U SPORTS Football Weekend Watch (Week #3)

The fourth week of the U SPORTS football regular schedule is highlighted by a pair of top 10 battles for first place, Friday night in the AUS conference and Saturday afternoon in the RSEQ.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

The action kicks off Friday evening with the nationally seventh-ranked Acadia Axemen (2-0) visiting the No. 10 Saint Mary’s Huskies (1-0) at Huskies Stadium in Halifax (6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT, AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1).

The following day, the top-ranked and reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or (2-0) visit the No. 3 Montreal Carabins (3-0) at CEPSUM Stadium (2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT, TVA Sports).

Here is a game-by-game look at all Week 4 confrontations, as well as a detailed schedule, including all television broadcast and webcast info.

OFF THIS WEEK 

Toronto (2-1), StFX (1-2), Concordia (0-3).

FRIDAY

No. 7 Acadia (2-0)  @  No. 10 Saint Mary’s (2-0)

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

AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1

Last week (Acadia): 54-19 road win vs. StFX… Last week (Saint Mary’s): 30-13 home win vs. Bishop’s… Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 27, 2018 – regular season at Acadia): Acadia 31, Saint Mary’s 2… In a nutshell: The Axemen’s offence has been red hot since the start of the season and ranks first in the country in both points (53.5) and total offence (553.0 yards) per game… The Huskies counter with the best passing defence in the nation, allowing only 137.0 yards per contest through the air… Keep an eye on (Acadia): Running backs Dale Wright (161 / 3) and Cole Estabrooks (150 / 2) combined for 311 rushing yards and five TD runs last week against StFX… Keep an eye on (Saint Mary’s): Defensive back Jordan Angove had two interceptions against Bishop’s last Friday, including an 85-yard score in the game’s final minute.

McGill (1-1) at Sherbrooke (0-2)

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

Last week (McGill): 34-4 home loss vs. Montreal… Last week (Sherbrooke): Bye… Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 5, 2018 – regular season at Sherbrooke): Sherbrooke 14, McGill 13… In a nutshell: McGill’s defence, which has an RSEQ leading 10 sacks in two games (second in U SPORTS) and leads the nation in fumble recoveries (6), faces a Vert & Or offence that struggled to score points in its first two outings against powerhouses Laval and Montreal, averaging 9.5 points per contest (26^th in U SPORTS)… The two teams split a pair of defensive battles in 2018, McGill prevailing 19-8 in Montreal and Sherbrooke winning the rematch 14-13, also on home turf… Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Joshua Archibald has a U SPORTS-best three forced fumbles in only two games… Keep an eye on (Sherbrooke): Running back William Tremblay-Harnois leads the Vert & Or with 89.0 all-purpose yards per game.

No. 9 Saskatchewan (1-1) at Regina (1-1)

8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV

Last week (Saskatchewan): 40-7 home win vs. UBC… Last week (Regina): 18-17 road loss vs. Alberta… Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 26, 2018 – regular season at Regina):Saskatchewan 57, Regina 14… In a nutshell: The Rams and Huskies rank 1-2 in Canada West (second and fourth in U SPORTS) in passing offence, averaging 359.5 and 309.5 yards through the air par contest, respectively… Saskatchewan swept the two-game provincial series last fall, including a lopsided 57-14 win at Regina in the regular season finale, when the Huskies held a 36-12 edge in first downs and a 659 yards to 219 advantage in total offence… Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): Adam Machart is the top rusher in Canada West after two weeks with 226 yards on the ground… Keep an eye on (Regina): New starting quarterback Josh Donnelly leads Canada West and ranks second in the country with 359.5 passing yards per game.

