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U SPORTS Football Weekend Watch: Regular season comes to an end, playoffs kick off in OUA

U SPORTS Staff

Week 10 of the U SPORTS football season marks the start of the OUA playoffs and the end of league play in the three other conferences.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

The OUA post-season kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT with a pair of quarter-final matchups streamed live on OUA TV, including Carleton (4-4) at nationally third-ranked Guelph (6-2) and Waterloo (4-4) at No. 9 Ottawa (5-3).

In Canada West, Calgary (5-2) and Saskatchewan (4-3) are the only teams that can finish atop the standings but the complete playoff picture – which also includes Alberta (4-3) and Manitoba (4-3) – is far from crystal clear.

In the RSEQ, Laval (6-1) and Montreal (6-2) have secured the top two spots, while McGill (2-5), Concordia (2-5) and Sherbrooke (2-5) are vying for the two remaining berths.

In the AUS, Acadia (7-0) has clinched first place and Bishop’s (4-4), Mount Allison (3-4) and Saint Mary’s (3-4) are still battling for the two other tickets.

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 10 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK

Bye Week (regular season): No. 6 Montreal (6-2), Bishop’s (4-4)

Bye Week (OUA playoffs): No. 1 Western (8-0), No. 4 McMaster (6-2)

Season Over: Laurier (4-4), Queen’s (3-5), Toronto (2-6), Windsor (1-7), York (1-7)

FRIDAY (REGULAR SEASON)

No. 10 Manitoba (4-3) at Regina (2-5)

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 (Manitoba): 43-29 home win vs. Calgary

Last week (Regina): 31-17 road win vs. Alberta

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 28, 2019 – regular season at Manitoba): Manitoba 27, Regina 26

In a nutshell: Currently tied at 4-3 with Saskatchewan and Alberta, the Bisons have secured a playoff berth and will likely finish third (three-way tie at 5-3) or fourth (tied at 4-4)... The only scenario that would see Manitoba end up in second place would require the Bisons to finish in a three-way tie with Calgary and Saskatchewan at 5-3 and make up 50 points on Calgary this weekend (Manitoba’s point differential is currently +12, while Calgary’s is +61)... Regina is out of post-season contention for the second straight year, a first for the Rams since 2004 and 2005... Last Saturday, Manitoba upset Calgary 43-29 despite a decisive advantage for the Dinos in total offence (532 yards to 285).

Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Tied for the team lead with three interceptions in seven games, defensive back Shae Weekes returned a pick on 89 yards for a touchdown last Saturday against Calgary. 

Keep an eye on (Regina): With 180 receptions heading into the final game of his university career, Ryan Schienbein needs one more catch to take sole possession of second place on the Rams’ all-time list and 11 more to match the school record of 191 held by Jared Janotta.

SATURDAY (REGULAR SEASON)

StFX (1-6) at Saint Mary’s (3-4)

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

Last week (StFX): Bye

Last week (Saint Mary’s): 28-18 road loss vs. Acadia

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 21, 2019 – regular season at StFX): Saint Mary’s 21, StFX 13

In a nutshell: New AUS champions will be crowned next month as StFX is out of playoff contention for the first time since 2013... Saint Mary’s would qualify for the post-season with a win on Saturday (either in second or third place) and would be eliminated with a loss (fourth place)... The Huskies’ pass defence ranks third in the country (189.0 yards per game), while the X-Men’s passing offence ranks last in the nation (155.7).

Keep an eye on (StFX): Linebacker Gordon Whyte leads the AUS in solo tackles (43) and total tackles (52).

Keep an eye on (Saint Mary’s): With 64 career field goals, fourth-year kicker Brian Hope is one shy of the all-time AUS and school record set by Justin Palardy (2006-2009).

