CIS Football Report (Week 7)
The CIS season is quickly coming to a close for many teams with only a few games left for almost every team. As the league begins to close out the playoff race heats up for teams that are looking to play football late into November. The OUA is already coming through their season as they get into the playoffs with many teams only having two games left in their season. This week the playoff picture became much clearer for the conference with many teams solidifying where they stand. With the addition of the Carleton Ravens the playoff race will look different this year as a number of teams will play their 8th game next week. For some teams next week will be the last week of the season while more will have two games left before their regular season ends. The OUA has already seen many teams punch their ticket to the playoffs including some of the best teams in the CIS. The Western Mustangs took over the top spot in the CIS Top 10 last week and they would clinch their playoff spot already. With an undefeated season underway and only one week to go the Mustangs have looked like the biggest threat to the Laval Rouge et Or’s claim to the Vanier Cup. They have taken on all challengers and continued to win in a big way almost never being challenged for the top spot. Still they are not out of the woods yet with teams still able to challenge them for the top spot. With only one game left for the Mustangs and it will not be the biggest challenge against the York Lions. The Mustangs look to be on their way to a first place finish and a first round bye. Right behind them are the Guelph Gryphons who have had their own great season and have remained undefeated on the season. With two more weeks left they could end up in a tie for first with the Mustangs but with the Mustangs points differential the Gryphons will likely sit in second place. That could still earn them a bye though as they march towards one of the top spots in the conference. Challenging the Gryphons for the last bye will be the Queen’s Golden Gaels who have lost to the Western Mustangs this year to take their only loss of the year. They are looking good and with two games left, including one against Guelph, the Gaels could earn that second spot in the conference. Rounding out the top 5 of the conference are two surprises in Ottawa and Windsor who were both pegged to fight it out for the bottom of the playoff picture but are both sitting comfortably in the playoffs. Both teams are sitting in playoff spots with good point differentials and need to avoid any blowout losses if they hope to clinch their spots. The biggest race will be for the 6th and final spot in the playoffs with the McMaster Marauders holding a slight lead at the moment. Toronto and York are breathing down their neck for the last spot in the playoffs. The Marauders will need to win both games against Laurier and Carleton which may be easy as both teams sit at the bottom of the conference. Toronto and York will also have to run the table with the Red and Blue Bowl coming up between both that could mean the difference in the playoff race. The next two weeks of the season for the OUA will make all the difference for the playoff race as teams continue to fight for the playoffs with few chances to make their way to the playoffs. The rest of the CIS continues their fight as well with two weeks left for many of them as well and a bye week coming for the CanWest and RSEQ conferences. The races will continue as the season begins to close out and the playoffs are on the horizon and November football is right around the corner.
CIS Top 10:
1. Western Mustangs (2)
2. Laval Rouge et Or (1)
3. Calgary Dinos (5)
4. Guelph Gryphons (6)
5. Queen’s Golden Gaels (3)
6. Saskatchewan Huskies (7)
7. Montreal Carabins (4)
8. Bishop’s Gaiters (8)
9. McMaster Marauders (9)
10. Manitoba Bisons (10)
-To Be Updated-
CIS Standings
AUS:
1. Saint Mary’s Huskies (6)
2. StFX X-Men (6)
3. Acadia Axemen (4)
4. Mount Allison Mounties (2)
CanWest:
1. x-Calgary Dinos (12)
2. Saskatchewan Huskies (8)
3. Manitoba Bisons (6)
4. UBC Thunderbirds (6)
5. Regina Rams (4)
6. Alberta Golden Bears (0)
OUA:
1. x-Western Mustangs (14)
2. x-Guelph Gryphons (12)
3. x-Queen’s Golden Gaels (10)
4. Ottawa Gee Gees (8)
5. Windsor Lancers (8)
6. McMaster Marauders (6)
7. Toronto Varsity Blues (4)
8. York Lions (4)
9. Waterloo Warriors (2)
10. Laurier Golden Hawks (2)
11. Carleton Ravens (0)
RSEQ:
1. x-Laval Rouge et Or (12)
2. Bishop’s Gaiters (8)
3. Montreal Carabins (8)
4. McGill Redmen (6)
5. Sherbrooke Vert et Or (4)
6. Concordia Stingers (0)
x-Clinched Playoff Spot
y-Clinched First Round Bye
Key Scores:
#8 Bishop’s Gaiters 30 – 29 McGill Redmen
– The Redmen are looking at what could be their most successful years in a long time as they may earn a playoff spot this year but their hopes got a little worse after losing a very close game to the Gaiters
#3 Calgary Dinos 24 – 12 Saskatchewan Huskies #6
– The Dinos would once again take on one of their biggest challengers to the CanWest crown and once again they would easily get by the challenge beating the Huskies and getting one step closer to clinching the top spot in the conference
Saint Mary’s Huskies 17 – 10 Acadia Axemen
– The Huskies and Axemen continued their rivalry this week as both teams were looking to take the win and to take the top spot in the conference and it would be the Huskies who came out on top for the second time this year and took over the top spot
#5 Queen’s Golden Gaels 40 – 34 Laurier Golden Hawks (OT)
– The Gaels are looking to continue their climb up the ladder to the top of the OUA conference and to earn a first round bye in the playoffs and they would get one step closer in a very tough game beating the Golden Hawks in overtime
Next Week:
Toronto Varsity Blues vs. York Lions (Thursday October 10th; 7:00 pm ET)
– The Red & Blue Bowl will get underway once again as the longtime Toronto Rivalry takes on a bit of new meaning with both teams needing this win if they hope to earn a playoff spot that both teams have been waiting for
Saint Mary’s Huskies vs. Acadia Axemen (Friday October 11th; 7:00 pm ADT)
– The turnaround for the rivalry in the AUS will not be very long as the Huskies are looking to go 3-0 on the season against the Axemen while Acadia is trying to take at least one game of the season series and move back to the top of the conference
Guelph Gryphons vs. Carleton Ravens (Friday October 11th; 7:00 pm ET)
– The Gryphons are on their way to one of their best seasons yet and are hoping for a bye in the playoffs as they could solidify their spot with a win over the Ravens who are still looking for their first win of the season
StFX X-Men vs. Mount Allison Mounties Saturday October 12th; 2:00 pm ADT)
– The X-Men would take full advantage of the rivalry game between Acadia and Saint Mary’s as they would beat the Mounties to move to second place and they will look to pad their lead again this week by beating the Mounties for the second time in a row
The Sport Addiction 