U SPORTS News

Corporate

U SPORTS Football Weekend Watch: Regular season comes to an end in OUA

U SPORTS Staff

The regular season comes to an end this weekend in the OUA, while the battle for playoff positioning will go on for two more weeks in the other U SPORTS football conferences.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

The Week 9 schedule is highlighted by a pair of top 10 duels.

Saturday afternoon at London, nationally top-ranked Western (7-0) hosts No. 8 Ottawa (5-2) in the league finally for both teams (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, live on OUA TV & tape delayed on Rogers TV). While the reigning conference champion Mustangs have already secured first place in the OUA standings for the fifth straight year, the Gee-Gees are currently in a three-way tie for second position.

More information about OUA post-season scenarios is available HERE.

The next day at Quebec City, No. 2 Laval (5-1) hosts No. 5 Montreal (6-1) in the second meeting of the season between the powerhouse programs that have faced off in each of the past six RSEQ finals. The Carabins prevailed 23-18 on home turf on Sept. 14. Kickoff for the rematch is set for 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (TVA Sports).

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 9 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK

McGill (2-5), StFX (1-6), Windsor (1-7).

FRIDAY

Carleton (3-4) at No. 10 Laurier (4-3)

11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (Carleton): 35-30 home win vs. McMaster

Last week (Laurier): 53-50 OT road win vs. Waterloo

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 5, 2018 – regular season at Carleton): Laurier 37, Carleton 31

In a nutshell: Carleton and Laurier are both fighting with Waterloo (4-3) for the final two OUA playoff berths, the main difference being the Ravens need to win and some help to get in, while the Golden Hawks could still get in with a loss... Boasting the top rushing attack in the nation (228.4 yards per game), Laurier enters the contest with a 250-181 overall point differential, while Carleton shows a negative differential of 159-204.

Keep an eye on (Carleton): Wide receiver Quinton Soares ranks second in the country with an average of 21.6 yards per catch, a fraction behind Toronto’s Will Corby (21.7).

Keep an eye on (Laurier): Levondre Gordon is the most utilized running back in the nation with 150 carries in seven games and also leads U SPORTS with 936 rushing yards.

SATURDAY

Saint Mary’s (3-3) at No. 7 Acadia (6-0)

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

Last week (Saint Mary’s): 23-15 home loss vs. Bishop’s

Last week (Acadia): 44-25 home win vs. StFX

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 13, 2019 – regular season at Saint Mary’s): Acadia 51, Saint Mary’s 32

In a nutshell: One of only two undefeated teams in the nation (with top-ranked Western), Acadia has already clinched first place in the AUS standings, while Saint Mary’s can still finish as high as second and as low as fourth... Only three teams make the playoffs in the AUS... The high-scoring Axemen lead the AUS and rank second in U SPORTS in both points scored (41.3 per game) and total yards (497.2 per game), while the Huskies’ defence ranks first in the AUS and second in the country against the pass (171.0 yards per game).

Keep an eye on (Saint Mary’s): With 63 career field goals, fourth-year kicker Brian Hope is two shy of the all-time AUS and school record set by Justin Palardy (2006-2009).

Keep an eye on (Acadia): Wide receiver Glodin Mulali leads the AUS in all-purpose yards (177.3 per game), thanks in part to a spectacular 111-yard touchdown on a kickoff return last Friday against StFX.

 

No. 8 Ottawa (5-2) at No. 1 Western (7-0)

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

Last week (Ottawa): 54-26 home win vs. Windsor

Last week (Western): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 13, 2018 – regular season at Ottawa): Western 33, Ottawa 0

In a nutshell: Nationally top-ranked Western, which has already secured first place in the OUA standings, is undefeated in 27 straight games overall against conference opponents dating back to the 2016 Yates Cup final and in 29 straight in regular season action dating back to Week 2 of the same campaign... Ottawa is one of three other OUA teams, along with Guelph and McMaster, that have clinched a post-season berth and can still finish as high as second, but the Gee-Gees’ two losses have come against the Gryphons and Marauders.

Keep an eye on (Ottawa): Kalem Beaver is the top punt returner in the nation with exactly 400 yards on 38 touches.

Keep an eye on (Western): With 422 career points, fourth-year kicker Marc Liegghio shares the OUA record with former Mustang Lirim Hajrullahu, who needed five seasons to get to that total (2009-2013).

