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Football Weekend Watch: Top 10 clashes set in Saskatoon, Guelph

U SPORTS Staff

Top 10 matchups in Saskatoon and Guelph highlight the sixth weekend of the U SPORTS football regular schedule.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

Friday evening, nationally fourth-ranked Calgary (4-0) visits No. 9 Saskatchewan (2-2) in a rematch of last year’s Canada West final that saw the Huskies upset the previously undefeated Dinos at McMahon Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, live on Canada West TV Presented by Co-op, SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV and Bell MTS Fibe TV.

Saturday afternoon, the No. 8 Ottawa Gee-Gees (3-1) take the road to take on No. 6 Guelph (3-2) in a rematch of last November’s OUA quarter-final, won by the lower-seeded Gryphons in the nation’s capital. The action starts at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, live on OUA TV (tape delayed on Rogers TV).

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 6 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK

No. 3 Laval (3-1), No. 5 McMaster (4-1), Saint Mary’s (3-1).

FRIDAY

Concordia (1-3) at No. 2 Montreal (4-0)

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
TVA Sports

Last week (Concordia): 37-35 home win vs. Sherbrooke

Last week (Montreal): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 23, 2019 – regular season at Concordia): Montreal 10, Concordia 3

In a nutshell: With a season-opening 10-3 victory last month, Montreal extended its winning streak against its cross-town rivals to 13 contests dating back to a 21-14 home loss on Oct. 22, 2010... About to face the top-ranked defence in the country on Saturday (8.5 points / 209.3 yards per game), the Stingers finally exploded on offence last weekend with 37 points against Sherbrooke, after scoring 23 in the first three games combined.

Keep an eye on (Concordia): Veteran quarterback Adam Vance was outstanding last Saturday in the Stingers’ first win of the season, completing 24 of 33 passes for 426 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Keep an eye on (Montreal): Ryth-Jean Giraud leads the RSEQ with 338 rushing yards in four contests.

No. 4 Calgary (4-0) at No. 9 Saskatchewan (2-2)

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV

Last week (Calgary): 20-7 home win vs. Regina

Last week (Saskatchewan): 19-17 road loss vs. Alberta

Last head-to-head matchup (Nov. 10, 2018 – Canada West final at Calgary): Saskatchewan 43, Calgary 18

In a nutshell: The Huskies stunned the previously undefeated Dinos 43-18 in last year’s Canada West final, after losing both head-to-head contests in the regular season, 37-28 in Saskatoon and 33-13 in Calgary... Saskatchewan enters Saturday’s contest as the top-rushing team in Canada West (207.0 yards per game), while Calgary boasts the conference’s stingiest rush defence (85.5).

Keep an eye on (Calgary): Thanks to a 13-catch performance last Friday against Regina, Jalen Philpot moved into a tie for the Canada West lead with 25 receptions in four games.

Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): Defensive back Nelson Lokombo is tied for the U SPORTS lead with four interceptions in four games and leads the nation with 197 yards on interception returns.

SATURDAY

StFX (1-3) at Mount Allison (0-4)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1

Last week (StFX): 21-13 home loss vs. Saint Mary’s

Last week (Mount Allison): 22-15 road loss vs. Acadia

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 24, 2019 – regular season at StFX): StFX 16, Mount Allison 6

In a nutshell: In a 16-6 loss to the X-Men in Week 1, the Mounties dominated in most major statistical categories on offence (first downs, total yards, passing, rushing) and their defence finished with three interceptions, compared to none for StFX... The two teams have struggled to score so far this season, with Mount Allison (17.3 points per game) ranking fourth in the five-team AUS conference and 23rd in the country, while StFX (16.8) sits last in the AUS and 24th in the nation.

Keep an eye on (StFX): Linebacker Gordon Whyte is tied for the AUS lead in solo tackles (24) and ranks second in total tackles (28.5).

Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Defensive back Daniel Bell was outstanding last Saturday in a close loss to conference-leading Acadia with team highs in solo (6) and total tackles (7), to go with an interception.

No. 1 Western (5-0) at Windsor (1-4)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV & YourTV

Last week (Western): 9-3 road win vs. Guelph

Last week (Windsor): 47-19 road loss vs. McMaster

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 4, 2018 – regular season at Western): Western 66, Windsor 14

In a nutshell: The nationally top-ranked Mustangs have won 25 straight overall against OUA opponents dating back to a loss against Laurier in the 2016 Yates Cup final and 27 consecutive regular season contests dating back to a loss to Carleton on Sept. 4 of the same year... Western is riding a 15-game winning streak against Windsor dating back to 2003, when the Lancers beat the Mustangs twice, in the regular season and in the OUA quarter-final round.

