Rouge et Or on top, Laurier places fifth

TORONTO — The reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or hold top spot in the final national rankings of the U Sports football season.

The 8-1 Rouge et Or received eight of 13 first-place votes to remain in the No. 1 position, U Sports said Tuesday in a release. Laval crushed Sherbrooke 45-0 in conference semifinal play last week.

The top six teams remain unchanged in the final list. The second-ranked Western Mustangs (9-0) had the other five first-place votes.

The Montreal Carabins (7-1) held the third spot, followed by the Calgary Dinos (8-1), Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (7-2), and UBC Thunderbirds (7-2).

The Acadia Axemen (6-2) rose three positions to No. 7 and the previously unranked Saint Mary’s Huskies (6-3) moved into the eighth spot. The Regina Rams (4-5) remained at No. 9 and the McMaster Marauders (7-3) fell three spots to No. 10.

The conference finals are Saturday. Laval is home to Montreal in the Dunsmore Cup and Western hosts Laurier in the Yates Cup. Calgary will entertain UBC in the Hardy Cup and Acadia welcomes Saint Mary’s in the Loney Bowl.

The Quebec conference winner will meet the Canada West winner in the Mitchell Bowl on Nov. 18 and the Ontario winner will play the Atlantic winner in the Uteck Bowl. The winners will advance to the Vanier Cup on Nov. 25.