Waterloo (4-3) at No. 9 McMaster (5-2)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV & Cable 14

Last week (Waterloo): 53-50 OT home loss vs. Laurier

Last week (McMaster): 35-30 road loss vs. Carleton

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 13, 2018 – regular season at Waterloo): Waterloo 34, McMaster 16

In a nutshell: McMaster has already clinched a playoff berth and holds the head-to-head tie-breaker against 5-2 rivals Ottawa and Guelph, while Waterloo would automatically get in with a win over the Marauders or a Carleton loss against Laurier on Friday... The duel pits the Warriors offence which ranks first in the country in total yards (508.1 per game) and first in the OUA - third in U SPORTS – in points scored (39.1 per game) against the Marauders defence which ranks second in the OUA in both total yards (330.6) and points (19.6) allowed per game.

Keep an eye on (Waterloo): Linebacker Michael Reid ranks second in the country with 54 total tackles, 6.5 shy of Windsor’s Dan Metcalfe, who completed his season last weekend.

Keep an eye on (McMaster): Defensive back Noah Hallett shares the U SPORTS lead with four interceptions.

No. 6 Guelph (5-2) at Toronto (2-5)

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

Last week (Guelph): 27-24 OT road win vs. Queen’s

Last week (Toronto): 34-14 road loss vs. York

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 13, 2018 – regular season at Guelph): Guelph 46, Toronto 8

In a nutshell: Guelph has already clinched an OUA post-season berth and is currently tied for second place with Ottawa and McMaster, while Toronto is out of playoff contention for the 24th straight year... The confrontation pits the Varsity Blues’ nationally top-ranked passing offence (342.9 yards per game) against the Gryphons defence which leads the country in sacks (27) and ranks first in the OUA – third in U SPORTS – in points allowed (16.6 per game).

Keep an eye on (Guelph): In his first game of the season as the Gryphons’ No. 1 running back, Juwan Jeffrey had 150 yards on 24 carries last Thursday against Queen’s.

Keep an eye on (Toronto): With a U SPORTS-leading 2,316 passing yards after seven games, Clay Sequeira needs 341 yards on Saturday to break the single-season school record of 2,656 set in 1981 by Dan Feraday.

York (1-6) at Queen’s (2-5)

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

Last week (York): 34-14 home win vs. Toronto

Last week (Queen’s): 27-24 OT home loss vs. Guelph

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 26, 2018 – regular season at York): Queen’s 42, York 21

In a nutshell: Queen’s will miss the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004 and 2005, while York will miss the post-season tournament for the 15th straight year... With 26 sacks in seven games, one behind national leader Guelph, the Gaels still have a shot at finishing first in the country in that category... The Lions defence has been solid against the pass and ranks third in the OUA (224.4 yards per game).

Keep an eye on (York): Fifth-year quarterback Brett Hunchak returned to the lineup after a two-game absence last Friday against Toronto and was an efficient 18-of-29 for 271 yards and one touchdown in the Lions’ first win of the season.

Keep an eye on (Queen’s): Defensive lineman Anthony Federico had two sacks and four tackles for a loss last Thursday against Guelph to up his U SPORTS-leading totals to 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in only six games.

Bishop’s (4-3) at Mount Allison (2-4)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1 

Last week (Bishop’s): 23-15 road win vs. Saint Mary’s

Last week (Mount Allison): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 14, 2019 – regular season at Bishop’s): Bishop’s 27, Mount Allison 23

In a nutshell: Looking for their first playoff berth since 2013, when they went 6-2 in the RSEQ, the Gaiters would punch their ticket with a win and would secure second place in the AUS standings with a win combined to a Saint Mary’s loss against Acadia... Mount Allison needs to win to keep its post-season hopes alive... The Mounties defence leads the AUS in both points (19.2) and total yards (299.8) allowed per game, while Bishop’s defence leads the conference in sacks (22).

Keep an eye on (Bishop’s): With 111 carries in seven games, Louis-Philippe Grégoire is the most utilized running back in the AUS and his 574 rushing yards rank second in the conference. 

Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Jack Estabrooks has been key to the Mounties’ two-game winning streak with 336 rushing yards, including 188 in his last outing two weeks ago against Saint Mary’s.

Regina (1-5) at Alberta (4-2)

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

Last week (Regina): Bye

Last week (Alberta): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 6, 2019 – regular season at Regina): Alberta 18, Regina 17

In a nutshell: Alberta has already clinched a playoff spot, returning to the post-season after a one-year absence and for only the second time since 2010... Regina is out of post-season contention for the second straight year, a first for the Rams since 2004 and 2005... Ranked second in Canada West and fifth in the nation, the Golden Bears passing attack (296.2 yards per game) hopes to take advantage of the Rams pass defence which ranks 21st in the country (271.7 yards per game).

