooke @ McGill (RSEQ) | Saturday, 2 p.m. ET
The Vert et Or travel to McGill to face the Redmen in a game which might be closer than some think. While Sherbrooke (0-1) is traditionally the stronger of the two programs, McGill (0-1) managed to split the season series last year. Both offences will be looking to break out after being limited to a combined one point in Week-1 losses.
Laurier @ Queen’s (OUA) | Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET
Two teams gunning for deep playoff runs will meet at Queen’s University’s beautiful Richardson Stadium on Sunday night, as the Golden Hawks (1-0) visit the Gaels (1-0). Laurier has been amongst the OUA’s perennial contenders for the past player cycle, while Queen’s has played .500 football and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2013.
Senior St. FX receiver Kaion Julien-Grant has hauled in eight touchdowns in each of the last two seasons: The X-Men will need him to step up against Acadia. (U SPORTS Photo/Nick Pearce)
Week 2 U SPORTS Schedule
Friday, August 31
AUS | Acadia at St. FX | 6 p.m. ET
CW | Calgary at Regina | 8 p.m. ET
CW | Alberta at Saskatchewan | 9 p.m. ET
Saturday, September 1
RSEQ | Sherbrooke at McGill | 2 p.m. ET
AUS | Saint Mary’s at Bishop’s | 7 p.m. ET
OUA | Waterloo at Toronto | 7 p.m. ET
RSEQ | Concordia at Laval |
CW | Manitoba at BC | 10 p.m. ET
Sunday, September 2
OUA | McMaster at Ottawa | 2 p.m. ET
OUA | Laurier at Queen’s | 6:30 p.m. ET
Monday, September 3
OUA | York at Guelph | 1 p.m. ET
OUA | Carleton at Windsor | 3 p.m. ET
