Men’s Football News

Corporate

U SPORTS Football Weekend Watch: Battle of Alberta, Panda Game highlight Week 7 schedule

U SPORTS Staff

A number of key matchups highlight the seventh weekend of the U SPORTS football regular schedule, including the Battle of Alberta in Calgary, the annual Panda Game in the nation’s capital, as well as a top 10 confrontation in London, all set for Saturday afternoon.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

At London, nationally top-ranked Western (6-0) puts a pair of impressive OUA winning streaks on the line against No. 10 Waterloo (4-1). Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, live on OUA TV (tape delayed on Rogers TV).

Also at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, Carleton (2-3) and Ottawa (3-2) meet at TD Place Stadium in the 51st Panda Game (live on OUA TV and Rogers TV). The fall classic has attracted over 22,000 fans each of the past three years.

Then at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT, first place in the Canada West conference will be on the line at McMahon Stadium, where No. 8 Calgary (4-1) hopes to rebound from its first loss of the season against No. 9 Alberta (live on Canada West TV Presented by Co-op).

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 7 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK

No. 5 Guelph (4-2), No. 6 Acadia (5-0), Queen’s (2-4), Sherbrooke (1-4), York (0-6).

FRIDAY

Mount Allison (1-4) at Saint Mary’s (3-1)

6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
AUStv

Last week (Mount Allison): 36-11 home win vs. StFX

Last week (Saint Mary’s): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 31, 2019 – regular season at Mount Allison): Saint Mary’s 27, Mount Allison 25

In a nutshell: In the first meeting of the season, in Week 2, Mount Allison erased a 24-7 deficit to take a 25-24 lead late in the fourth quarter but Saint Mary’s escaped with a 27-25 win thanks to a Brian Hope field goal with 49 seconds left... The Huskies rank second in the AUS on offence (27.5 points per game) and third on defence (25.5), while the Mounties rank second in the conference on defence (20.6) and third on offence (21.0).

Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Jack Estabrooks, who had seven rushes for 52 yards in his first four games this season, racked up 148 yards on 19 carries last Saturday to lead the Mounties to their first win of 2019.

Keep an eye on (Saint Mary’s): With 60 career field goals, fourth-year kicker Brian Hope is five shy of the all-time AUS and school record set by former Saint Mary’s great Justin Palardy (2006-2009).

Bishop’s (2-3) at StFX (1-4)

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

Last week (Bishop’s): 24-12 home loss vs. Acadia

Last week (StFX): 36-11 road loss vs. Mount Allison

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 31, 2019 – regular season at Bishop’s): Bishop’s 32, StFX 19

In a nutshell: Bishop’s is looking to win three games in a season for the first time since going 6-2 in 2013 (in the RSEQ), while StFX hasn’t lost five games in a season since going 3-5 that same year... Both teams go into Friday’s contest having allowed 29.8 points per game but the Gaiters have been more productive on offence, scoring 19.4 points on average compared to an AUS-low 15.6 for the X-Men.

Keep an eye on (Bishop’s): Fifth-year senior Nathan Walker, who leads the team and ranks third in the AUS this season with 21 receptions, needs one more to reach the 100 plateau in his university career.

Keep an eye on (StFX): Linebacker Gordon Whyte was a bright spot in last Saturday’s loss to Mount Allison with a game-high 9.5 tackles and leads the AUS in both total (38) and solo tackles (33) this season.

McGill (2-3) at No. 2 Montreal (5-0)

7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
TVA Sports

Last week (McGill): 20-13 home win vs. Sherbrooke

Last week (Montreal): 20-17 home win vs. Concordia

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 7, 2019 – regular season at McGill): Montreal 34, McGill 4

In a nutshell: Montreal has won 26 straight games overall against its cross-town rivals dating back to a pair of shutout losses in 2002, which marked the Carabins’ first season back in the league after a three-decade hiatus... Montreal’s defence ranks first in U SPORTS in points (10.2), total yards (257.6) and rushing yards (65.0) allowed per game but will have to be alert against McGill’s passing offence, which ranks second in the RSEQ (226.2 yards per game). 

Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Andrew Seinet-Spaulding leads U SPORTS in tackles for losses (10.5) and tops the RSEQ – second in U SPORTS – in sacks (5). 

