Western and Laval begin quest back to Vanier Cup

The Laval Rouge et Or and reigning Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs have looked just as strong this year as they did last year.

Both teams posted undefeated records over the regular season and will begin their quest to get back to the U Sports title game starting Saturday with their respective playoff openers.

The top-ranked Mustangs (80), who enter the Ontario playdowns as the top seed for the fourth straight year, will entertain Carleton while secondranked Laval welcomes Sherbrooke.

Laval (8-0) was only tested by fourth-ranked Montreal this season.

“I think we had a different approach for the full year,” Laval head coach Glen Constantin said Friday from Quebec City. “Just basically don’t fall asleep during the season, don’t read the press clippings, don’t judge how we play by the scoreboard ... it’s the process versus the result.

“We’ve been working on that because obviously last year we got humbled by a very good football team.”

The Mustangs topped the Rouge et Or 39-17 in the 2017 championship game.

Fourth-year quarterback Chris Merchant helped Western pick up right where it left off as the Mustangs led all U Sports teams this season with 384 points scored over eight games. Laval (307) and third-ranked Calgary (352) were the only other teams to crack the 300point barrier.

The third-ranked Dinos (8-0) also posted a perfect record to lead Canada West.