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U SPORTS Football Weekend Watch: Action gets under way early on Thanksgiving weekend

U SPORTS Staff

Only nine games are on the U SPORTS football schedule this week as a number of teams enjoy a well-deserved Thanksgiving break.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

The Canada West conference heads into its annual league-wide pause, in addition to regular bye weeks in the OUA, RSEQ and AUS.

The Week 8 action starts early with a pair of OUA contests on Thursday evening, including nationally fifth-ranked Guelph (4-2) visiting Queen’s (2-4) at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT (OUA TV & YourTV) and No. 10 Waterloo (4-2) hosting cross-town rival Laurier (3-3) at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (OUA TV).

Five OUA and AUS games follow on Friday, while the two weekly RSEQ matchups are set for Saturday afternoon.

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 8 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK

No. 1 Western (7-0), No. 4 Saskatchewan (4-2), No. 6 Calgary (5-1), Alberta (4-2), Manitoba (3-3), Mount Allison (2-4), Concordia (1-5), UBC (1-5), Regina (1-5).

THURSDAY

No. 5 Guelph (4-2) at Queen’s (2-4)

6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
OUA TV & YourTV

Last week (Guelph): Bye

Last week (Queen’s): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 22, 2018 – regular season at Guelph): Queen’s 33, Guelph 32

In a nutshell: Guelph can clinch a playoff spot with a win, while a Queen’s loss combined to a Laurier win over Waterloo would eliminate the Gaels from post-season contention for the second straight year, which would be a first for the Kingston program since the 2004 and 2005 campaigns... In last year’s 33-32 Queen’s win, Guelph scored 25 unanswered points after being down 33-7 but came up just short after missing a 32-yard field goal attempt with nine seconds left in the contest... The Gryphons’ defence ranks first in the OUA and third in U SPORTS with 15.3 points allowed per game.

Keep an eye on (Guelph): Linebacker Job Reinhart and defensive lineman Tavius Robinson both have 7.5 tackles for a loss so far this season, good for fourth place in the OUA and eighth in the nation.

Keep an eye on (Queen’s): Despite missing one game earlier this season, defensive lineman Anthony Federico leads the OUA with 5.5 sacks in five contests.

Laurier (3-3) at No. 10 Waterloo (4-2)

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (Laurier): 52-10 road win vs. Windsor

Last week (Waterloo): 45-42 road loss vs. Western

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 15, 2018 – regular season at Laurier): Waterloo 34, Laurier 32

In a nutshell: With a win, Waterloo would clinch a playoff spot for the second straight season, a first for the Warriors since 2003... After missing out a year ago, Laurier can secure a post-season berth with a win combined to losses by Toronto and Carleton... The Warriors (37.3 points per game) and Golden Hawks (32.8) rank first and third in OUA scoring, respectively, and boast the top two rushing attacks in the conference (Waterloo: 218.2 yards per game / Laurier: 202.2).

Keep an eye on (Laurier): The leader among active U SPORTS players with 3,109 career rushing yards, Levondre Gordon is 459 shy of the school record held by Dillon Campbell (3,568) with two games left in his fifth and final university season.

Keep an eye on (Waterloo): With three rushing touchdowns last Saturday against Western, Dion Pellerin moved into the U SPORTS lead with nine in six games, good for third place on the single-season Warriors list behind a pair of Mike Bradley campaigns (12 in 1998, 10 in 1999).

FRIDAY

No. 7 McMaster (5-1) at Carleton (2-4)

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

Last week (McMaster): 16-8 road win vs. Toronto

Last week (Carleton): 32-10 road loss vs. Ottawa

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 27, 2018 – OUA quarter-final at Carleton): Carleton 30, McMaster 25

In a nutshell: Carleton won last year’s OUA quarter-final matchup despite McMaster finishing the game with a 25-16 advantage in first downs and a 10-minute edge in time of possession... A Carleton loss combined to a Laurier win over Waterloo would eliminate the Ravens from playoff contention for the second time in three years... The Marauders (312.2 yards per game) and Ravens (292.8) rank second and third in OUA passing, respectively, good for second and fifth in the country.

Keep an eye on (McMaster): Defensive back Noah Hallett had one interception last Saturday against Toronto to move into a share of the U SPORTS lead with four in six games. 

Keep an eye on (Carleton): Wide receiver Quinton Soares ranks second in the country with an average of 22.2 yards per catch.

StFX (1-5) at No. 8 Acadia (5-0)

6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1

Last week (StFX): 17-11 home loss vs. Bishop’s

Last week (Acadia): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 6, 2019 – regular season at StFX): Acadia 54, StFX 19

In a nutshell: Acadia would clinch first place in the AUS standings with a win combined to a Saint Mary’s loss to Bishop’s, while a StFX loss would officially eliminate the reigning AUS champion X-Men from playoff contention for the first time since 2013... The Axemen lead the AUS in both points scored (40.8) and allowed (18.2) per game, while the X-Men rank last in the five-team conference in both categories (14.8 / 27.7).  

Keep an eye on (StFX): Defensive lineman Alex Fedchun was dominant last Friday despite the loss to Bishop’s with eight solo tackles and 10.5 total tackles, both game highs.

Keep an eye on (Acadia): Looking for his first rushing touchdown since Week 3, third-year running back Dale Wright is still only one shy of the school career record of 19 set by Brian Walling from 1982 to 1986.