No. 5 Acadia (7-0) at Mount Allison (3-4)

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

Last week (Acadia): 28-18 home win vs. Saint Mary’s

Last week (Mount Allison): 35-13 home win vs. Bishop’s

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 21, 2019 – regular season at Acadia): Acadia 22, Mount Allison 15

In a nutshell: Acadia has already secured first place in the AUS standings – and a berth in the Loney Bowl final - for the second time in three years, is vying to become the first team from the conference to go 8-0 since Mount Allison in 2014, and hopes to complete the program’s first unblemished league schedule since 1986 (7-0)... Mount Allison can still finish second, third or fourth, the only scenario that would see the Mounties missing the playoffs being a loss on Saturday combined to a Saint Mary’s win over StFX... Ranked first in the country in both scoring (39.4 points per game) and total offence (490.6 yards per game), the Axemen face a Mounties’ defence that leads the AUS and ranks in the top four nationally in points (18.3), total yards (300.6) and passing yards (178.3) allowed per contest.

Keep an eye on (Acadia): Running back Dale Wright leads the AUS in rushing yards (729) and rushing touchdowns (7) after picking up 103 yards and two majors on 21 carries last Saturday.

Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Defensive back Daniel Bell was sensational last Saturday in the Mounties’ third straight win, racking up a game-high six solo tackles, including three for a loss and two sacks, one interception and a fumble recovery.

No. 2 Laval (6-1) at Sherbrooke (2-5)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
TVA Sports

Last week (Laval): 16-3 home win vs. Montreal

Last week (Sherbrooke): 27-19 home loss vs. Concordia

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 25, 2019 – regular season at Laval): Laval 41, Sherbrooke 10

In a nutshell: Having already secured first place in the RSEQ standings for the third straight campaign and for the 14th time in 15 years, Laval hasn’t lost two games in the same regular season since 2002 and is 32-0 overall against Sherbrooke since the Vert & Or returned to university football in 2003... Currently tied with Concordia and McGill at 2-5, Sherbrooke would qualify for the playoffs with a win and would be eliminated with a loss... On Saturday, the Rouge et Or’s nationally top-ranked defence (8.9 points and 242.9 total yards allowed per game) goes up against a Vert & Or offence that ranks 23rd in points scored (17.9) and 25th in total yards (299.4).

Keep an eye on (Laval): Defensive back Maxym Lavallée had his first three sacks of the season last Sunday against Montreal, part of a seven-sack afternoon for Laval’s stingy defensive unit.

 Keep an eye on (Sherbrooke): With 17 field goals entering the Vert & Or’s league finale, Louis Tardif is three shy of the single-season school record set in 2010 by William Dion.

McGill (2-5) at Concordia (2-5)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
Yare TV

Last week (McGill): Bye

Last week (Concordia): 27-19 road win vs. Sherbrooke

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 30, 2019 – regular season at McGill): McGill 40, Concordia 14

In a nutshell: The winner of Saturday’s duel will make the playoffs, while the loser would still qualify with a loss if Sherbrooke loses to Laval but would be eliminated if the Vert & Or upset the Rouge et Or... Both teams have struggled to put points on the board this fall as Concordia (14.9 points per game) and McGill (14.4) rank next-to-last and last in the country in scoring, respectively... McGill hasn’t swept a two-game regular season series against cross-town rival Concordia since 2013.

Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Andrew Seinet-Spaulding is tied for the RSEQ lead in sacks (6) and also leads the conference with 12.5 tackles for a loss, only 1.5 behind national leader Anthony Federico of Queen’s, who completed his season last weekend.

Keep an eye on (Concordia): James Tyrrell is the RSEQ leader with 48 receptions (third in U SPORTS) and 704 receiving yards (fifth in U SPORTS).

Alberta (4-3) at No. 7 Saskatchewan (4-3)

4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV

Last week (Alberta): 31-17 home loss vs. Regina

Last week (Saskatchewan): 38-37 road loss vs. UBC

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 21, 2019 – regular season at Alberta): Alberta 19, Saskatchewan 17

In a nutshell: Both teams have clinched a playoff spot, Saskatchewan for the 18th time in 19 years (missed 2017) and Alberta for just the second time since 2010 (qualified in 2017)... The reigning Canada West champion Huskies can still finish as high as first and as low as fourth, while the Golden Bears will place second, third or fourth... The matchup features Saskatchewan’s nationally top-ranked rushing offence (217.9 yards per game) and Alberta’s third-ranked passing offence (316.1).

Keep an eye on (Alberta): Brad Launhardt’s 2,213 passing yards are already a single-season Golden Bears record and his favourite target, Ben Kopczynski, leads the country in receiving yards per game (108.6). 

Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): Heading into the Huskies’ league finale, running back Adam Machart leads U SPORTS with 1,104 rushing yards and is within range of the single-season school record of 1,267 set in 1999 by Doug Rozon.

UBC (2-5) at No. 8 Calgary (5-2)

5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op

Last week (UBC): 38-37 home win vs. Saskatchewan

Last week (Calgary): 43-29 road loss vs. Manitoba

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 14, 2019 – regular season at UBC): Calgary 47, UBC 13

In a nutshell: Looking to finish first in Canada West for the third straight season and for the eighth time in nine years, Calgary would accomplish the feat either with a win, a three-way tie with Alberta and Manitoba at 5-3, or a tie with Alberta at 5-3 (Saskatchewan and Manitoba both 4-4)... UBC is out of playoff contention for the first time since 2014... The Dinos have allowed a Canada West-low 21.3 points per game and boast the second best passing offence in U SPORTS (323.9 yards per game), while the Thunderbirds rank 26th in the country in points allowed (39.3 per game).

Keep an eye on (UBC): Linebacker Nick Cross has been a bright spot in the T-Birds’ difficult season and leads U SPORTS in both solo tackles (48) and tackles per game (8.1).

Keep an eye on (Calgary): In a season where the Dinos receiving corps has been plagued by injuries, Jalen Philpot held the fort and leads Canada West with 50 catches, only two shy of national leader Gordon Lam of Waterloo, who completed his regular season last Saturday.

SATURDAY (OUA QUARTER-FINALS)

Waterloo (4-4) at No. 9 Ottawa (5-3)

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

Last week (Waterloo): 31-14 road loss vs. McMaster

Last week (Ottawa): 32-23 road loss vs. Western

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 14, 2017 – regular season at Ottawa): Ottawa 40, Waterloo 30

In a nutshell: Ottawa and Waterloo were “non-combatants” in the regular season each of the past two years and are set to face off for the first time since 2017 (Ottawa 40, Waterloo 30)... Making their fourth straight playoff appearance, the Gee-Gees enjoyed a bye in the first round last year before being upset 27-22 by Guelph in the semifinals... The Warriors, who a year ago dropped a 45-34 quarter-final decision to Guelph in their first post-season appearance since 2003, are looking for their first playoff win since a 32-20 triumph over Laurier in the 1999 Yates Cup final... On Saturday, Waterloo’s high-flying offence which ranks third in the country in scoring (36.0 points per game) and second in total yards (481.9 per game) goes up against an Ottawa defence that leads the nation with 18 fumble recoveries and also ranks fourth in sacks (26) and seventh in interceptions (10).

Keep an eye on (Waterloo): Gordon Lam (52) and Tyler Ternowski (47) finished 1-2 in OUA receptions and led the Warriors with five touchdown catches apiece.

Keep an eye on (Ottawa): Defensive end Reshaan Davis finished second in the OUA in tackles for a loss (11.5) and third in sacks (7).

Carleton (4-4) at No. 3 Guelph (6-2)

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

Last week (Carleton): 22-10 road win vs. Laurier

Last week (Guelph): 40-26 road win vs. Toronto

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 1, 2019 – regular season at Carleton): Guelph 37, Carleton 20

In a nutshell: Guelph is in the running for the Yates Cup for the eighth straight season and reached the OUA final a year ago, losing 63-14 to Western... Carleton has reached the semifinal round three times in the past four years (2015, 2016, 2018), including a 39-13 loss to Western last fall... In the first head-to-head matchup of the season, in Week 2, the Gryphons broke a 20-20 tie with 17 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes en route to a 37-20 win... On Saturday, Carleton’s nationally 17th–ranked offence (22.6 points per game) could be in tough against a Guelph defence that led the OUA in points allowed (17.8 per game) and led the country in sacks (31).

Keep an eye on (Carleton): In his first season as the Ravens’ starting quarterback, Tanner DeJong finished conference play with 2,125 passing yards and a 64.6 completion percentage, just shy of the single-season school record in both categories (2,263 / 65.6).

Keep an eye on (Guelph): Quarterback Theo Landers was the Gryphons’ top rusher in the regular season with 492 yards, second among U SPORTS pivots behind Waterloo’s Tre Ford (634).