Uteck and Mitchell Bowls: A head-to-head look

TORONTO (U Sports) – The stage is set for the U Sports football national semifinals on Saturday, when the last four teams still standing will battle for a berth in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup on Nov. 26 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

The OUA conference champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (9-1) and the RSEQ titlist Laval Rouge et Or (9-1) get things started at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time in the Uteck Bowl at TELUS-UL Stadium in Quebec City.

The ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl follows at 2 p.m. Mountain Time (4 p.m. ET), with the AUS champion St. Francis Xavier X-Men (8-1) visiting the Canada West monarch Calgary Dinos (8-2) at McMahon Stadium.

Both contests are scheduled to be televised live on Sportsnet 360 and TVA Sports (Mitchell Bowl on TVA Sports 2), with Sportsnet 360 kicking things off at noon with a 30-minute pre-game show. The doubleheader is also available online through Sportsnet NOW and TVASports.ca (authenticated users only).

At a time when parity in Canadian university football remains under the microscope, the conference finals produced three new champions for the third straight year as only StFX earned a return trip to the U Sports Final Four. One of the teams that saw their campaign come to an end last Saturday was the 2015 Vanier Cup champ UBC Thunderbirds, who couldn't quite reproduce their Cinderella run from a year ago.

Three of the four league finals were decided by three points, two in favour of the visiting team. These results included Laurier mounting the largest fourth-quarter comeback in game history to stun Western in the 109^th Yates Cup; Laval using a trick play in the final minute of regulation to reclaim the Dunsmore Cup from archrival Montreal; Calgary capturing the Canada West banner despite being outscored 33-10 by UBC in the second half of the Hardy Cup.

You can forgive Laval head coach Glen Constantin if he and his team have a feeling of déjà vu as they prepare to face Laurier for only the second-ever meeting between the two programs.

Back in 2004, just like this fall, the Rouge et Or defeated Concordia at home in the RSEQ semifinals and Montreal on the road in the Dunsmore Cup final to earn the right to host the Golden Hawks in the Uteck Bowl. Laval proceeded to beat its visitors from Waterloo 30-11 at TELUS-UL Stadium (then named PEPS Stadium) before triumphing against Saskatchewan in the Vanier Cup... in Hamilton.

First and foremost however, Constantin and his troops are thrilled to be back in the national semifinals after losing to Montreal in the previous two RSEQ championship matches. The back-to-back Dunsmore Cup losses both came in Quebec City, where the Rouge et Or was once considered invincible, winning a mind-boggling 70 straight games overall on home turf until the 2014 Quebec final.

"We're very excited," says the 16-year Laval bench boss, whose program is a perfect 6-0 all-time in U Sports Bowl games played at TELUS-UL Stadium. "When you manage to get out of the Quebec conference, which is very competitive, you believe even more in your chances of going all the way. We're definitely happy to get back to the Final Four."

The last four RSEQ finals, all opposing Laval and Montreal, have been decided by three points in 2013, when the Rouge et Or went on to capture their record eighth Vanier Cup; by three points in overtime in 2014, when the Carabins went on to claim their first national title; by two points a year ago, when Montreal returned to the U Sports championship game before falling to UBC; and 20-17 this past weekend.  

Constantin, who was the team's defensive coordinator when Laval won its first Vanier Cup in 1999 and has since become the most decorated head coach in Canadian university football history with seven titles as the man in charge, knows there is still a lot of work to be done before his club can add a ninth U Sports trophy to its record collection. While he recognizes Laurier represents a formidable challenge, he welcomes the contest against an out-of-province opponent. 

"I think when you get out of your conference, it becomes less personal, in the sense that you don't know the people you're playing against. Those are still very intense games, but less emotional.

"Laurier is a good team, with a solid defensive front. On offence, they run the ball much more than what we're accustomed to, including formations with three running backs in the backfield. We'll have to adjust our preparation this week."

Thankfully for Constantin, whose program has never gone three straight years without winning the Vanier Cup since he took over the reins in 2001, the Rouge et Or is once again one of the top defensive teams in the country this season. In conference play, the Laval D ranked second in the nation in points allowed (9.8 per game) and total yards (294.0), third against the run (91.8) and fourth against the pass (202.3).  

The stingy unit is led by sophomore defensive end Mathieu Betts, who was voted the RSEQ's outstanding down lineman this fall after he racked up a conference-leading nine quarterback sacks in eight league games despite being double-teamed on most plays. The Montreal native exploded on the university scene in 2015, meriting U Sports rookie-of-the-year honours thanks to his remarkable 12 sacks, just 0.5 off the single-season national record.

