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Football Weekend Watch: Top-ranked Mustangs put impressive OUA streaks on the line

U SPORTS Staff

The reigning OUA champion Western Mustangs, who moved up to No. 1 in the U SPORTS football national rankings earlier this week, will put a pair of impressive streaks on the line Saturday when they visit the sixth-ranked Guelph Gryphons in the only top 10 confrontation of the weekend.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

The Mustangs (4-0) have won 24 straight overall against OUA opponents dating back to a setback against Laurier in the 2016 Yates Cup final and 26 consecutive regular season contests dating back to a loss to Carleton on Sept. 4 of the same year.

The Western-Guelph duel, which gets under way at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (live on OUA TV / tape delayed on Rogers TV), is also a rematch of last fall’s Yates Cup championship game, a 63-14 Mustangs’ triumph in London.  

Meanwhile in the Canada West and AUS conferences, No. 4 Calgary (3-0) and No. 5 Acadia (3-0) hope to match Western and head into the second half of the regular schedule with an unblemished record.

The Dinos host Regina Friday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT (Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV), while the Axemen host Mount Allison (Saturday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1).

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 5 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK

No. 2 Montreal (4-0), Bishop’s (2-2), Laurier (1-3).

FRIDAY

Regina (1-2) at No. 4 Calgary (3-0)

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 (Regina): 44-9 home loss vs. Saskatchewan Last week (Calgary): 47-13 road win vs. UBC... Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 19, 2018 – regular season at Calgary): Calgary 58, Regina 6… In a nutshell: The Dinos have won 11 straight regular season games and 19 of their past 20, their lone setback over that period coming at home against Alberta in their 2017 conference finale... Led by new starting quarterback Josh Donnelly, Regina ranks first in Canada West and second in the country in passing offence (344.7 yards per game), while Calgary and reigning Hec Crighton Trophy winner Adam Sinagra rank 14th in the nation with a modest 246.3 yards per contest... Keep an eye on (Regina): With 168 career catches, fifth-year receiver Ryan Schienbein needs two more to overtake Mitchell Picton (2013-2017) for fourth place on the Rams’ all-time list and six more to move past Chad Goldie (2004-2008) in third place... Keep an eye on (Calgary): With 7,052 career passing yards, Adam Sinagra needs 34 more to move past Bob Torrance (1987-1990) for third place on the Dinos’ all-time list.

SATURDAY

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

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

AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1

Last week (Mount Allison): 27-23 road loss vs. Bishop’s... Last week (Acadia): 51-32 road win vs. Saint Mary’s... Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 20, 2018 – regular season at Mount Allison): Acadia 27, Mount Allison 11… In a nutshell: The Axemen are the top-scoring team in U SPORTS with 52.7 points per game, 12 points per contest better than second-place Toronto and 34.7 better than Mount Allison... The Mounties are looking for their first win against a team other than Bishop’s since a 26-25 success over Saint Mary’s in their 2017 league finale... Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Quarterback Hunter Sturgeon has contributed to all four Mounties’ touchdowns so far this season, scoring the team’s three rushing majors and connecting with Ian Carty for a TD pass... 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.

Saint Mary’s (2-1) at StFX (1-2)

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

AUStv

Last week (Saint Mary’s): 51-32 home loss vs. Acadia... Last week (StFX): Bye... Last head-to-head matchup (Nov. 10, 2018 – AUS Loney Bowl final at Saint Mary’s): StFX 33, Saint Mary’s 9… In a nutshell: The Huskies swept the two-game regular season series a year ago (20-13 at home / 27-24 at StFX) before being upset by the X-Men in the AUS championship match... StFX’s 26th ranked passing offence (161.7 yards per game) goes up against Saint Mary’s seventh-ranked passing defence (216.3)... Keep an eye on (Saint Mary’s): Wide receiver Shedler Fervius leads the AUS and ranks second in the country with 209.0 all-purpose yards per game... Keep an eye on (StFX): Kicker Keiran Burnham leads the AUS in field goals (8) and is tied for the conference lead in punting average (42.4 yards per punt), good for second in the country.