Keep an eye on (Regina): The leader among active U SPORTS players with 174 career receptions, Ryan Schienbein needs seven catches to pass Mark McConkey (180) in second place on the Rams’ all-time list.

Keep an eye on (Alberta): Ben Copczynski leads Canada West with 610 receiving yards and ranks first in the country in receiving yards per game (101.7).

No. 4 Calgary (5-1) at Manitoba (3-3)

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

Last week (Calgary): Bye

Last week (Manitoba): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 6, 2019 – regular season at Calgary): Calgary 24, Manitoba 10

In a nutshell: With a win combined to losses by Saskatchewan and Alberta, Calgary would clinch first place in the Canada West standings for the third straight season and for the eighth time in nine years... Manitoba would clinch a post-season berth with a win or a Regina loss against Alberta... On Saturday, the Dinos’ Canada West-leading passing attack (304.7 yards per game) faces the Bisons’ conference-best pass defence (232.2).

Keep an eye on (Calgary): With 143 career catches, fifth-year receiver Hunter Karl is 12 shy of the Dinos’ all-time record held by Chris Dobko (2009-13).

Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Running back Michael Ritchott leads Canada West and ranks second in the country in all-purpose yards (181.7 per game).

Concordia (1-5) at Sherbrooke (2-4)

4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

Last week (Concordia): Bye

Last week (Sherbrooke): 23-15 home win vs. Montreal

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 21, 2019 – regular season at Concordia): Concordia 37, Sherbrooke 35

In a nutshell: Sherbrooke pulled off arguably the biggest upset of the U SPORTS football season last Saturday, becoming the first RSEQ team other than Laval to beat Montreal since 2015... Sherbrooke and Concordia are battling with McGill (2-5) for the last two playoff spots in the Quebec conference... The Stingers boast the top passing attack in the RSEQ (249.7 yards per game), while the Vert & Or’s pass defence is ranked ninth in the country (227.2).

Keep an eye on (Concordia): Despite being held off the score sheet in his last outing, two weeks ago against Laval, James Tyrrell leads the RSEQ in receptions (42) and receiving yards (602). 

Keep an eye on (Sherbrooke): Kicker Louis Tardif was perfect on three field goal attempts last Saturday and is 13-of-14 overall this season.

No. 3 Saskatchewan (4-2) at UBC (1-5)

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

Last week (Saskatchewan): Bye

Last week (UBC): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 6, 2019 – regular season at Saskatchewan): Saskatchewan 40, UBC 7

In a nutshell: Reigning conference champion Saskatchewan has clinched a playoff spot for the 18th time in the past 19 years (missed out in 2017), while UBC is in danger of missing the post-season tournament for the first time since 2014... The Huskies are the top-scoring team in Canada West (33.0 points per game) and also lead the conference in rushing (217.2 yards per game), while the Thunderbirds rank last in Canada West and next to last in the nation in points allowed (39.7 per game).

Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): Adam Machart leads the country with an average of 155.2 rushing yards per game and his 931 yards are only five shy of national leader Levondre Gordon of Laurier, who has played one more game. 

Keep an eye on (UBC): Linebacker Nick Cross leads Canada West with 42 solo tackles, tops in the country among players who have played only six games.

SUNDAY

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

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
TVA Sports

Last week (Montreal): 23-15 road loss vs. Sherbrooke

Last week (Laval): 39-3 road win vs. McGill

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 14, 2019 – regular season at Montreal): Montreal 23, Laval 18

In a nutshell: Laval (16) and Montreal (2) have had a stranglehold on first-place finishes in the RSEQ since McGill topped the standings in 2002... The Rouge et Or rank first in the country in both points scored (41.7 per game) and points allowed (9.8) and also boast the top pass defence in the nation (146.0 yards per game)... The Carabins rank second in U SPORTS in points allowed (11.0 per game) and have the best rush defence in the country (63.1 yards per game).

Keep an eye on (Montreal): Kevin Kaya ranks second in the RSEQ in both receptions (40) and receiving yards (527). 

Keep an eye on (Laval): Kicker David Côté is tied for the U SPORTS lead with 18 field goals (in 20 attempts), tops in the country among players who have played only six games.