The Rouge et Or offence is led by another former U Sports rookie of the year (2014), junior quarterback Hugo Richard, who overcame three early turnovers in the Dunsmore Cup final to finish with 392 passing yards against Montreal's nationally top-ranked defence. Richard was on the receiving end of the game-winning touchdown pass from freshman receiver Jonathan Breton-Robert with 21 seconds left on the clock. Breton-Robert had previously caught 10 balls for 161 yards and a major, and was named the game MVP.   

While he has never faced Laval since becoming Laurier's head coach in 2013, Michael Faulds is well aware of his next opponents' winning tradition. In his playing days, the former Western quarterback visited TELUS-UL Stadium for three straight years in preseason action, from 2007 to 2009, with the Quebec powerhouse coming out on top every time. Faulds' only Vanier Cup appearance as a player, in 2008 in Hamilton, also ended with a loss to the Rouge et Or.

If there is one thing Faulds doesn't lack however, it's confidence. In only his fourth season at the helm, the young leader has guided the Golden Hawks to their first Yates Cup victory since 2005, when the team went on to claim the second Vanier Cup in school history thanks to a thrilling 24-23 decision over Saskatchewan... in Hamilton. 

"We have taken a major step this year winning the Yates Cup and especially having to go through two perennial powerhouses in McMaster and Western to do it. As cool as it is to make it to the Uteck Bowl and play in the mecca of Canadian university football against Laval, we are definitely not satisfied," says Faulds, whose team returns to La Belle Province for the second time this fall, three months after dropping a close 37-33 preseason decision against Montreal on Aug. 20. "Since we opened camp on August 13^th, our two goals were to win a Yates Cup and a Vanier Cup, so we are eight quarters away now from meeting our own expectations."

Last Saturday's Yates Cup triumph on the road against heavily-favoured Western was one for the ages. Facing a team they hadn't beaten in 13 tries dating back to 2006, including a 45-26 loss in conference play earlier this fall, and looking for their first win in London since 1991, the Hawks overcame a 40-19 deficit with 24 unanswered points in the final eight minutes of the contest to prevail 43-40.

In only the seventh start of his OUA career, Michael Knevel, a fourth-year pivot in his first season with the team, was named game MVP after he threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, with all his TD passes coming during the furious fourth-quarter comeback. Nathan Mesher was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, including the game-winner from 26 yards out as time expired. Starting for injured veteran Eric Guiltinan, sophomore running back Levondre Gordon chipped in on the ground with 164 yards and a major on 18 carries.

"I'm probably the only one crazy enough to think it could actually happen," Faulds said on Saturday after capturing his first Yates Cup as a coach to go along with the two he won as a player. "We knew if we could hang around just enough, we'd have a chance in the fourth. If we could hold it to two scores, we'd have a really good chance. Once they got the third touchdown, to go up three scores, I thought it was probably slim to none, but that's why we're here now. We did enough to get it done."

One player who impressed Faulds in the historic win was his 6-foot-5 quarterback.

"The thing I've noticed about him since day one is that he doesn't get nervous at all. No matter how big the situation is, he just simply doesn't, and from that, you can see the guys around him get more and more confidence."

While the passing game played a huge role down the stretch against Western, the Golden Hawks' identity remains running the ball on offence and an aggressive approach on defence.

Despite the loss to graduation of former Hec Crighton Trophy nominee Dillon Campbell after the 2015 campaign, Laurier led the country in rushing during the regular season with 281.4 yards per game before adding 458 in two playoff contests. On the other side of the ball, the Hawks led the nation with 36 sacks in eight league games and finished second with 16 interceptions.

Their defensive unit includes the likes of linebacker Nakas Onyeka, the 2016 OUA defensive MVP, and defensive end Kwaku Boateng, who was listed in September as the top U Sports prospect for the 2017 CFL draft.

On the other side of the country, Saturday's ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl will mark the first-ever meeting between StFX and Calgary.

While the X-Men were the only team to repeat as conference champion last weekend, winning back-to-back AUS banners for the first time since 1982 and 1983, the Dinos return to the national Final Four after dropping the previous two Canada West finals on home turf at McMahon Stadium, against Manitoba in 2014 and UBC last November.

To say StFX dominated in the Maritimes this fall would be a major understatement. The X-Men went 7-0 against AUS opponents in league play – winning all but one game by 15 points or more – before convincingly defeating Mount Allison 29-8 in the Loney Bowl. They led the Atlantic conference in most statistical categories, including points scored (37.4 per game), points allowed (16.1), as well as total yards on both offence (484.5) and defence (336.0).

The only blemish on StFX's record is a 17-11 road loss against RSEQ rival Concordia in interlock play on Sept. 24.