No. 8 Manitoba (1-1) at Alberta (1-1)

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Canada West TV Presented by Co-op

Last week (Manitoba): 24-10 road loss vs. Calgary… Last week (Alberta): 18-17 road win vs. Regina… Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 21, 2018 – regular season at Alberta): Manitoba 37, Alberta 27… In a nutshell: The Bisons have won six of the past seven regular season duels since the start of the 2015 campaign, the lone Golden Bears’ win over that period being a 36-25 decision in Winnipeg on 2017… Last fall, Manitoba beat Alberta in back-to-back weeks, 37-21 on home turf and 37-27 in Edmonton… Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Running back Michael Ritchott leads Canada West and ranks second in the country with 203.0 all-purpose yards per game… Keep an eye on (Alberta): Wide receiver Ben Kopczynski is tied for the Canada West lead with 14 catches in two contests.

SATURDAY

Laurier (1-2) at Ottawa (1-1)

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

OUA TV

Last week (Laurier): 38-34 home loss vs. Toronto… Last week (Ottawa): 44-27 road win vs. Queen’s… Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 26, 2018 – regular season at Laurier): Laurier 39, Ottawa 21… In a nutshell: The two teams have only faced off twice in the regular season over the past six years, both Laurier wins… In the 2018 head-to-head matchup, a 39-21 Laurier win to open the OUA schedule, the Golden Hawks dominated the ground game with 219 rushing yards to the Gee-Gees’ 98… Keep an eye on (Laurier): Linebacker Jordan Veltri leads the nation with six pass breakups in three games… Keep an eye on (Ottawa): Wide receiver Carter Matheson ranks second in the OUA and in the country with 130.0 receiving yards per contest.

No. 6 Guelph (2-1) at Waterloo (2-0)

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

OUA TV

Last week (Guelph): 53-19 home win vs. York… Last week (Waterloo): 45-42 road win vs. Windsor… Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 27, 2018 – conference quarter-final at Guelph):Guelph 45, Waterloo 34… In a nutshell: After dominating through the air a year ago, the Warriors’ offence leads the OUA in rushing yards so far this season and ranks second in the country with 270.0 per game… The Gryphons’ defence is tied atop the OUA (second in U SPORTS) with 10 sacks… Keep an eye on (Guelph): Speedster Clark Barnes has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in back-to-back games, first on a 106-yard play against Carleton two weeks ago and then on an 82-yard play against york last weekend…  Keep an eye on (Waterloo): On a team known for its passing offence, Dion Pellerin leads all U SPORTS running backs with 156.5 yards on the ground per contest.

No. 5 McMaster (2-1) at York (0-3)

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

OUA TV

Last week (McMaster): 34-17 home loss vs. Western… Last week (York): 53-19 road loss vs. Guelph… Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 30, 2017 – regular season at McMaster):McMaster 32, York 2… In a nutshell: McMaster has won 19 straight overall – including 18 in a row in conference play – against York since a 43-21 head-to-head loss on Sept. 27, 1997… The Marauders’ defence has a U SPORTS-best nine interceptions in three games and is tied atop the OUA with 10 sacks (second in the country)… Keep an eye on (McMaster): Linebacker Nate Edwards leads the country in total tackles (24.5) and is tied for first in solo tackles (19) after three games… Keep an eye on (York): Fifth-year veteran Brett Hunchak needs 107 passing yards to become the 29^th quarterback in U SPORTS history to reach 8,000 in his career.

Windsor (1-2) at Queen’s (0-3)

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

OUA TV & YourTV

Last week (Windsor): 45-42 home loss vs. Waterloo… Last week (Queen’s): 44-27 road loss vs. Ottawa… Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 30, 2017 – regular season at Windsor): Queen’s 54, Windsor 10… In a nutshell: The Gaels are on a six-game overall losing streak since a 33-32 win at Guelph in Week 5 of last season (Sept. 22)… The Lancers are looking to post two wins in the same season for the first time since 2016, after going 1-7 in back-to-back campaigns… Keep an eye on (Windsor): In his first season with the Lancers after transferring from Laurier, wide receiver Chris Osei-Kusi leads the nation with 19 catches in three games… Keep an eye on (Queen’s): Defensive lineman Anthony Federico has a U SPORTS-leading 7.5 tackles for losses in only two games.