Saint Mary’s (3-2) at Bishop’s (3-3)

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
AUStv

Last week (Saint Mary’s): 23-12 home loss vs. Mount Allison

Last week (Bishop’s): 17-11 road win vs. StFX

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 6, 2019 – regular season at Saint Mary’s): Saint Mary’s 30, Bishop’s 13

In a nutshell: The Huskies won the first head-to-head meeting of the season despite the fact they were outgained by almost 100 yards in total offence (346 to 250), allowed eight sacks to the Gaiters and were flagged 19 times for losses of 188 yards... Saint Mary’s defensive unit ranks first in the AUS and second in the country against the pass (167.2 yards per game), while Bishop’s ranks first in the conference and third in the nation against the run (88.7).

Keep an eye on (Saint Mary’s): With 61 career field goals, fourth-year kicker Brian Hope is four shy of the all-time AUS and school record set by Justin Palardy (2006-2009).

Keep an eye on (Bishop’s): Linebacker Louve Moussenguet, who leads the AUS in both sacks (5.5) and tackles for a loss (8.5), was named the conference defensive player of the week after he racked up seven solo tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage and one sack, and also forced a fumble against StFX.

Toronto (2-4) at York (0-6)

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (Toronto): 16-8 home loss vs. McMaster

Last week (York): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 20, 2018 – regular season at Toronto): York 31, Toronto 15

In a nutshell: Heading into the 50th Red & Blue Bowl, York has won the last two editions but Toronto still leads the all-time series 30-19... The Varsity Blues are still in contention for their first playoff berth since 1995, while the Lions are officially out of the post-season tournament for the 15th straight year... On Friday, Toronto’s nationally top-ranked passing attack (363.5 yards per game) faces a solid York pass defence that ranks third in the OUA and ninth in the country (228.0).

Keep an eye on (Toronto): Despite a tough outing against McMaster last Saturday (189 passing yards, 0 TD, 2 interceptions), Clay Sequeira still leads U SPORTS in passing yards (2,149) and touchdown passes (20) and is only one TD pass short of the single-season school record set by Dan Feraday back in 1981.

Keep an eye on (York): Despite the Lions’ challenging season, wide receiver Alex Daley ranks sixth in the OUA with 833 all-purpose yards in six games, including more than 250 yards on receptions (305), kickoff returns (269) and punt returns (259).

Windsor (1-6) at No. 9 Ottawa (4-2)

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
OUA TV

Last week (Windsor): 52-10 home loss vs. Laurier

Last week (Ottawa): 32-10 home win vs. Carleton

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 23, 2017 – regular season at Ottawa): Ottawa 39, Windsor 14

In a nutshell: Ottawa can clinch a playoff berth with a win, while Windsor is already eliminated from post-season contention for the fifth straight year... The aggressive Gee-Gees defence ranks first in the nation in fumble recoveries (15), is tied for first in touchdowns (4) and ranks fourth in interceptions (20)... At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Lancers’ defence is last in U SPORTS in points (41.1) and total yards (536.7) allowed per game.

Keep an eye on (Windsor): With a game-high 11 total tackles last Saturday against Laurier, linebacker Daniel Metcalfe continued his domination despite the Lancers’ struggles and leads the nation with 55.5 in seven games.

Keep an eye on (Ottawa): Linebacker Tramayne Stephen was named the OUA player of the week on defence after he tallied a team-high six solo tackles against Carleton and, more importantly, tied the Panda Game at 10 apiece in the third quarter when he recovered a fumble in the end zone.

SATURDAY

No. 3 Laval (4-1) at McGill (2-4)

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

Last week (Laval): 74-0 home win vs. Concordia

Last week (McGill): 21-3 road loss vs. Montreal

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 22, 2019 – regular season at Laval): Laval 37, McGill 17

In a nutshell: Laval is riding a 29-game overall winning streak against McGill – including 26 in league play – since the end of the 2001 season... Following a 74-0 domination of Concordia last Sunday, the Rouge et Or offence ranks first in the nation in scoring (42.2 points per game) and rushing (229.4 yards per game), while their defence ranks first in total yards allowed per game (242.0), first against the pass (153.0) and second in points against (11.2)... McGill is also enjoying a solid season on the defensive side of the ball and ranks fourth in U SPORTS in both total yards (294.5) and passing yards (192.7) allowed per contest.

Keep an eye on (Laval): In only his second career start last Sunday, freshman quarterback Thomas Bolduc completed 23 of 30 passes for 252 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, good for RSEQ offensive player of the week honours. 

Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Andrew Seinet-Spaulding had two tackles behind the line of scrimmage last week against Montreal to up his U SPORTS-leading total to 12.5 in six games.

No. 2 Montreal (6-0) at Sherbrooke (1-4)

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

Last week (Montreal): 21-3 home win vs. McGill

Last week (Sherbrooke): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 30, 2019 – regular season at Montreal): Montreal 18, Sherbrooke 9

In a nutshell: Montreal is running an eight-game head-to-head winning streak against Sherbrooke dating back to a 17-12 road loss on Oct. 3, 2015... Looking for their first seven-win season since 2016, the Carabins continue to dominate on defence and rank first in the country in points allowed per game (9.0), first against the run (59.3 yards per game), second in total yards allowed (256.2 per game) and third in sacks (21)... The Vert & Or defence also excels against the run and ranks fifth in the nation (90.2 yards per game).

Keep an eye on (Montreal): Defensive lineman Benoît Marion had two sacks last Friday against McGill to move into a tie for the U SPORTS lead with six in as many games.

Keep an eye on (Sherbrooke): Sophomore Louis-Charles Moisan ranks fourth in the RSEQ with 26 catches, tops in the conference among receivers who have played only five games.