The X-Men heard all about it last year, before and after their 36-9 home loss to UBC in the Uteck Bowl. Since 2004, only one AUS team – Saint Mary's in 2007 – has advanced to the Vanier Cup, and the conference's last national title dates back to 2002.

Could this be the year the drought ends? StFX has the horses, there is no doubt about it.

Starting with fifth-year quarterback Tivon Cook, who was named the conference MVP after he set or tied single-season school records for passing yards (2,537), touchdown passes (21), completions (174) and completion percentage (69.3), ranking in the top six nationally in all four categories.

Running back Jordan Socholotiuk was second in the country in rushing yards with 1,056 in eight league contests. Despite missing one conference game, receiver/returner Kaion Julien-Grant led the nation in all-purpose yards (1,558) and finished third in receiving yards (804). On defence, veteran defensive end Kyle Forde tied for second in U Sports with nine sacks.  

One person who definitely likes the X-Men's chances on Saturday is head coach Gary Waterman, in his eighth campaign at the helm.

"Winning the Loney Bowl for the second straight season, this time on our home turf, was a great accomplishment for the X-Men Football team," says the back-to-back AUS coach of the year. "We've had the same mantra all season, which is that the most important game of the year is the next one on the schedule. Even after clinching home field advantage with two weeks left to play, we focused on each contest individually, which ultimately led to a perfect in-conference record against some strong AUS opponents.

"It happens to be that the next game on our schedule is now the Mitchell Bowl against a tough Calgary team, and we are going to continue preparing the way we have all season. We learned some hard lessons last year in the Uteck Bowl, and we will surely draw from that experience as we head out west for the game."

Tough might actually be the perfect way to describe the 2016 Dinos. Resilient would be another.

As if losing countless key pieces following the 2015 campaign - including two-time Hec Crighton-winning quarterback Andrew Buckley, standout running back Mercer Timmis and record-setting kicker Johnny Mark – wasn't enough, Calgary has had to deal with a depleted roster for the past few weeks after being hit hard by injuries late in the season.

Starting pivot Jimmy Underdahl has missed the last four games, including both Canada West playoff contests. The Dinos are also down to their third-string tailback on the preseason depth chart with injuries to both Quentin Chown and Bryce Harper. Receiver Austen Hartley, the team's leader with 110.2 yards per game – the third-best average in the nation – also missed the conference final.

Their absence has provided opportunities for the likes of rookie pivot Adam Sinagra, who is 3-1 as a starter and was voted MVP of the Hardy Cup after passing for 366 yards and three touchdowns against defending Vanier Cup champion UBC. Second-year running back Jeshrun Antwi also chipped in last weekend with 96 yards and a pair of majors on the ground.

After being named U Sports coach of the year last November following his first season at the helm, Calgary bench boss Wayne Harris Jr. definitely proved his 2015 national award was well deserved.

"We've faced adversity all year. How you handle that measures your character. I know the character of these guys – they're a hard-working group of guys that never, ever quits," says Harris, whose team has been involved in five games decided by six points or less so far this fall. "I'm extremely proud of this group – they've worked hard all season long to achieve this goal, and we still have goals in front of us we are trying to achieve."

One of those close games was of course the crazy 46-43 Hardy Cup win over UBC and former head coach Blake Nill, who a year ago ruined the Dinos' bid for a perfect season with a 34-26 upset victory in the Canada West championship match at McMahon Stadium. Last Saturday, Calgary held what looked like a comfortable 36-10 after 30 minutes but saw the T-Birds and star quarterback Michael O'Connor come back with 33 second-half points.

"We have talked about that right from day one, before we started training camp, that nothing was going to come easy this year and we would have to fight for every point and every win that we get. We've talked about finishing every play and every game – we've gotten behind in games but they've stuck to it. Part of that is our conditioning and being able to execute going into the fourth quarter."

Despite the numerous challenges they faced this season, the Dinos managed to top Canada West in both points scored (36.8 per game) and allowed (20.9), while also leading the league in rushing offence (195.9 yards per game), fewest yards allowed (395.4) and rushing defence (107.4).

They now hope to improve to 5-1 all-time in Bowl games against AUS opponents and advance to the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2013.

"We're going to go through and break down film, try to get the best idea of who their guys are and their style of play - where we can create mismatches and what we can take advantage of," says Harris of his team's preparation for StFX. "It's a lot of film work for the coaches, getting a game plan into our players' hands, and letting them play fast. If we're able to do that, we have a better chance of succeeding."

