Saturday's CIS Football Roundup

Western running back Nathan Riva ran for 171 yards and a touchdown as the Mustangs defeated the Guelph Gryphons 37-18 in a windy Ontario university football quarter-final Saturday.

Mustangs quarterback Michael Faulds completed 17-of-28 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver Jesse Bellamy.

The win sets up a semifinal matchup that will see the No. 5-ranked Mustangs face No. 8 Wilfrid Laurier on Nov. 7 in Waterloo, Ont.

"It was tough throwing with the wind today…we made adjustments on the go," said Faulds, the all-time CIS passing leader. "Jesse Bellamy caught two key touchdown passes for us and our defence played a great game.

"Now we have Laurier…they are a very different team than when we played them last. They'll be good. We'll begin preparing for them (Sunday)."

In the other OUA football quarter-final, at Ottawa, Joseph Nemet ran in a pair of touchdowns and Kyle Quinlan passed for two more to lead No. 10 McMaster past the No. 7 Gee-Gees 27-15.

The win moves the Marauders into a semi-final meeting with the OUA-champion Queen's Golden Gaels next weekend in Kingston, Ont. Queen's escaped with an 8-7 win in their only regular-season meeting Sept. 12.

Nemet finished with 123 rushing yards on 19 carries to pace McMaster, and gave his team the lead for good with a four-yard scamper midway through the fourth.

Bradley Sinopoli threw for 342 yards and a touchdown for Ottawa, and added eight rushes for 65 yards.

Elsewhere in the CIS on Saturday it was: Laval 50 McGill 0; Calgary 40 Alberta 5; Montreal 14 Sherbrooke 9; Bishop's 40 Concordia 38; and Manitoba 31 Simon Fraser 28.

At London, Ont., Riva found lots of running room in a Guelph defence loaded up to protect against Western's passing attack.

Riva was quick to credit his offensive line.

"I always think our offensive line plays well," said Riva. "Plain and simple, if it weren't for those guys I wouldn't be having the success I am."

Riva also complimented the defence, which came up with four interceptions.

"(The defence) responded well. They got to (Guelph quarterback Justin) Dunk and frustrated him and threw everything off for him," said Riva.

"That's what we wanted to do."

Western head coach Greg Marshall said the windy conditions, which approached 50 km/h, factored in on play calling throughout the day.

"We were down early and played against a very strong wind. Our offence struggled a bit early," Marshall said. "But our defence did a good job. This was their best game this season. (Guelph) converted on a couple of third downs early but I think our guys did a great job defending (Dunk) on the whole."

The Mustangs were also helped to the win by an accurate performance from kicker Darryl Wheeler, who hit all four of his field goal attempts.

Wheeler was also instrumental in covering for a Western offence that struggled to score early, getting the Mustangs points on three separate first-half possessions that stalled in the Guelph red zone. He hit a career long 41-yard field goal just as time expired in the first half.

In his final collegiate game, Dunk finished 15-for-36 with one touchdown, four interceptions and 223 yards passing. He also ran in for a 20-yard touchdown.

No. 1 Laval 50 McGill 0

At Montreal, Benoit Groulx threw three touchdown passes in limited action as No. 1 Laval finished its regular season with a lopsided win over the Redmen.

Groulx finished 13-for-15 for 230 yards as the Rouge et Or (7-1) burst out to a 30-0 lead after one quarter and cruised from there.

Maxime Beland was the other offensive star for Laval, rushing five times for 52 yards and a touchdown and hauling in three passes for 83 yards and two more scores.

McGill (3-5) managed just 244 yards of total offence and turned the ball over three times.

Laval hosts Concordia in one Quebec semifinal Nov. 7, while McGill finished out of the playoffs.

-

No 2. Calgary 40 Alberta 5

At Edmonton, Dinos quarterback Erik Glavic completed 13 of 19 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown as Calgary thumped the Golden Bears.

Matt Walter rushed for 169 yards on 19 carries for the Dinos (7-1)

Quade Armstrong completed 19-of-38 passes for 171 yards and two interceptions for Alberta (3-5).

The two teams will meet in the one West semifinal Nov. 7.

-

No. 9 Montreal 14 Sherbrooke 9

At Montreal, Rotrand Sene ran wild on the Vert et Or defence, erupting for 228 yards on 33 carries in the Carabins victory.

Frank Bruno returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown for Montreal (5-3).

Pascal Fils had the lone touchdown for Sherbrooke (3-5).

Montreal hosts Bishop's in one Quebec semifinal Nov. 7, while Sherbrooke missed the playoffs.

-

Bishop's 40 Concordia 38

At Lennoxville, Que., a seven-yard touchdown run from Jesse Andrews with 26 seconds left gave the Gaiters a wild victory over the Stingers.

The game featured eight lead changes and 972 combined yards of total offence.

Andrews' run was the culmination of a drive that started with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter on the Gaiters' 33, with Bishop's trailing by six.

The veteran quarterback, in his 30th consecutive start, skillfully drove the Gaiters in 11 plays.

Bishop's plays at the University de Montreal on Nov. 7 in one Quebec semifinal, while Concordia visits Laval.

-

Manitoba 31 Simor Fraser 28

At Winnipeg, Thomas Hall returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown as the Bisons defeated the Clan.

Manitoba (5-3) had already qualified for the West playoffs, while Simon Fraser (1-7) was already eliminated.

Manitoba visits the Calgary Dinos in one West semifinal Nov 7, while Simon Fraser.