Teams heading into season home stretch as USports playoffs in full swing

By Ameeta Vohra

It’s that time of year again!

As the leaves have fallen off trees and the temperatures are getting cooler, the barometer is rising in USports football as the postseason has arrived.

Here is a look at which teams have moved on in the quest to hoist the Vanier Cup on November 24, 2018 in Laval:

AUS:

In the last week of the regular season, the Saint Mary’s Huskies were hoping to head into the playoffs with a perfect record.  Unfortunately, their  consecutive seven game winning streak was snapped this past weekend at the hands of the Acadia Axemen.

Since the Huskies ended their season with a  7-1 record, it was still good enough to take top spot in the conference.  The team will have a week to rest as they have earned the right to advance to the Loney Bowl. The championship will be played at Huskies Stadium on Saturday November 10, 2018.

Hoping to join the Huskies are either the StFX X-Men (6-2) or the Axemen (5-3).  Both teams will battle in the AUS semi-final game this Saturday at Oland Stadium in Antigonish, Nova Scotia at 2:00 p.m.AST.

RSEQ:

The Laval Rouge et Or capped off their regular season with a perfect 8-0 record and the was fortunate to have a bye in the final week.

Now, the team will march into the playoffs and host the McGill Redmen (2-6) on Saturday November 3, 2018 at Telus Stadium at 1:00 p.m. EST in one of the semi-final games.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Carabins (6-2) who settled for second in the conference, will host the other semi-final on Saturday November 3, 2018.  The team will square off against the Sherbrooke Vert et Or (2-6) at CEPSUM at 2:00 p.m. EST.

The Dunsmore Cup will be played at the highest seed’s home stadium on Saturday November 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

OUA:

One conference is already deep in the playoffs and that is the OUA.  While the defending Vanier and Yates Cup Western Mustangs (8-0) and Ottawa Gee-Gees (6-2) earned first round byes, four other teams began their playoff runs last weekend.

Days after head coach Greg Knox was fired, the McMaster Marauders (5-3) had to regroup and travel to Ottawa to face the Carleton Ravens (5-3). Down by 16 points at the half, the Marauders fell short in their comeback attempt and fell to the Ravens 30-25.

The Ravens now have a big task at hand as they will head on the road to face the Mustangs in one OUA semi-final at TD Stadium on Saturday November 10, 2018.  Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. EST.

After 15 years, the Waterloo Warriors (4-4) once again got a taste of the playoffs.  However, their quarterfinal game pitted the team against the Guelph Gryphons (5-3) at Alumni Stadium. The Gryphons got past the Warriors 45-34 to advance to the semi-finals where the Gee-Gees will be waiting for them in Ottawa.  The game will be on Saturday November 10, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Gee-Gees Field.

The Yates Cup will be on Saturday November 10, 2018.

CWUAA:

The year has ended in perfection for the Calgary Dinos.  The team heads into the postseason with an 8-0 record as they handled the Alberta Golden Bears 52-6 last weekend.

Now, the Dinos will host the Manitoba Bisons in one semi-final on Saturday November 3, 2018 at McMahon Stadium at 12:00 MST.

The other will pit the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies (5-3)  battling the UBC Thunderbirds (5-3) on Saturday November 3, 2018 at Thunderbirds Stadium.  Kickoff is 2:00 p.m. MST.

From the two semi-finals, the winners of them will play in the Hardy Cup on Saturday November 10, 2018.

This post is also available in: French