Mount Allison (0-2) at Bishop’s (1-2)

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

AUStv

Last week (Mount Allison): Bye… Last week (Bishop’s): 30-13 road loss vs. Saint Mary’s… Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 29, 2018 – regular season at Bishop’s): Mount Allison 18, Bishop’s 10… In a nutshell: The Gaiters are looking to win two games in the same season for the first time since they joined the AUS conference, after going 1-7 in 2017 and 0-8 last fall… Bishop’s defence leads the country with 14 sacks in three contests, while the Mounties’ rushing offence ranks second in the AUS and fourth in the nation (213.5 yards per game)… Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): The AUS leader among active players in career receptions, Josh Hicks needs eight more to reach the 100 plateau… Keep an eye on (Bishop’s): Linebacker Louve Moussenguet leads the nation with 4.5 sacks after three games.

No. 1 Laval (2-0) at No. 3 Montreal (3-0)

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

TVA Sports

Last week (Laval): 41-6 road win vs. Concordia… Last week (Montreal): 34-4 road win vs. McGill… Last head-to-head matchup (Nov. 10, 2018 – Dunsmore Cup final at Laval): Laval 14, Montreal 1… In a nutshell: As has been the case for a number of years, the RSEQ powerhouses rank 1-2 in the country in most defensive categories, the Carabins having the edge so far this season in points (5.3 vs. 8.0 per game), total yards (222.0 vs. 274.0) and rushing yards (44.0 vs. 60.0) allowed per game… The Rouge et Or offence, however, ranks second in the country in scoring (41.0 points per game) and has dominated on the ground with a U SPORTS-best 294.5 rushing yards per contest… Keep an eye on (Laval): New starting quarterback Samuel Chénard, a fifth-year veteran, has completed a U SPORTS-best 74.4 per cent of his passes after two games… Keep an eye on (Montreal): Louis-Philippe Simoneau set a single-game team record last weekend against McGill with six field goals, including three of 40 yards or more.

No. 4 Calgary (2-0) at UBC (0-2)

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

Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV

Last week (Calgary): 24-10 home win vs. Manitoba… Last week (UBC): 40-7 road loss vs. Saskatchewan… Last head-to-head matchup (Sept. 22, 2018 – regular season at UBC): Calgary 32, UBC 28… In a nutshell: While the Dinos won both head-to-head match-ups in 2018, the two scorelines could not have been more different, Calgary taking dominating the Week 2 confrontation 57-7 before taking a close 32-28 decision in Vancouver two weeks later… After losing a number of key contributors following the 2018 campaign, the Thunderbirds have struggled so far this fall and rank last in U SPORTS in points allowed (43.0 per game) last in Canada West – 25^th in the nation – in points scored (11.5 per game)… Keep an eye on (Calgary):Adam Sinagra needs 185 passing yards to become the fourth quarterback in Dinos’ history to reach 7,000 in his career… Keep an eye on (UBC): Linebacker Nick Cross was a bright spot for the T-Birds in their 40-7 loss to Saskatchewan with a game-high 10 tackles, including two for losses.

Carleton (1-1) at No. 2 Western (3-0)

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

OUA TV & tape delayed on Rogers TV

Last week (Carleton): Bye… Last week (Western): 34-17 road win vs. McMaster… Last head-to-head matchup (Nov. 3, 2018 – conference semifinal at Western): Western 39, Carleton 13… In a nutshell: Both defences have been solid so far in 2019, the Mustangs leading the OUA in least points allowed (19.7 per game) and the Ravens allowing a conference-low 284.0 total yards per game… Western has won 23 straight overall against OUA opponents dating back to a 43-40 home loss to Laurier in the 2016 Yates Cup final and is riding a 25-game regular season winning streak dating back to a 38-31 loss at Carleton on Sept. 4, 2016… Keep an eye on (Carleton): Wide receiver Quinton Soares averages 104.0 all-purpose yards per outing after two games… Keep an eye on (Western): With 76 field goals since the start of his university career, fourth-year kicker Marc Liegghio needs two more to break the Western record of 77 set over five seasons by Lirim Hajrullahu (2009-2013), who currently ranks sixth overall in U SPORTS history.