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Vanier Cup champs open new season at No. 1 Huskies squeeze into 10th spot
CIS Office
August 28, 2007
OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval University Rouge et Or are a unanimous choice to lead the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport football Top 10 of the 2007 season.
Nine months removed from a 13-8 Vanier Cup win over the Saskatchewan Huskies that gave them a third CIS title in four years, the Quebec City-based Rouge et Or received all 14 first-place votes in the national media poll.
Looking to become the first team in history to capture four Vanier Cups in a span of five years, Laval kicked off its 2007 campaign on Sunday with a 20-2 exhibition win over the Western Ontario Mustangs, and is set to open the regular season on the road against the Sherbrooke Vert & Or on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Rounding out the initial Top 10 are Vanier finalist and reigning Canada West champion Saskatchewan, the defending OUA titlist Ottawa Gee-Gees, the 2006 Canada West finalist Manitoba Bisons, the Montreal Carabins - the only team to defeat Laval in 2006 -, the 2006 Quebec finalist Concordia Stingers, Western Ontario, the 2006 OUA finalist Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the McMaster Marauders, and the 2006 AUS finalist Saint Mary’s Huskies.
The 2007 CIS football regular season gets under way on Labour Day Weekend with three Canada West match-ups and five OUA duels, beginning on Friday night with No. 2 Saskatchewan hosting Alberta and Calgary visiting Simon Fraser (see below for a complete Week 1 and Week 2 schedule).
This year’s national semifinals will see the Quebec champions travel to Atlantic Canada for the Uteck Bowl and the OUA champions visit the top team in Canada West for the Mitchell Bowl. The Vanier Cup championship game will be a Friday night affair at Rogers Centre in Toronto, on November 23.
No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or
2006: 1st in conference (7-1), 11-1 overall, Vanier Cup champions
2007 opener: at Sherbrooke, Sept. 8
Laval returns a majority of starters, with only two notable losses on offence and as many on defence from its 2006 championship team. Third-year quarterback Benoit Groulx was the Quebec nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy a year ago after leading the nation in completion percentage for the second straight season and setting a new conference single-season mark for passing yards (2422). A trio of Rouge et Or seniors are vying to become the first players in history to claim four Vanier Cup rings, including 2006 Vanier Cup MVP, linebacker Éric Maranda, 2006 All-Canadian running back Pierre-Luc Yao, and wide receiver Duane John.
“We will be a more experienced team this time around, that’s for sure,” says Laval head coach Glen Constantin, who is looking to tie Calgary’s Peter Connellan for most Vanier Cup victories by a head coach, with four. “But it would be a big mistake to believe all the good things people say about us and think we’re going to cruise through the season. The talent is there, but we’ll have to make sure we progress all season and we peak at the right time.”
No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies
2006: 2nd in conference (6-2), 9-3 overall, Vanier Cup finalists
2007 opener: at home vs. Alberta, Aug. 31
The Huskies tied a CIS record last fall when they reached the national final for the fourth time in five years, but once again came up short in their bid to become the first Canada West team to capture the Vanier Cup since they hoisted the trophy themselves in 1998. One question mark this year could be the offensive line. The dominating unit that helped the Huskies lead the nation with an astounding average of 278 rushing yards per game in 2006 is losing a number of key members, including two-time All-Canadian Chris Sutherland, but can still count on First Team All-Canadian Jordan Rempel, fresh off a CFL training camp with Hamilton. On defence, junior safety Dylan Barker is a potential first-round pick in next year’s CFL draft.
No. 3 Ottawa Gee-Gees
2006: 1st in conference (7-1), 9-2 overall, OUA champions
2007 opener: at Guelph, Sept. 3
Ottawa came “Oh so close” a year ago, dropping a heartbreaking, 35-28 decision at home to Saskatchewan in the Mitchell Bowl, a game in which the Gee-Gees never trailed until the final minute. Ottawa returns most of the dominating team that allowed the fewest points in the nation in conference play in 2006 (97) and claimed its victories by an average of 22.4 points, second only to the Manitoba Bisons. Fourth-year quarterback Josh Sacobie (1860 yds, 13 TDs, 5 INTs) had a breakthrough season last fall earning a spot on the second All-Canadian team.
