Men’s Football
Football players of the Week: Scott, McKoy, Julien-Grant honoured
A pair of exciting top-six battles and the annual Panda Game in the nation’s capital highlight Week 6 of the U SPORTS football regular schedule.
Friday evening in Vancouver (6:30 p.m. Pacific Time on CanadaWest.TV), the nationally second-ranked Calgary Dinos (4-0) visit the No. 6 UBC Thunderbirds (3-1), in a rematch of the last two Canada West championship games.
Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (OUA.TV), the No. 4 Western Mustangs (5-0) face off against No. 5 Wilfrid Laurier (4-0), looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss to the Golden Hawks in last year’s Yates Cup final.
At the same time in Ottawa, the Gee-Gees (4-1) host cross-town rival Carleton (1-3) for the 49th edition of the Panda Game (CHCH & OUA.TV). The event drew over 23,000 fans last fall at TD Place Stadium, the largest crowd in over two decades for a U SPORTS conference game.
Here’s a game-by-game look at the Week 6 matchups.
Bye Week
No. 1 Montreal (4-0), Bishop’s (1-3), Toronto (1-4).
Friday
No. 2 Calgary (4-0) at No. 6 UBC (3-1)
The skinny: First place in Canada West will be on the line in Vancouver, where Calgary and UBC square off in a rematch of the last two Hardy Cup finals, both played in Calgary. Last November, the Dinos built a 36-10 halftime lead and held on for a 46-43 triumph, thus avenging a 34-26 loss to the Thunderbirds in the 2015 title match. Calgary also won both regular season duels a year ago, 35-8 (home) and 41-35 in overtime (away)... Keep an eye on (Calgary): Michael Klukas leads the country in receiving yards per game (109.0) and is tied for first in touchdown catches (5) and all-purpose majors (6)... Keep an eye on (UBC): Running back Ben Cummings (155.0) and wide receiver Trivel Pinto (151.3) both average over 150 all-purpose yards per game.
No. 9 Regina (2-2) at Saskatchewan (2-2)
The skinny: Fireworks are expected in Saskatoon as the provincial rivals have averaged 74 combined points in their last three head-to-head matchups dating back to 2015. Regina is coming off a shocking 18-16 home loss to previously-winless Manitoba, while Saskatchewan has lost two straight after a 2-0 start under new head coach Scott Flory... Keep an eye on (Regina): Averaging 327.3 passing yards per outing so far this fall, reigning Hec Crighton trophy winner Noah Picton needs 342 on Saturday to become the 11th quarterback in U SPORTS history to reach 9,000 over his career... Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): Kicker Sean Stenger is 8-for-8 in field goals, 14-of-14 in converts and ranks third in the nation with a Canada West-best 45.0 yard-per-punt average.
Alberta (0-4) at Manitoba (1-3)
The skinny: Manitoba hopes to build on a stunning 18-16 road win over nationally-ranked Regina, while Alberta hopes to avoid starting 0-5 for the second straight season. The last time the two teams met, last October 22nd in Edmonton, the Bisons won a wild 67-59 affair after seven rounds of shootout overtime, which marked the longest game and second-highest scoring contest in conference history... Keep an eye on (Manitoba): In his comeback season with the Bisons, running back Jamel Lyles ranks first in the nation with 218.8 all-purpose yards per contest... Keep an eye on (Alberta): Tylor Henry is the career leader among U SPORTS players in receptions (184 – 10th all-time) and receiving yards (2,556 – 22nd all-time).
Saturday
Guelph (2-3) at Waterloo (4-1)
The skinny: Waterloo is still tied for second place in the OUA standings but got a reality check last Saturday against the defending conference champions, losing 71-24 to cross-town rival Laurier. The Warriors’ next opponents, the Gryphons, have so far defeated two teams with a combined 1-9 record (Windsor & Toronto) and lost to three rivals showing a combined 13-2 mark (Ottawa, Western, McMaster)... Keep an eye on (Waterloo): Tyrell Ford leads U SPORTS in punt return yards (489)... Keep an eye on (Guelph): With 18 field goals so far this fall, Gabriel Ferraro needs eight more in Guelph’s last three conference games to match the single-season U SPORTS record shared by his brother Daniel (Guelph, 2014) and former Calgary standout Johnny Mark (2015).