UTECK BOWL

When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 12:30 p.m. ET
Where: TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City
Who: No. 5 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (9-1) at No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or (9-1)
TV: Sportsnet 360 & TVA Sports (pre-game show at noon ET on SN 360)
Web: Sportsnet NOW & TVASports.ca (authenticated users only)

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY GOLDEN HAWKS (OUA champions)

2016 season summary
Overall record (regular season & playoffs): 9-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 2^nd     
Playoff record: 2-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 1): No. 5
Top 10 best ranking: No. 5 (2 weeks)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 10 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (42.6 / game): 2^nd OUA / 2^nd U Sports
Regular season offence total yards (500.6 / game): 4^th OUA / 6^th U Sports
Regular season offence passing (219.3 / game): 9^th OUA / 20^th U Sports
Regular season offence rushing (281.4 / game): 1^st OUA / 1^st U Sports
Regular season defence points (15.8 / game): 2^nd OUA / 4^th U Sports
Regular season defence total yards (341.3 / game): 1^st OUA / 5^th U Sports
Regular season defence passing (225.9 / game): 3^rd OUA / 6^th U Sports
Regular season defence rushing (115.4 / game): 3^rd OUA / 8^th U Sports 

2016 results
Aug. 20 (away): Montreal 37, Laurier 33 (preseason)
Aug. 28 (home): Laurier 37, Queen's 18
Sept. 5 (home): Laurier 74, York 3
Sept. 17 (away): Laurier 17, Carleton 16
Sept. 24 (home): Laurier 68, Waterloo 7
Oct. 1 (away): Western 45, Laurier 26
Oct. 6 (away): Laurier 54, Toronto 3
Oct. 14 (home): Laurier 27, Guelph 25
Oct. 22 (away): Laurier 38, Windsor 9
Nov. 5 (home): Laurier 21, McMaster 19 (OUA semifinal)
Nov. 12 (away): Laurier 43, Western 40 (Yates Cup)

2016 OUA individual honours
Major awards: Nakas Onyeka (defensive MVP), Michael Faulds (coach of the year)
All-stars offence (first team): None
All-stars defence (first team): Jalen Price (DT), Kwaku Boateng (DE), Nakas Onyeka (LB), Malcolm Thompson (DB), Godfrey Onyeka (DB)
All-stars special teams (first team): None
All-stars offence (second team): Jamie Lalonde (C)
All-stars defence (second team): None
All-stars special teams (second team): Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (RET)

All-time head-to-head vs. Laval
Overall record: 0-1
Home record: 0-0
Away record: 0-1
2004 (away): 30-11 loss (Uteck Bowl)

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Overall record: 4-4
Home record: 0-0
Away record: 3-4
Neutral site record: 1-0 

2005 (away): 31-10 win vs. Acadia (Uteck Bowl)
2004 (away): 30-11 loss vs. Laval (Uteck Bowl)
1991 (neutral site: SkyDome, Toronto): 42-22 win vs. Queen's (Churchill Bowl)
1987 (away): 33-31 loss vs. UBC (Western Bowl)
1978 (away): 25-16 loss vs. UBC (Western Bowl)
1973 (away): 19-17 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1972 (away): 50-17 win vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1968 (away): 37-7 win vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 2-3

2005 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 24-23 win vs. Saskatchewan
1991 (SkyDome, Toronto): 25-18 win vs. Mount Allison
1972 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 20-7 loss vs. Alberta
1968 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 42-14 loss vs. Queen's
1966 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 40-14 loss vs. StFX

Head coach: Michael Faulds
Season: 4^th
Career regular season record: 16-16 (.500)
Career playoff record: 3-2 (.600)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 19-18 (.514)
Career overall record vs. Laval: 0-0
Bowl record: 0-0
Bowl wins: None
Bowl losses: None
Vanier Cup record: 0-0 
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: None

LAVAL UNIVERSITY ROUGE ET OR (RSEQ champions)

2016 season summary
Overall record (regular season & playoffs): 9-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 2^nd   
Playoff record: 2-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 1): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 4 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (36.1 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 8^th U Sports
Regular season offence total yards (460.6 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 12^th U Sports
Regular season offence passing (291.9 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 11^th U Sports
Regular season offence rushing (168.8 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 9^th U Sports
Regular season defence points (9.8 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 2^nd U Sports
Regular season defence total yards (294.0 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 2^nd U Sports
Regular season defence passing (202.3 / game): 2^nd RSEQ / 4^th U Sports
Regular season defence rushing (91.8 / game): 3^rd RSEQ / 3^rd U Sports 