No. 4 Manitoba Bisons
2006: 1st in conference (8-0), 9-1 overall, Canada West finalists
2007 opener: at Regina, Sept. 1
If it were up to them, the Manitoba Bisons would most likely jump right ahead to September 22, the day they are set to host their nemesis, the Saskatchewan Huskies. Manitoba entered last year’s Canada West final with a 9-0 overall record only to be dominated by the Huskies 32-15 in the title match, marking the second time in four seasons the Huskies ousted the Bisons from the playoffs following an unblemished regular schedule. After scoring 363 points in 2006, 76 more than any other team in the country, the Bisons will field one of the most experienced teams in the nation this fall, including 20 returning starters and 37 players with three or more years of CIS experience, including 11 fifth-year seniors.
No. 5 Montreal Carabins
2006: 3rd in conference (6-2), 6-3 overall, lost in QUFL semis
2007 opener: at McGill, Sept. 6
Montreal enjoyed a season of ups and downs in 2006. The Carabins dropped their first two contests under new head coach Marc Santerre, followed up with a six-game winning streak, only to suffer a disappointing 23-3 loss to Concordia in the Quebec conference semis. While the offence will have to overcome the loss of record-breaking running back Joseph Mroué, who holds the QUFL single-season (1046 yards) and career (3367) rushing marks, the defence will once again be led by junior lineman Martin Gagné, who has 12.5 sacks in 16 career games and was named a First Team All-Canadian in each of his first two university campaigns.
No. 6 Concordia Stingers
2006: 2nd in conference (6-2), 7-3 overall, QUFL finalists
2007 opener: at home vs. Bishop’s, Sept. 7
Perennial contenders in Quebec, the Stingers bid farewell to a number of key elements following the 2006 season, none bigger than two-time reigning CIS defensive player of the year, linebacker Patrick Donovan. Also gone are starting quarterback and 2005 Hec Crighton Trophy nominee Scott Syvret, two-time All-Canadian punter Mike Renaud, and 2005 All-Canadian kicker Warren Kean, who set a CIS single-game record last fall with nine field goals. Despite the loss of Donovan, the defensive unit led by two-time All-Canadian halfback Sammy Okpro remains one of the best in the nation and should once again help Concordia contend for one of the top spots in Quebec.
No. 7 Western Ontario Mustangs
2006: 5th in conference (5-3), 6-4 overall, lost in OUA semis
2007 opener: at home vs. Queen’s, Sept. 3
The biggest change in London in 2007 is undoubtedly on the sidelines, as former Mustang great Greg Marshall, who acted as offensive coordinator last fall, takes over head-coaching duties from Larry Haylor, the winningest coach in CIS football history with 178 victories to his credit. Marshall led McMaster to the Yates Cup title in each of his last four seasons as a CIS bench boss from 2000-2003. Led by fifth-year running back Randy McAuley on offence and fifth-year defensive back Nick Kordic on defence, the Mustangs aim for a first OUA crown since 1998, their biggest title drought since an 11-year dry spell from 1960-1970.
No. 8 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
2006: 2nd in conference (6-2), 7-3 overall, OUA finalists
2007 opener: at home vs. No. 9 McMaster, Sept. 3
The Golden Hawks lost many key elements following their Vanier Cup victory in 2005, and then some more following their fourth straight Yates Cup final appearance in 2006. Laurier took its biggest hits on defence with the departures of four All-Canadians, including reigning OUA defensive MVP, linebacker Jesse Alexander, linebacker Yannick Carter, who led the country with 9.5 sacks last fall, as well as defensive backs Justin Phillips and Josh Maltin. Starting quarterback Jamie Partington is also gone, leaving the No. 1 job in the hands of Ian Noble, who attempted a total of 14 passes in 2006. The Hawks should have a good idea of where they stand early as they face perennial contender McMaster in week one, and reigning Hec Crighton Trophy winner Daryl Stephenson and the Windsor Lancers in week two.
