An atmospheric river battered Thunderbird Stadium on Friday night, creating a dramatic setting for UBC’s match-up against the University of Calgary Dinos. Amid a slick turf and high playoff stakes, the Thunderbirds emerged victorious, securing a home playoff spot with a 21–5 win.
“We prepared for this weather all week and said, ‘We gotta win the turnover [battle], we gotta protect the football,’” said UBC head coach Blake Nill after the game. “I’m proud of our guys, I thought all of our guys did that.”
Players grappled with the elements throughout the game, many slipping or struggling to hold the ball. Passing was unreliable. The ‘Birds leaned on their run game, passing for only 30 yards, while Calgary quarterback Dom Britton completed a mere 7 passes. In these difficult conditions, the Dinos gave up four turnovers while UBC only forfeited one.
Given the weather, game progress was initially slow. Calgary struck first, gaining a piddling 1–0 lead with a kickoff rouge. In response, the ‘Birds forced a safety on Calgary’s opening drive. Adding on a field goal by Kieran Flannery-Fleck, the ‘Birds held a 5–1 advantage as the first quarter ended.
The next quarter was more action-packed, with quarterback Garrett Rooker throwing an interception on UBC’s first offensive snap of the period. The Thunderbirds didn’t stay down for long — the ball slipped out of Britton’s hands on the following snap and UBC’s Deacon Sterna recovered the fumble.
Regaining possession, the ‘Birds finally made headway, relying heavily on running backs Isaiah Knight and Dane Kapler. Capping off the drive with a short touchdown run by Kapler, UBC’s lead extended to 12–1.
UBC’s defence dominated, holding the Dinos to one pass completion and one first down for the entire first half. With less than five minutes before halftime, they forced and recovered a second fumble, robbing the Dinos of a vital chance to score. UBC’s offence capitalized on the possession, widening the score deficit to 19–1 with another touchdown run.
The second half was largely scoreless, though not from lack of effort. Fighting to save their postseason hopes, the Dinos refused to quit, even as a rouge edged UBC’s lead to 20–1. However, Calgary could only muster two safeties in the final quarter, failing to gain any offensive points. As time expired, another ‘Birds’ rouge set the final score at 21–5.
UBC improved to 5–2 and secured a top-two finish in the Canada West conference. With their conference ranking set, the Thunderbirds have clinched a home-field berth in the playoffs — a remarkable comeback from their 0–2 start to the season.
With one more regular season game remaining, Nill said the win doesn’t affect their final match-up.
“We’re just going to go out and try to get better each and every week,” he said.
On the road this Saturday, the ‘Birds will face the only Canada West team with a superior record — the University of Manitoba Bisons (6–1).
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