Keep an eye on (Montreal): With 117 yards on six catches last Friday against Concordia, Kevin Kaya became the first Carabins receiver to record a 100-yard game this season.

Manitoba (3-2) at No. 7 Saskatchewan (3-2)

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): 27-26 home win vs. Regina

Last week (Saskatchewan): 29-15 home win vs. Calgary

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 30, 2019 – regular season at Manitoba): Manitoba 43, Saskatchewan 19

In a nutshell: Reigning Canada West champion Saskatchewan has rebounded nicely since a lopsided loss to Manitoba in its season opener and is coming off a statement win over previously undefeated Calgary at Griffiths Stadium... Friday’s duel will feature the top two rushing attacks in Canada West as the Huskies average 209.4 yards on the ground per game (2nd in U SPORTS) compared to 170.0 for the Bisons (8th in U SPORTS).

Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Running Back Michael Ritchott leads Canada West and ranks second in U SPORTS with 188.0 all-purpose yards per game. 

Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): With a U SPORTS-leading 712 rushing yards in five games, third-year running back Adam Machart is on pace for a 1,139-yard season, which would rank third in school history.

UBC (0-5) at Regina (1-4)

9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV

Last week (UBC): 40-20 home loss vs. Alberta

Last week (Regina): 27-26 road loss vs. Manitoba

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 31, 2019 – regular season at UBC): Regina 46, UBC 16

In a nutshell: With three games left in the regular season, both teams are fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and a loss would officially eliminate UBC from post-season contention... The Rams boast the best passing attack in Canada West with 301.2 yards per game (5th in U SPORTS), while the Thunderbirds’ pass defence ranks last in the conference and 24th in the country (297.6).

Keep an eye on (UBC): Linebacker Nick Cross leads U SPORTS in solo tackles (36) and tops Canada West – second in U SPORTS – in total tackles (42.5).

Keep an eye on (Regina): Kyle Moortgat caught an 85-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage last Saturday against Manitoba and finished the game with six receptions for 140 yards.

SATURDAY

Carleton (2-3) at Ottawa (3-2)

noon ET / 9 a.m. PT
OUA TV & Rogers TV

Last week (Carleton): 29-19 home win vs. Toronto

Last week (Ottawa): 33-6 road loss vs. Guelph

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 29, 2018 – regular season at Carleton / TD Place Stadium): Ottawa 38, Carleton 27

In a nutshell: Ottawa put an end to a four-game losing streak in the Panda Game last fall and holds a 33-17 all-time advantage in the annual showdown between cross-town rivals... The Ravens rank third in the OUA – and in U SPORTS – in passing offence (302.4 yards per game), while the Gee-Gees rank third in the conference in pass defence (224.2).

Keep an eye on (Carleton): In his first season as the Ravens’ starting quarterback, Tanner DeJong had his most productive game last Saturday against Toronto as he completed 23 of 32 passes for 385 yards.

Keep an eye on (Ottawa): Defensive end Reshaan Davis leads the Gee-Gees with four sacks, good for fourth among OUA players who have played only five games so far this season.

Laurier (2-3) at Windsor (1-5)

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

Last week (Laurier): 52-16 home win vs. Queen’s

Last week (Windsor): 58-25 home loss vs. Western

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 12, 2018 – regular season at Laurier): Laurier 39, Windsor 24

In a nutshell: A loss would officially eliminate Windsor from playoff contention for the fifth straight year, while Laurier is looking to keep its post-season hopes alive after failing to qualify last fall for the first time since 2013... The Golden Hawks’ nationally 10th-ranked offence (29.0 points per game) will look to take advantage of a Lancers’ defence that ranks last in the nation against the pass (352.5 yards allowed per game) and next to last in points against (39.3 per game).

Keep an eye on (Laurier): With 3,027 career rushing yards, Levondre Gordon is the leader among active U SPORTS players and needs 35 more to move past Andy Cecchini (1987-1991) for second place in school history.

Keep an eye on (Windsor): Receiver Carson Ouellette is the only U SPORTS player to average over 200 all-purpose yards per game so far this season (201.8).

