The Alberta Golden Bears are the highest nationally-ranked U Sports football team from Canada West for the first time this season.
The Golden Bears defeated the Manitoba Bisons this past weekend by a score of 35-25 despite losing star running back Matthew Peterson to injury in the second quarter. The club’s rushing attack remained dominant as Ope Oshinubi carried the ball 15 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a relief effort, helping the team reach six regular wins for the first time since 2005.
The Huskies, meanwhile, suffered another upset loss as they fell to the struggling Calgary Dinos by a score of 13-12. Saskatchewan quarterback Anton Amundrud threw three interceptions in the defeat and now leads all of U Sports with 14 picks on the year. David Solie, the team’s kicker, also missed three field goals from distances of 28, 36, and 47 yards, the last of which came with 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The top five spots in the national rankings remained unchanged from a week ago. Alberta moved up from No. 7 to No. 6, while Saskatchewan fell from No. 6 to No. 8. The Queen’s Golden Gaels got a small bump from No. 8 to No. 7, while the Windsor Lancers and UBC Thunderbirds held firm at the bottom of the rankings.
The OUA playoffs will get underway this weekend as the Waterloo Warriors visit the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the Carleton Ravens visit the Windsor Lancers, and the Ottawa Gee-Gees visit the Queen’s Golden Gaels. In Canada West, the Thunderbirds will visit the Golden Bears for their final regular season game in a contest that will determine first place in the conference.
Click here for a full recap of this past weekend’s U Sports action.