2016 results
Aug. 20 (home): Laval 36, Carleton 29 OT (preseason)
Sept. 3 (home): Montreal 24, Laval 21
Sept. 10 (away): Laval 37, Concordia 18
Sept. 18 (home): Laval 41, Sherbrooke 3
Sept. 24 (away): Laval 49, Mount Allison 4
Oct. 2 (home): Laval 61, McGill 9
Oct. 15 (away): Laval 22, Montreal 19
Oct. 23 (home): Laval 44, Bishop's 0
Oct. 29 (away): Laval 14, Sherbrooke 1
Nov. 5 (home): Laval 39, Concordia 14 (RSEQ semifinal)
Nov. 12 (away): Laval 20, Montreal 17 (Dunsmore Cup)

2016 RSEQ individual honours
Major awards: Mathieu Betts (outstanding down lineman), Adam Auclair (rookie of the year)
All-stars offence: Vincent Alarie-Tardif (RB), Antony Auclair (FB), Samuel Lefebvre (G), Samuel Thomassin (G), Jean-Simon Roy (T)
All-stars defence: Mathieu Betts (DE), Vincent Desjardins (DT), Gabriel Ouellet (LB), Adam Auclair (DB), Gabriel Marcoux (DB), Alexander Hovington (CB)
All-stars special teams: Antony Dufour (RET)

All-time head-to-head vs. Laurier
Overall record: 1-0
Home record: 1-0
Away record: 0-0
2004 (home): 30-11 win (Uteck Bowl)

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Overall record: 9-4
Home record: 6-0
Away record: 3-4

2013 (away): 48-21 win vs. Mount Allison (Uteck Bowl)
2012 (home): 42-7 win vs. Acadia (Uteck Bowl)
2011 (away): 41-10 win vs. Calgary (Mitchell Bowl)
2010 (home): 13-11 win vs. Western (Uteck Bowl)
2009 (away): 33-30 loss vs. Queen's (Mitchell Bowl)
2008 (home): 59-10 win vs. Calgary (Uteck Bowl)
2007 (away): 24-2 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Uteck Bowl)
2006 (home): 57-10 win vs. Acadia (Uteck Bowl)
2005 (away): 29-27 loss vs. Saskatchewan (Mitchell Bowl)
2004 (home): 30-11 win vs. Laurier (Uteck Bowl)
2003 (away): 36-32 win vs. McMaster (Mitchell Bowl)
2001 (away): 48-8 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1999 (home): 27-21 win vs. Saskatchewan (Churchill Bowl) 

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 8-1

2013 (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City): 25-14 win vs. Calgary
2012 (Rogers Centre, Toronto): 37-14 win vs. McMaster
2011 (BC Place Stadium, Vancouver): 41-38 OT loss vs. McMaster
2010 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 29-2 win vs. Calgary
2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 win vs. Western
2006 (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): 13-8 win vs. Saskatchewan
2004 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 7-1 win vs. Saskatchewan
2003 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-7 win vs. Saint Mary's
1999 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-10 win vs. Saint Mary's

Head coach: Glen Constantin
Season: 16^th 
Career regular season record: 112-19 (.855) 
Career playoff record: 41-10 (.804)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 153-29 (.841)
Career overall record vs. Laurier: 1-0
Bowl record: 8-4
Bowl wins: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Bowl losses: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2001
Vanier Cup record: 7-1
Vanier Cup wins: 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: 2011

ARCELORMITTAL DOFASCO MITCHELL BOWL

When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. MT (4 p.m. ET)
Where: McMahon Stadium, Calgary
Who: No. 10 St. Francis Xavier X-Men (8-1) at No. 6 Calgary Dinos (8-2)
TV: Sportsnet 360 & TVA Sports 2
Web: Sportsnet NOW & TVASports.ca (authenticated users only)

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY X-MEN (AUS champions)

2016 season summary
Overall record (regular season & playoffs): 8-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 1^st      
Playoff record: 1-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 1): No. 10
Top 10 best ranking: No. 10 (2 weeks)
Top 10 lowest ranking: Unranked (8 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 2
Regular season offence points (37.4 / game): 1^st AUS / 5^th U Sports
Regular season offence total yards (484.5 / game): 1^st AUS / 8^th U Sports
Regular season offence passing (323.6 / game): 1^st AUS / 5^th U Sports
Regular season offence rushing (160.9 / game): 2^nd AUS / 13^th U Sports
Regular season defence points (16.1 / game): 1^st AUS / 5^th U Sports
Regular season defence total yards (336.0 / game): 1^st AUS / 4^th U Sports
Regular season defence passing (223.6 / game): 1^st AUS / 5^th U Sports
Regular season defence rushing (112.4 / game): 1^st AUS / 7^th U Sports

