CIS Football Report (Week 7)
When the 2015 CIS season began the league was looking at a potential shift in the dominant teams throughout the country.
The Laval Rouge et Or and the Calgary Dinos ended their seasons not on top for the first time in a long time.
For 11 years Laval had won the Dunsmore Cup as the champions of the RSEQ conference while the Dinos had done the same in the CanWest for six years.
It was two very long periods of great teams continuing to make their way to the national playoffs.
That was until the 2014 season when both team lost their championships for the first time in a long time.
The Rouge et Or dropped the Dunsmore Cup to the Montreal Carabins while the Dinos dropped the Hardy Trophy to the Manitoba Bisons.
Both were shockers in the CIS and led to a new look in the national playoffs which saw the Carabins and add to their championship collection by winning the Vanier Cup.
The new champions raised some questions in the CIS as well with many wondering if it was the beginning of a new era.
When the season was about to start many wondered if the Rouge et Or and the Dinos could return to the top of their conference or if last year marked the start of a new era.
As the season winds down with only three weeks left for the RSEQ and the CanWest conferences the answers for many of the questions at the start of the season are clearly being answered.
The Rouge et Or began their year against the team that beat them for the championship last year.
They got by the Carabins, even if it was a close fight between both teams, and since then have never dropped a game.
They have put themselves in a great situation to earn themselves a spot in the playoffs.
They are sitting in first place four points ahead of the Carabins and could still drop out but seem like they have a good shot of running it to the end.
In Week 8 the Rouge et Or have another big test as they take on the Carabins for the second time this year.
That game will be a major factor in the conference but it is not necessarily the end to Laval’s year.
So far they have continued what they had been doing for years before the 2014 season and if they can continued to play to that level they could very well find themselves back in the Vanier Cup.
The Calgary Dinos have been unstoppable a year after dropping the championship game.
Their only matchup against the Bisons this year was an easy 46-38 win proving that they were ready to take on all comers.
Now the Dinos rank as the best team in the country and they have yet to lose a game.
Much like the Rouge et Or they sit at the top of the conference four points ahead of their closest competition.
They seem likely to find themselves in the playoffs at some point soon as they continue their season.
The RSEQ and CanWest may see a return to the norm this year while they might be joined by the OUA.
The Western Mustangs have clinched their playoff spot this year alongside the usual suspect in the Guelph Gryphons and the McMaster Marauders.
The Carleton Ravens will be a new addition to the playoffs this year but for now the top three teams remain the best in the conference for another year.
The AUS is slightly different so far as the Mount Allison Mounties are getting a great test from the Acadia Axemen rather than easily taking their third straight title.
The playoffs are coming and as it stands the league may not be as changed as some thought it would be with most of the dominant teams remaining at the top for another year.
Whether they will win the champions remains to be seen though as the playoffs are the second season and one mistake can sink a season.
Key Scores:
Western Mustangs 58 – 2 Toronto Varsity Blues
– The Blues had a chance to prove that they are ready to take the next step as they took on the best team in the conference and the Mustangs were more than ready to introduce them to another level as the Blues stayed out of the playoffs with a big loss
Acadia Axemen 47 – 9 Saint Mary’s Huskies
– The two rivals showed how much they have changed roles this year as the Huskies were always the team to beat but this year has not been the same as the Axemen easily got by Saint Mary’s to remain in a tie for first
Laurier Golden Hawks 65 – 30 Ottawa Gee Gees
– It was an important game for the playoff picture in the OUA as the Gee Gees were sitting just inside the playoffs and the Hawks just outside but Laurier proved they were a better team putting up 65 points to take over the final playoff spot
Mount Allison Mounties 27 – 17 StFX X-Men
– The Mounties were looking to stay among the top teams in the AUS and they got it done although not as easy as they had hoped with the X-Men putting up a fight but falling short as the Mounties remained on top of the conference
Next Week:
Calgary Dinos vs. Saskatchewan Huskies (Friday October 16th; 7:00 pm CST)
– The Huskies are in a fight for the last playoff spot in the CanWest but they have a tough go of it this week when they take on the #1 team in the country looking to hold on to their slim lead for fourth place
Mount Allison Mounties vs. Acadia Axemen (Saturday October 17th; 2:00 pm ADT)
– This could very well be the deciding game in the race for the AUS as the Mounties and Axemen look to break the tie for the top of the conference and take over first place and try to get a step closer to a bye
McMaster Marauders vs. Laurier Golden Hawks (Saturday October 17th; 1:00 pm EDT)
– The Hawks are in the midst of a great battle for the last playoff spot and need a win to keep that spot while the Marauders have already stamped their ticket and are looking to move up to earn a bye
Laval Rouge et Or vs. Montreal Carabins (Saturday October 17th; 2:00 pm EDT)
– The two biggest rivals in the RSEQ face-off once more in the season as the Rouge et Or look for a repeat of their 12-9 win to start the season and the Carabins hope to get a win and move closer to first place
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