Keep an eye on (Western): Fourth-year kicker Marc Legghio, who last Saturday became the Mustangs’ all-time leader in career field goals (80), ranks third on the Western all-time scoring list with 391 points, one point behind Frank Jagas (1990-1994), who ranks seventh in U SPORTS history.

Keep an eye on (Windsor): Linebacker Daniel Metcalfe leads the nation in total tackles (39) and tops the OUA in solo tackles (27) after five games.

York (0-5) at Waterloo (3-1)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (York): 46-12 home loss vs. Ottawa

Last week (Waterloo): 34-24 road win vs. Carleton

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 29, 2018 – regular season at York): York 34, Waterloo 32

In a nutshell: Waterloo quarterback Tre Ford and receiver Gordon Lam were exceptional in last year’s head-to-head contest despite the Warriors’ two-point loss, finishing with 437 passing yards and 259 receiving yards, respectively... On Saturday, the Warriors’ high-flying offence goes up against a Lions’ defence that ranks second in the OUA and sixth in the country against the pass (221.2 yards per game).

Keep an eye on (York): Freshman running back Darnel Jarrett leads the Lions with 47 carries in four games, 33 more than his closest teammate.

Keep an eye on (Waterloo): Coming off a 60-catch campaign in 2018, Gordon Lam leads the country this season with 31 receptions in four games.

Queen’s (2-3) at Laurier (1-3)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (Queen’s): 37-33 road win vs. Toronto

Last week (Laurier): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 2, 2018 – regular season at Queen’s): Laurier 44, Queen’s 18

In a nutshell: Laurier has won four straight head-to-head contests dating back to a 40-34 conference loss in Kingston in 2013... The two teams have posted relatively similar offensive and defensive numbers so far this season, the Golden Hawks scoring 23.3 points per game and allowing 26.3 on average, while the Gaels are averaging 22.8 points for and 28.6 against.

Keep an eye on (Queen’s): Defensive lineman Anthony Federico leads U SPORTS in sacks (5.5) and tackles for losses (10) after four games.

Keep an eye on (Laurier): The leader among active U SPORTS players with 2,908 career rushing yards, fifth-year senior Levondre Gordon is looking to become the third running back in Laurier history to reach the 3,000-yard plateau, after Dillon Campbell (3,568) and Andy Cecchini (3,061).

No. 8 Ottawa (3-1) at No. 6 Guelph (3-2)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV & tape delayed on Rogers TV

Last week (Ottawa): 46-12 road win vs. York

Last week (Guelph): 9-3 home loss vs. Western

Last head-to-head matchup (Nov. 3, 2018 – OUA semifinal at Ottawa): Guelph 27, Ottawa 22

In a nutshell: In each of the past two seasons, the Gryphons have lost to Ottawa in conference play but have ended the Gee-Gees’ campaign with playoff wins in the nation’s capital, 27-22 in the OUA semifinal round last fall and 30-8 in the quarter-finals two years ago... Both defences have excelled at rushing the quarterback so far this season, Guelph leading U SPORTS with 19 sacks in five games and Ottawa ranking second in the nation – first in the OUA - among teams that have played only four games, with 13.

Keep an eye on (Ottawa): Running back Jordan Burgher scored his first three touchdowns of the season last Saturday against York, on runs of one, 16 and 10 yards.

Keep an eye on (Guelph): Taking over from record-setting kicker Gabriel Ferraro this season, sophomore Eric Stranz has been perfect so far on his first nine career field goal attempts.

Toronto (2-2) at Carleton (1-3)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (Toronto): 37-33 home loss vs. Queen’s

Last week (Carleton): 34-24 home loss vs. Waterloo

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 22, 2018 – regular season at Toronto): Carleton 38, Toronto 26

In a nutshell: Carleton has won five straight against Toronto since a 50-10 road loss in its return to U SPORTS football in 2013... The Varsity Blues are looking to win three games in a season for the first time since 2015 (3-5)... On Saturday, the Blues’ nationally top-ranked passing offence (409.8 yards per game) goes up against a Ravens’ defence that has only one interception in four games.