2016 results
Sept. 2 (home): StFX 18, Mount Allison 17 (preseason)
Sept. 10 (away): StFX 29, Mount Allison 14
Sept. 17 (home): StFX 37, Acadia 8
Sept. 24 (away): Concordia 17, StFX 11
Oct. 1 (home): StFX 37, Saint Mary's 17
Oct. 7 (home): StFX 42, Acadia 21
Oct. 15 (away): StFX 45, Saint Mary's 6
Oct. 22 (away): StFX 33, Acadia 29
Oct. 29 (home): StFX 65, Mount Allison 17
Nov. 12 (home): StFX 29, Mount Allison 8 (Loney Bowl) 

2016 AUS individual honours
Major awards: Tivon Cook (MVP), Vernon Sainvil (outstanding down lineman), Gary Waterman (coach of the year)
All-stars offence: Tivon Cook (QB), Jordan Socholotiuk (RB), Dejuan Martin (WR), Christian Ridley (IR), Kaion Julien-Grant (IR), Vernon Sainvil (T), Jacob Czaja (G)
All-stars defence: Kyle Forde (DE), Adam Kuntz (LB), Hayden Peters (DB), Paolo Lach-Edwards (CB)
All-stars special teams: Jonathan Heidebrecht (K), Keiran Burnham (P), Kaion Julien-Grant (RET)

All-time head-to-head vs. Calgary
Overall record: 0-0
Home record: 0-0
Away record: 0-0

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Overall record: 1-4
Home record: 1-4
Away record: 0-0

2015 (home at Oland Field, Antigonish, N.S.): 36-9 loss vs. UBC (Uteck Bowl)
1996 (home at Huskies Stadium, Halifax): 13-5 win vs. Ottawa (Atlantic Bowl)
1982 (home at Huskies Stadium, Halifax): 54-1 loss vs. UBC (Atlantic Bowl)
1978 (home at Huskies Stadium, Halifax): 32-10 loss vs. Queen's (Atlantic Bowl)
1967 (home at Wanderers Grounds, Halifax): 7-0 loss vs. McMaster (Atlantic Bowl) 

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 1-1 

1996 (SkyDome, Toronto): 31-12 loss vs. Saskatchewan
1966 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 40-14 win vs. Waterloo Lutheran

Head coach: Gary Waterman
Season: 8^th
Career regular season record: 30-34 (.469)
Career playoff record: 5-4 (.556)
Career overall record (season & playoffs): 35-38 (.479)
Career overall record vs. Calgary: 0-0
Bowl record: 0-1
Bowl wins: None
Bowl losses: 2015
Vanier Cup record: 0-0
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: None

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DINOS (Canada West champions)

2016 season summary
Overall record (regular season & playoffs): 8-2
Regular season record: 6-2
Regular season standing: 2^nd   
Playoff record: 2-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 1): No. 6
Top 10 best ranking: No. 2 (2 weeks)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 7 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (36.8 / game): 1^st CW / 7^th U Sports
Regular season offence total yards (507.4 / game): 2^nd CW / 5^th U Sports
Regular season offence passing (311.5 / game): 4^th CW / 6^th U Sports
Regular season offence rushing (195.9 / game): 1^st CW / 6^th U Sports
Regular season defence points (20.9 / game): 1^st CW / 9^th U Sports
Regular season defence total yards (395.4 / game): 1^st CW / 12^th U Sports
Regular season defence passing (288.0 / game): 2^nd CW / 17^th U Sports
Regular season defence rushing (107.4 / game): 1^st CW / 6^th U Sports 

2016 results
Aug. 25 (Medicine Hat, Alta.): Calgary 37, Regina 13 (preseason)
Sept. 1 (away): Calgary 23, Manitoba 14
Sept. 9 (home): Calgary 35, UBC 8
Sept. 16 (away): Calgary 20, Saskatchewan 19
Sept. 23 (away): Regina 32, Calgary 27
Oct. 1 (home): Calgary 50, Alberta 15
Oct. 14 (home): Calgary 63, Manitoba 6
Oct. 22 (home): Saskatchewan 38, Calgary 35
Oct. 29 (away): Calgary 41, UBC 35 OT
Nov. 5 (home): Calgary 47, Saskatchewan 17 (Canada West semifinal)
Nov. 12 (home): Calgary 46, UBC 43 (Hardy Cup)

2016 Canada West individual honours

Major awards: None
All-stars offence: Austen Hartley (IR), Ryan Sceviour (G)
All-stars defence: Jack McEwen (DT), Connor McGough (DE), Boston Rowe (LB), Robert Woodson (DB), Adam Laurensse (CB)
All-stars special teams: None

All-time head-to-head vs. StFX
Overall record: 0-0
Home record: 0-0
Away record: 0-0

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)