Carleton (1-3) at Ottawa (4-1)
The skinny: Ottawa is 32-16 all-time in the Panda Game but the Ravens have won the last three matchups after losing to the Gee-Gees in their return to OUA football in 2013. The last two installments of the cross-town rivalry drew a combined 40,925 fans at TD Place Stadium, including 23,329 last October, the largest crowd in over two decades for a U SPORTS regular season game... Keep an eye on (Ottawa): With 81 career field goals, fifth-year kicker Lewis Ward ranks fourth on the U SPORTS all-time list, one behind third place, three shy of second position and 10 behind record-holder Johnny Mark of Calgary (2011-15)... Keep an eye on (Carleton): Nathan Carter leads the nation in rushing yards (566) and rushing yards per game (141.5).
Mount Allison (1-3) at Acadia (2-2)
The skinny: Mount Allison’s lone win of the season came in Week 1 against Acadia – 64-23 on home turf – and the Mounties have now won the last six head-to-head contests overall dating back to September of 2015. Since that subpar performance on opening weekend, Acadia’s defence has recovered brilliantly, allowing only 44 points in three games (14.7 ppg)... Keep an eye on (Acadia): Defensive back Jadin White-Frayne leads U SPORTS with four interceptions... Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Malikue Richards ranks first in the AUS and fourth in the country in receiving yards per contest (103.0).
Queen’s (0-4) at Windsor (0-5)
The skinny: Something’s got to give. The Gaels have lost five straight since a 55-5 domination of Windsor last October 15th in Kingston. The Lancers have dropped eight in a row since a 51-30 home win over Toronto last October 1st. In his 29th season as a U SPORTS head coach, Queen’s Pat Sheahan has been waiting almost a year for his 150th overall career win (149-109-1)... Keep an eye on (Queen’s): Nelkas Kwemo’s 7.4 tackles per game are good for sixth in the OUA and 10th in the nation... Keep an eye on (Windsor): Daniel Metcalfe and Matt Gayer are both tied for third in the country in tackles per game (7.8).
Sunday
McGill (1-3) at No. 3 Laval (3-1)
The skinny: Laval is riding a 25-game overall winning streak against McGill – including 22 straight in league play – since the end of the 2001 season. The Rouge et Or took the first head-to-head confrontation of 2017 by 50-14 on Sept. 1, thanks in large part to a 39-0 domination in the second and third quarters... Keep an eye on (Laval): Fourth-year senior Antony Dufour is the career leader among active U SPORTS players with 1,579 punt return yards, good for 16th on the all-time list... Keep an eye on (McGill): Sophomore Jeremy Sauvageau ranks first in the country in yards per reception (23.8) and second in receiving yards per game (107.3).
Week 6 schedule
September 29
- Alberta (0-4) at Manitoba (1-3), 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT (CanadaWest.TV)
- No. 9 Regina (2-2) at Saskatchewan (2-2), 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT (Sasktel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS & CanadaWest.TV)
- No. 2 Calgary (4-0) at No. 6 UBC (3-1), 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT (CanadaWest.TV)
September 30
- No. 10 Saint Mary’s (4-0) at StFX (2-2), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
- Mount Allison (1-3) at Acadia (2-2), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (AUStv.ca)
- Carleton (1-3) at Ottawa (4-1), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (CHCH & OUA.TV)
- York (1-3) at No. 7 McMaster (3-1), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (OUA.TV)
- Queen’s (0-4) at Windsor (0-5), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (YourTV & OUA.TV)
- No. 4 Western (5-0) at No. 5 Laurier (4-0), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (OUA.TV)
- Guelph (2-3) at Waterloo (4-1), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (Rogers TV & OUA.TV)
- Sherbrooke (4-0) at No. 8 Concordia (2-2), 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT (TVA Sports & StretchTV)
October 1
- McGill (1-3) at No. 3 Laval (3-1), 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
NOTES: Sportsnet and TVA Sports are once again the official broadcasters of the U SPORTS football semifinals and final in 2017... The Mitchell Bowl (RSEQ at Canada West) and Uteck Bowl (OUA at AUS) are set for Saturday, Nov. 18, while the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup follows on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. ET at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton... For all the information on the 53rd Vanier Cup (including tickets) visit vaniercup.com.