No. 1 Western (4-0) at No. 6 Guelph (3-1)

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

OUA TV & tape delayed on Rogers TV

Last week (Western): 40-23 home win vs. Carleton... Last week (Guelph): 39-13 road win vs. Waterloo... Last head-to-head matchup (Nov. 10, 2018 – OUA Yates Cup final at Western): Western 63, Guelph 14… In a nutshell: In last year’s Yates Cup final – the only head-to-head matchup of 2018 - the Mustangs dominated the Gryphons 35-15 in first downs and 637-259 in total yards... Both teams have excelled on offence and defence so far this season as Western ranks second in the OUA in points scored (36.5 per game) and third in points allowed (20.5), while Guelph ranks third (34.8) and second (19.3) in those categories... Keep an eye on (Western): Fourth-year kicker Marc Liegghio booted his 77th career field goal last Saturday to tie the school record set over five seasons by current Hamilton Tiger-Cat Lirim Hajrullahu (2009-2013)... Keep an eye on (Guelph): Clark Barnes, who leads U SPORTS in kickoff return yards (413), is the only player in the country to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season, a feat he has accomplished three times.

Windsor (1-3) at No. 7 McMaster (3-1)

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

OUA TV & Cable 14

Last week (Windsor): 15-8 road loss vs. Queen’s... Last week (McMaster): 27-9 road win vs. York... Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 20, 2018 – regular season at Windsor): McMaster 17, Windsor 5… In a nutshell: The Marauders have won 19 straight overall against the Lancers dating back to a 37-0 road loss on Oct. 5, 1996... McMaster’s defence leads the OUA in points allowed (18.8 per game) and ranks first in the country with 11 interceptions, while Windsor’s defence ranks 24th in the nation in points against (32.8) and 26th in yards allowed (504.8)... Keep an eye on (Windsor): Linebacker Daniel Metcalfe leads the nation in solo tackles (24) and total tackles (33) after four games... Keep an eye on (McMaster): Andreas Dueck ranks second in the country in passing yards (1,194) and third in completion percentage (68.6).

Queen’s (1-3) at No. 10 Toronto (2-1)

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

OUA TV

Last week (Queen’s): 15-8 home win vs. Windsor... Last week (Toronto): Bye... Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 8, 2018 – regular season at Queen’s): Queen’s 43, Toronto 7… In a nutshell: The Gaels have won 18 straight overall against the Varsity Blues dating back to a 32-10 loss on Oct. 4, 1975... Ranked in the national top 10 for the first time since 1997, Toronto boasts the best passing offence in the country (431.3 yards per game) and also tops the OUA in scoring (40.7 points per game) and total offence (542.7 yards per game)... Queen’s defence ranks second in the OUA and third in the nation with 14 sacks... Keep an eye on (Queen’s): Defensive lineman Anthony Federico has a U SPORTS-leading eight tackles for losses in only three games... Keep an eye on (Toronto): With a U SPORTS-leading 14 touchdown passes in only three games, Clay Sequeira is well on his way to breaking the single-season school record of 21 set by Dan Feraday back in 1981.

Waterloo (2-1) at Carleton (1-2)

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

OUA TV

Last week (Waterloo): 39-13 home loss vs. Guelph... Last week (Carleton): 40-23 road loss vs. Western... Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 8, 2018 – regular season at Waterloo): Carleton 21, Waterloo 18… In a nutshell: The Warriors have the best rushing attack in the country (234.0 yards per game) but their defence ranks last in the nation in yards allowed (512.7 per game) and 26th out of 27 in points against (37.0 per game)... The Ravens will try to take advantage thanks to their fifth-ranked passing offence (284.3 yards per game)... Keep an eye on (Waterloo): With 2,498 career receiving yards, fourth-year veteran Tyler Ternowski is about to become the 16th player in OUA history and the 29th in U SPORTS annals to reach the 2,500 plateau... Keep an eye on (Carleton): With 219 rushing yards in three games, Nathan Carter has been a one-man operation in the Ravens’ backfield so far this season, Carleton’s second-best rusher having amassed 23 yards on the ground.