Overall record: 8-6
Home record: 4-1
Away record: 4-5

2013 (home): 44-3 win vs. Western (Mitchell Bowl)
2012 (away): 45-6 loss vs. McMaster (Mitchell Bowl)
2011 (home): 41-10 loss vs. Laval (Mitchell Bowl)
2010 (home): 35-8 win vs. Saint Mary's (Mitchell Bowl)
2009 (away): 38-14 win vs. Saint Mary's (Uteck Bowl)
2008 (away): 59-10 loss vs. Laval (Uteck Bowl)
1995 (home): 37-7 win vs. Ottawa (Churchill Bowl)
1993 (away): 37-23 win vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1992 (away): 21-11 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1988 (away): 34-15 win vs. Western (Central Bowl)
1985 (home): 56-14 win vs. Carleton (Western Bowl)
1984 (away): 12-7 loss vs. Guelph (Central Bowl)
1977 (away): 24-22 loss vs. Western (Forest City Bowl)
1975 (away): 38-13 win vs. Acadia (Atlantic Bowl)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 4-5

2013 (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City): 25-14 loss vs. Laval
2010 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 29-2 loss vs. Laval
2009 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 33-31 loss vs. Queen's
1995 (SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 win vs. Western
1993 (SkyDome, Toronto): 37-34 loss vs. Toronto
1988 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 52-23 win vs. Saint Mary's
1985 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 win vs. Western
1983 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 31-21 win vs. Queen's
1975 (CNE Stadium, Toronto): 14-9 loss vs. Ottawa

Head coach: Wayne Harris Jr.
Season: 2^nd   
Career regular season record: 14-2 (.875)
Career playoff record: 3-1 (.750)
Career overall record (season & playoffs): 17-3 (.850)
Career overall record vs. StFX: 0-0
Bowl record: 0-0
Bowl wins: None
Bowl losses: None
Vanier Cup record: 0-0
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: None

ALL-TIME CIS BOWL RESULTS (since start of CIS national semifinals in 1967)

2015
Uteck (Oland Stadium, Antigonish, N.S.): UBC 36, StFX 9
Mitchell (Alumni Stadium, Guelph, Ont.): Montreal 25, Guelph 10 

2014
Uteck (CEPSUM Stadium, Montreal): Montreal 29, Manitoba 26
Mitchell (Ron Joyce Stadium, Hamilton): McMaster 24, Mount Allison 12 

2013
Uteck (MacAulay Field, Sackville, N.B.): Laval 48, Mount Allison 21
Mitchell (McMahon Stadium, Calgary): Calgary 44, Western 3 

2012
Uteck (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City): Laval 42, Acadia 7
Mitchell (Ron Joyce Stadium, Hamilton): McMaster 45, Calgary 6

2011
Uteck (Moncton Stadium, Moncton): McMaster 45, Acadia 21
Mitchell (McMahon Stadium, Calgary): Laval 41, Calgary 10

2010
Uteck (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): Laval 13, Western 11
Mitchell (McMahon Stadium, Calgary): Calgary 35, Saint Mary's 8

2009
Uteck (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Calgary 38, Saint Mary's 14
Mitchell (Richardson Stadium, Kingston): Queen's 33, Laval 30

2008
Uteck (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): Laval 59, Calgary 10
Mitchell (TD Waterhouse Stadium, London): Western 28, Saint Mary's 12

2007
Uteck (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 24, Laval 2
Mitchell (Canad Inns Stadium, Winnipeg): Manitoba 52, Western 20

2006
Uteck (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): Laval 57, Acadia 10
Mitchell (Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa): Saskatchewan 35, Ottawa 28

2005
Uteck (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Wilfrid Laurier 31, Acadia 10
Mitchell (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): Saskatchewan 29, Laval 27

2004
Uteck (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): Laval 30, Wilfrid Laurier 11
Mitchell (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): Saskatchewan 31, Saint Mary's 16

2003
Uteck (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 60, Simon Fraser 9
Mitchell (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): Laval 36, McMaster 32

2002
Churchill (Les Prince Field, Hamilton): Saint Mary's 36, McMaster 25
Mitchell (Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal): Saskatchewan 22, McGill 0

2001
Churchill (Canad Inns Stadium, Winnipeg): Manitoba 27, McMaster 6
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 48, Laval 8

2000
Churchill (Les Prince Field, Hamilton): Ottawa 20, McMaster 15
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Regina 40, Saint Mary's 36

1999
Churchill (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): Laval 27, Saskatchewan 21
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 21, Waterloo 14

1998
Churchill (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): Saskatchewan 33, Western 17
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Concordia 25, Acadia 24

1997 (1)
Churchill (Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa): Waterloo 1, Ottawa 0
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): UBC 34, Mount Allison 29

