Golden Hawks reach No. 5 in CIS Top 10 for the first time since 2007

TORONTO (CIS) – Thanks to a second straight near-perfect performance on home turf, the University of Montreal Carabins (3-0) were a unanimous No. 1 selection in this week's CIS football national rankings, a first in program history.

After receiving 27 of 30 first-place votes last Tuesday, the reigning two-time RSEQ conference champions merited all first-place nods and a perfect 300 points from the Football Reporters of Canada panel to become the first unanimous pick since Laval in 2014 (Oct. 28 poll).   

The Calgary Dinos (3-0) and Laval Rouge et Or (2-1) once again complete the Big Three this week after earning 266 and 238 points in the new media poll, respectively.

Rounding out the fourth national rankings of the campaign are the No. 4 Western Mustangs (3-1 / 197 points / up one position), No. 5 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (3-0 / 178 / up two), No. 6 Ottawa Gee-Gees (3-0 / 159 / up two), No. 7 McMaster Marauders (3-1 / 105 / up two), No. 8 Saskatchewan Huskies (2-1 / 87 / up two), No. 9 Regina Rams (2-1 / 54 / previously unranked) and No. 10 Carleton Ravens (2-2 / 38 / down six).

Laurier reaches the No. 5 spot for the first time since 2007, when the Golden Hawks occupied that position in each of the last three polls of the season. Regina cracks the Top 10 for the first time since a seventh-place nod in the final poll of 2012.

Also of note, defending national champion UBC (1-2) finds itself on the outside looking in this week following its second straight loss. The Thunderbirds are the first reigning Vanier Cup titlists to drop out of the Top 10 since Queen's in 2010.

Top-ranked Montreal easily improved to 3-0 on the season last Friday night with a 59-3 domination of visiting Concordia. A week earlier, the Carabins had opened their home schedule with a 61-0 rout of Bishop's at CEPSUM Stadium.

While Laval (41-3 vs. Sherbrooke) and McMaster (35-0 vs. Waterloo) were also comfortable winners this past weekend, it was a different story for other Top 10 teams.  

Calgary edged Saskatchewan 20-19 in Saskatoon thanks to a 10-yard field goal from freshman kicker Niko DiFonte with 41 seconds remaining in regulation. In another Top 10 matchup, this one in the nation's capital, fifth-year senior Eric Guiltinan rushed for 200 yards to lead Laurier to a 17-16 win over Carleton.

Western got all it could handle from Queen's before prevailing 27-13 in Kingston. Ottawa needed double overtime on home turf to down Guelph 31-28. Finally, Regina doubled UBC 20-10 in Vancouver to win its second straight after putting an end to a nine-game losing streak.     

This week's schedule is highlighted by a Top 10 confrontation between the No. 2 Dinos and No. 9 Rams, Friday night in Regina (7 p.m. Central Time, Shaw TV/Access and CanadaWest.TV). It will mark the fourth game versus a ranked opponent in as many weeks for Calgary, following wins over Manitoba (then No. 5), UBC (then No. 2) and Saskatchewan (then No. 10).

For their part, the top-seeded Carabins hope to improve to 4-0 on Saturday when they visit Acadia in Wolfville, N.S. (2 p.m. Atlantic Time, Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 and AUStv.ca) as part of the annual four-game interlock weekend between RSEQ and AUS squads.

NOTES: Sportsnet and TVA Sports are once again the official broadcasters of the CIS football semifinals and final in 2016... The ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl (AUS at Canada West) and the Uteck Bowl (OUA at RSEQ) are set for Saturday, Nov. 19, while the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup follows on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. ET at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.... For all the information on the 52nd Vanier Cup (including tickets) visit vaniercup.com.

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#4)
                                                  Pts (1st place)  Last week
1. Montreal (3-0)         300 (27)           1
2. Calgary (3-0)           266 (3)             2
3. Laval (2-1)               238                 3 
4. Western (3-1)           197                  5
5. Laurier (3-0)            178                  7
6. Ottawa (3-0)            159                  8
7. McMaster (3-1)        105                  9
8. Saskatchewan (2-1)    87                 10
9. Regina (2-1)              54                 NR
10. Carleton (2-2)          38                   4

Other teams receiving votes: UBC (12), StFX (9), Guelph (1), McGill (1).

WEEK 4 RESULTS (all times local)

September 16
Saint Mary's 32, Mount Allison 27 (at Saint Mary's)
McGill 43, Bishop's 9 (at McGill)
Montreal 59, Concordia 3 (at Montreal)
Manitoba 42, Alberta 12 (at Manitoba)
Calgary 20, Saskatchewan 19 (at Saskatchewan)

September 17
StFX 37, Acadia 8 (at StFX)
McMaster 35, Waterloo 0 (at Waterloo)
Laurier 17, Carleton 16 (at Carleton)
Ottawa 31, Guelph 28 OT (at Ottawa)
Toronto 45, York 18 (at Toronto)
Western 27, Queen's 13 (at Queen's)
Regina 20, UBC 10 (at UBC)

September 18
Laval 41, Sherbrooke 3 (at Laval)

WEEK 5 SCHEDULE (all times local)

NOTE: Click HERE for the complete 2016 regular season schedule & results

September 23
19:00   No. 2 Calgary (3-0) at No. 9 Regina (2-1) (Shaw TV/Access & CanadaWest.TV)

September 24
13:00   No. 4 Western (3-1) at Guelph (2-2) (City & OUA.TV)
13:00   Toronto (1-3) at Queen's (0-3) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00   No. 6 Ottawa (3-0) at Windsor (1-2) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00   No. 10 Carleton (2-2) at York (2-2) (OUA.TV)
13:00   Waterloo (0-4) at No. 5 Laurier (3-0) (Rogers TV Waterloo & OUA.TV)
13:00   No. 3 Laval (2-1) at Mount Allison (0-2) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
13:00   No. 8 Saskatchewan (2-1) at Manitoba (1-2) (CanadaWest.TV)
14:00   No. 1 Montreal (3-0) at Acadia (1-1) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00   Saint Mary's (1-1) at Bishop's (0-3) (GaitersTV)
14:00   StFX (2-0) at Concordia (1-2) (StretchTV)
14:00   Sherbrooke (1-2) at McGill (2-1) (TVA Sports & StretchTV)
17:00   UBC (1-2) at Alberta (0-3) (CanadaWest.TV)