Keep an eye on (Toronto): With 17 touchdown passes and 1,602 passing yards in the Blues’ first four games, Clay Sequeira is on pace to break the single-season U SPORTS record for TD passes (31) and on pace to finish the campaign with 3,204 yards, just shy of the national mark of 3,233 set a year ago by Calgary’s Adam Sinagra.

Keep an eye on (Carleton): Despite the loss to Waterloo last Saturday, veteran running back Nathan Carter racked up 106 rushing yards, his best output of the season and his first 100-yard game since Week 1.

Sherbrooke (1-3) at McGill (1-3)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
StretchTV

Last week (Sherbrooke): 37-35 road loss vs. Concordia

Last week (McGill): 37-17 road loss vs. Laval

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 13, 2019 – regular season at Sherbrooke): Sherbrooke 16, McGill 14

In a nutshell: The RSEQ rivals meet for the second time in three weeks... No team has scored more than 19 points in a game in each of the past three head-to-head contests, including the Vert & Or’s 16-14 win earlier this month... Another defensive battle is expected on Saturday as McGill ranks in the U SPORTS top 10 against the rush (8th) and against the pass (7th), while Sherbrooke ranks seventh and 11th in these categories.

Keep an eye on (Sherbrooke): Thanks to a remarkable 260-yard effort last Saturday against Concordia, running back William Tremblay-Harnois moved into the RSEQ lead with 147.7 all-purpose yards per game.

Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Andrew Seinet-Spaulding leads the RSEQ and ranks second in the country in tackles for losses (8.5).

No. 7 Acadia (4-0) at Bishop’s (2-2)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
AUStv

Last week (Acadia): 22-15 home win vs. Mount Allison

Last week (Bishop’s): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 24, 2019 – regular season at Acadia): Acadia 53, Bishop’s 13

In a nutshell: The Axemen have won seven straight regular season games going back to last year and are 5-0 against Bishop’s since the Gaiters joined the AUS in 2017... Bishop’s hadn’t won two games in a season since going 6-2 in 2013... The Axemen boast the nation’s top-scoring offence (45.0 points per game), while the Gaiters’s defence ranks first in the country among teams that have played only four games with 16 sacks.

Keep an eye on (Acadia): With 18 career rushing touchdowns, third-year running back Dale Wright needs one more to match the school record of 19 set by Brian Walling from 1982 to 1986. 

Keep an eye on (Bishop’s): Linebacker Louve Moussenguet ranks second in the AUS and third in the country with 4.5 sacks in four games.

Regina (1-3) at Manitoba (2-2)

3 p.m. ET/noon PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV

Last week (Regina): 20-7 road loss vs. Calgary

Last week (Manitoba): 37-19 home win vs. UBC

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 29, 2018 – regular season at Manitoba): Manitoba 1, Regina 0 (Regina forfeited 32-31 OT win due to ineligible player)

In a nutshell: Regina’s passing offence (313.0 yards per game) ranks first in Canada West and third in U SPORTS, while Manitoba counters with a rushing offence that ranks second in the conference and fifth in the country (192.5)... The Rams have struggled to put points on the board however as they rank fifth in the six-team Canada West conference and 20th in the nation (19.8 points per game), while the Bisons rank in the U SPORTS top 10 (29.0).

Keep an eye on (Regina): With 169 career catches, fifth-year receiver Ryan Schienbein needs one more to overtake Mitchell Picton (2013-2017) for fourth place on the Rams’ all-time list and five more to move past Chad Goldie (2004-2008) in third place.

Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Wide receiver Macho Bockru leads Canada West and is tied for the U SPORTS lead with five touchdown catches in four games.

No. 10 Alberta (3-1) at UBC (0-4)

6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op

Last week (Alberta): 19-17 home win vs. Saskatchewan

Last week (UBC): 37-19 road loss vs. Manitoba

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 20, 2018 – regular season at UBC): UBC 30, Alberta 11

In a nutshell: The Golden Bears are 3-1 at the midway point of the season for the first time since 2005, when they started 4-0, lost their fifth league game, and finished with a 7-1 record... The winless Thunderbirds are in the midst of a challenging season, ranking last in U SPORTS on defence (42.5 points per game) and 26th out of 27 on offence (13.8).

Keep an eye on (Alberta): Coming off a 330-yard game against Saskatchewan, Brad Launhardt leads Canada West with 1,182 passing yards in four contests.

Keep an eye on (UBC): Linebacker Nick Cross leads the nation in solo tackles (30) and tops Canada West in total tackles (35).