1996
Churchill (University Stadium, Waterloo): Saskatchewan 33, Guelph 9
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): StFX 13, Ottawa 5

1995
Churchill (McMahon Stadium, Calgary): Calgary 37, Ottawa 7
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Western 55, Acadia 45 (OT)

1994
Churchill (Coulter Field, Lennoxville, Que.): Western 41, Bishop's 24
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saskatchewan 35, Saint Mary's 24

1993
Churchill (SkyDome, Toronto): Toronto 26, Concordia 16
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Calgary 37, Saint Mary's 23

1992
Churchill (SkyDome, Toronto): Queen's 23, Guelph 16
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 21, Calgary 11

1991
Churchill (SkyDome, Toronto): Wilfrid Laurier 42, Queen's 22
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Mount Allison 31, Saskatchewan 14

1990
Churchill (Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal): Saskatchewan 41, Bishop's 13
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 31, Western 30

1989
Churchill (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): Saskatchewan 40, Queen's 10
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Western 38, Saint Mary's 33

1988
Central (J.W. Little Stadium, London): Calgary 34, Western 15
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 44, Bishop's 10

1987
Western (Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver): UBC 33, Wilfrid Laurier 31
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): McGill 30, Saint Mary's 29

1986
Central (Bishop's Field, Lennoxville, Que.): UBC 32, Bishop's 30
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Western 29, Acadia 22

1985
Western (McMahon Stadium, Calgary): Calgary 56, Carleton 14
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Western 34, Mount Allison 3

1984
Central (Alumni Stadium, Guelph): Guelph 12, Calgary 7
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Mount Allison 29, Queen's 17

1983 (2)
Western (Richardson Stadium, Kingston): Queen's 22, Toronto 7

1982
Western (J.W. Little Stadium, London): Western 17, Concordia 7
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): UBC 54, StFX 1

1981
Western (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton): Alberta 32, Western 31
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Acadia 40, Queen's 14

1980
Western (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton): Alberta 14, Western 4
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Ottawa 28, Acadia 8

1979
Yates Cup (J.W. Little Stadium, London): Western 32, Queen's 14
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Acadia 27, Alberta 3

1978
Western (Empire Stadium, Vancouver): UBC 25, Wilfrid Laurier 16
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Queen's 32, StFX 10

1977
Forest City (J.W. Little Stadium, London): Western 24, Calgary 22
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Acadia 35, Queen's 22

1976
Forest City (J.W. Little Stadium, London): Western 30, UBC 8
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Acadia 18, Ottawa 16

1975
Central (Lansdowne Park, Ottawa): Ottawa 45, Windsor 6
Atlantic (Raymond Field, Wolfville, N.S.): Calgary 38, Acadia 13

1974
Central (J.W. Little Stadium, London): Western 41, Saskatchewan 17
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Toronto 45, Saint Mary's 1

1973
Western (Winnipeg Velodrome, Winnipeg): McGill 16, Manitoba 0
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Saint Mary's 19, Wilfrid Laurier 17

1972
Western (Varsity Stadium, Edmonton): Alberta 58, Loyola 6
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Waterloo Lutheran 50, Saint Mary's 17

1971
Western (Clarke Stadium, Edmonton): Alberta 53, Bishop's 2
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Western 44, Saint Mary's 13

1970
Western (Pan American Stadium, Winnipeg): Manitoba 24, Queen's 20 (OT)
Atlantic (Huskies Stadium, Halifax): Ottawa 24, UNB 11

1969
Western (Pan American Stadium, Winnipeg): Manitoba 41, Windsor 7
Atlantic (Wanderers Grounds, Halifax): McGill 20, UNB 6

1968
Western (Pan American Stadium, Winnipeg): Queen's 29, Manitoba 6
Atlantic (Wanderers Grounds, Halifax): Waterloo Lutheran 37, Saint Mary's 7

1967 (3)
Atlantic (Wanderers Grounds, Halifax): McMaster 7, StFX 0

NOTES:

(1) In 1997, Ottawa beat Waterloo 44-37 but later forfeited the game due to the use of ineligible players (official score: 1-0 Waterloo).

(2) In 1983, the AUAA chose not to participate in a Bowl game as a protest against CIAU. WIFL champion Calgary received a direct berth in the national final.

(3) In 1967, the OQAA voted against any league participation in the Vanier Cup championship game. WIFL champion Alberta received a direct berth in the national final.

About U Sports

U Sports is the national brand for University Sports in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 500 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U Sports also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit usports.ca or follow us on:

Twitter: @usportsca
Facebook: @usportscanada
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/usportsca
Instagram: @usportsca 

- U Sports -