No. 10 Waterloo (4-1) at No. 1 Western (6-0)

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

Last week (Waterloo): 57-19 home win vs. York

Last week (Western): 58-25 road win vs. Windsor

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 22, 2018 – regular season at Waterloo): Western 67, Waterloo 7

In a nutshell: The Mustangs, who can clinch first place in the OUA standings on Saturday, have won 26 straight overall against OUA opponents dating back to a loss against Laurier in the 2016 Yates Cup final and 28 consecutive regular season contests dating back to a loss to Carleton on Sept. 4 of the same year... Western has won 11 straight against Waterloo dating back to a 22-3 loss on Sept. 29, 2001 and has won each of the last three head-to-head meetings by 60 points or more (60, 61, 66)... The Warriors (36.4 points per game) and Mustangs (35.5) enter Saturday’s contest as the top two scoring offences in the OUA, ranking second and third in the country, respectively.

Keep an eye on (Waterloo): The leader among active players with 25 career touchdown receptions, fourth-year veteran Tyler Ternowski needs three more to move into the all-time U SPORTS top five.

Keep an eye on (Western): With 407 career points, fourth-year kicker Marc Liegghio is 15 shy of former Western great Lirim Hajrullahu (2009-2013), who holds the school record and ranks second in U SPORTS history with 422.

No. 4 McMaster (4-1) at Toronto (2-3)

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

Last week (McMaster): Bye

Last week (Toronto): 29-19 road loss vs. Carleton

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 15, 2018 – regular season at McMaster): McMaster 37, Toronto 3

In a nutshell: McMaster has won 17 straight against Toronto – all in conference play – dating back to a 30-13 road loss back on Sept. 21, 1996... Despite their 2-3 record, the Varsity Blues lead U SPORTS in total offence (509.4 yards per game) and passing attack (399.4), while the Marauders’ defence ranks second in the OUA in total defence (329.2 yards allowed per game) and third in the conference in points against (18.8 per game).

Keep an eye on (McMaster): With 26 solo tackles and 32.5 total tackles, defensive back Nolan Putt ranks third in both categories among OUA players who have played only five games so far this season.

Keep an eye on (Toronto): With 20 touchdown passes in five games, quarterback Clay Sequeira needs two more to break the single-season school record of 21 set by Dan Feraday back in 1981.

No. 9 Alberta (4-1) at No. 8 Calgary (4-1)

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

Last week (Alberta): 40-20 road win vs. UBC

Last week (Calgary): 29-15 road loss vs. Saskatchewan

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 30, 2019 – regular season at Alberta): Calgary 41, Alberta 31

In a nutshell: In the head-to-head season opener, Alberta was down 33-13 in the third quarter but came back to within two points, at 33-31, late in the fourth before Calgary put the game away with eight points in the final 20 seconds...  The Golden Bears haven’t won five games in a season since they went 7-1 in 2005... Not much separates the two teams on offence and defence so far in 2019 as Alberta holds a slight advantage in total yards gained per game (433.6 to 416.0) while Calgary has the edge in yards allowed (361.6 to 370.2).

Keep an eye on (Alberta): Freshman Jonathan Giustini tied a single-game school record with six field goals (in six attempts) last Saturday against UBC.

Keep an eye on (Calgary): With 57 career touchdown passes, Adam Sinagra is six shy of the school record set by Greg Vavra from 1979 to 1983.

SUNDAY

Concordia (1-4) at No. 3 Laval (3-1)

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

Last week (Concordia): 20-17 road loss vs. Montreal

Last week (Laval): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 7, 2019 – regular season at Concordia): Laval 41, Concordia 6

In a nutshell: Laval has won the last 32 head-to-head contests dating back to a 38-30 road loss on Oct. 4, 2003... On Sunday, the Rouge et Or’s nationally top-ranked passing defence (177.0 yards per game) faces a Stingers’ passing attack that ranks first in the RSEQ conference (288.2 yards per game) and is coming off a 343-yard performance against powerhouse Montreal.

Keep an eye on (Concordia): Coming off a 13-catch, 174-yard performance against Montreal, wide receiver James Tyrrell leads U SPORTS in both catches (42) and receiving yards (602).

Keep an eye on (Laval): Freshman Joanik Masse, who leads the Rouge et Or with 327 rushing yards in four games, has been the most utilized running back in the RSEQ so far this season with 62 carries.