No. 9 McMaster Marauders
2006: 3rd in conference (6-2), 6-3 overall, lost in OUA quarters
2007 opener: at No. 8 Laurier, Sept. 3
McMaster and second-year head coach Stefan Ptaszek hope to rebound from a disappointing OUA quarterfinal loss to Queen’s and return to the Yates Cup championship game after a three-year absence. In order to achieve their objective, the Marauders will need a solid season from fifth-year quarterback Adam Archibald, as the offence tries to recover from the departures of running backs Andre Sadeghian (BC Lions) and Jordan Kozina (focusing on rugby). Sadeghian scored 12 touchdowns and averaged over 100 yards rushing per game last fall in his sole season with the Marauders after transferring from UBC, while Kozina rushed for 1191 yards in his first university campaign in 2005, the second highest total for a rookie in CIS history.
No. 10 Saint Mary’s Huskies
2006: 2nd in conference (3-4), 4-5 overall, AUS finalists
2007 opener: at StFX, Sept. 8
2006 was a year of transition for Saint Mary’s, following the departure of highly successful head coach Blake Nill for Calgary. The Huskies suffered through a 3-4 regular schedule, their first losing season since 1997. However, second-year sideline boss Steve Sumarah is optimistic on the eve of the new season with the return of no less than 67 players, including two-sport star Eric Glavic, who was 3-0 as the starting quarterback in his rookie campaign. A solid defensive unit will be anchored by 2006 All-Canadians, lineman Clayton Chiurka and corner Jeff Zelinski. The Huskies drew a challenging inter-conference schedule with a road date with No. 1 Laval and a home tilt with No. 6 Concordia.
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 15 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) 140 (10) -
2. Saskatchewan (0-0) 115 -
3. Ottawa (0-0) 112 -
4. Manitoba (0-0) 105 -
5. Montreal (0-0) 55 -
6. Concordia (0-0) 53 -
7. Western (0-0) 46 -
8. Laurier (0-0) 42 -
9. McMaster (0-0) 27 -
10. Saint Mary’s (0-0) 23 -
Other teams receiving votes: Regina (17), Acadia (13), UBC (6), Windsor (6), Calgary (5), Sherbrooke (4).
CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 1 & WEEK 2 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)
Week 1
Friday, Aug. 31
7:00 pm Calgary at Simon Fraser
7:00 pm Alberta at No. 2 Saskatchewan (Shaw TV / Access in Regina)
Saturday, Sept. 1
3:00 pm No. 4 Manitoba at Regina
Monday, Sept. 3
1:00 pm Waterloo at Toronto
1:00 pm No. 3 Ottawa at Guelph
2:00 pm York at Windsor
2:00 pm No. 9 McMaster at No. 8 Laurier
7:00 pm Queen’s at No. 7 Western
Week 2
Tuesday, Sept. 4
7:00 pm Simon Fraser at UBC
Thursday, Sept. 6
7:00 pm No. 5 Montreal at McGill
Friday, Sept. 7
7:00 pm Bishop’s at No. 6 Concordia (RDS)
Saturday, Sept. 8
1:00 pm No. 7 Western at No. 9 McMaster
1:00 pm York at Waterloo
1:00 pm No. 2 Saskatchewan at Calgary
2:00 pm Mount Allison at Acadia
2:00 pm No. 10 Saint Mary’s at StFX (EastLink)
2:00 pm No. 4 Manitoba at UBC (Shaw TV / Access in Regina)
2:00 pm Regina at Alberta
4:00 pm No. 1 Laval at Sherbrooke
6:30 pm Windsor at No. 8 Laurier
7:00 pm Toronto at No. 3 Ottawa
Sunday, Sept. 9
1:25 pm Guelph at Queen’s
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-one members, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 19 national championships in 11 different sports. The CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, and 27 World University Championships. For further information, visit www.universitysport.ca <http://www.universitysport.ca>
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