Sherbrooke (1-2) at Concordia (0-3)

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

Yare TV & TVA Sports

Last week (Sherbrooke): 16-14 home win vs. McGill... Last week (Concordia): Bye... Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 27, 2018 – regular season at Sherbrooke): Sherbrooke 28, Concordia 21… In a nutshell: On the final day of the 2018 regular campaign, last Oct. 27, the Vert & Or scored 21 unanswered points in the final 10 minutes of regulation to stun the Stingers 28-21 and sneak into the RSEQ playoffs, while the loss ended Concordia’s season... Both teams have struggled to score so far in 2019, Sherbrooke ranking 26th in the country (11.7 points per game) and Concordia sitting in last place (7.7)... Keep an eye on (Sherbrooke): On his first carry of the season last Friday against McGill, with seven seconds remaining in regulation, freshman Zachary Cloutier scored from one yard out to lift the Vert & Or to a 16-14 win... Keep an eye on (Concordia): Running back Kevin Foster ranks second in the RSEQ with 142.7 all-purpose yards per contest.

No. 8 Saskatchewan (2-1) at Alberta (2-1)

3 p.m. ET/noon PT

Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV

Last week (Saskatchewan): 44-9 road win vs. Regina... Last week (Alberta): 29-26 home win vs. Manitoba... Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 31, 2018 – regular season at Saskatchewan): Saskatchewan 42, Alberta 0… In a nutshell: The Huskies have won four of five head-to-head matchups since the start of the 2016 campaign, their lone loss against the Golden Bears over that period being a 49-23 decision in Edmonton on Oct. 21, 2017... Saskatchewan leads Canada West this season in total offence (485.3 yards per game), while Alberta’s passing offence ranks second in the conference and sixth in the country (284.0 yards per game)... Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): In his first campaign as the Huskies’ starting quarterback, Mason Nyhus has completed a Canada West-leading 66.7 per cent of his passes so far this season... Keep an eye on (Alberta): In his first season as the Golden Bears’ starting quarterback, Brad Launhardt is the team’s leading rusher after three games with 190 yards on the ground.

UBC (0-3) at Manitoba (1-2)

3 p.m. ET/noon PT

Canada West TV Presented by Co-op

Last week (UBC): 47-13 home loss vs. Calgary... Last week (Manitoba): 29-26 road loss vs. Alberta... Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 27, 2018 – regular season at Manitoba): UBC 38, Manitoba 34 (OT)… In a nutshell: The Thunderbirds hope to avoid their first 0-4 start since 2012, when they lost their first four games en route to a 2-6 record... Having lost eight straight overall against UBC since the start of the 2015 campaign, The Bisons’ hope to take advantage of a T-Birds’ team that ranks last in the country in points allowed (44.3 per game) and 25th out of 27 in points scored (12.0)... Keep an eye on (UBC): Linebacker Nick Cross leads Canada West and ranks third in the country with 26 total tackles... Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Running back Michael Ritchott leads the country with 222.7 all-purpose yards per game.

 

No. 9 Ottawa (2-1) at York (0-4)

5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT

OUA TV

Last week (Ottawa): 25-22 home win vs. Laurier... Last week (York): 27-9 home loss vs. McMaster... Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 22, 2018 – regular season at Ottawa): Ottawa 42, York 16… In a nutshell: The Gee-Gees have won five straight head-to-head contests dating back to a 47-36 loss at York on Sept. 8, 2012... Despite their 0-4 start, the Lions’ defence ranks third in the OUA and eighth in the country against the pass (217.8 yards per game)... Keep an eye on (Ottawa): With four sacks, defensive end Reshaan Davis is tied for the U SPORTS lead among players who have only played three games... Keep an eye on (York): Fifth-year veteran Brett Hunchak needs 12 passing yards to become the 29th quarterback in U SPORTS history to reach 8,000 in his career.

SUNDAY

McGill (1-2) at No. 3 Laval (2-1)

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

Last week (McGill): 16-14 road loss vs. Sherbrooke... Last week (Laval): 23-18 road loss vs. Montreal... Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 13, 2018 – regular season at McGill): Laval 57, McGill 13… In a nutshell: Laval is riding a 28-game overall winning streak against McGill – including 25 in league play – since the end of the 2001 season... The Rouge et Or rank first in the country in passing defence (154.0 yards per game) and last in passing offence (135.7)... McGill leads the nation among teams that have played only three games with 12 sacks... Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Andrew Seinet-Spaulding leads the RSEQ and ranks second in the country in tackles for losses (7)... Keep an eye on (Laval): Linebacker Adam Auclair, a former U SPORTS defensive player of the year (2017), leads the Rouge et Or after three games in solo tackles (14), total tackles (16.5) and sacks (1.5 – tied).