In your frantic and last minute attempt to plan your Halloween, you probably missed that the UBC Thunderbirds football team is taking on the Manitoba Bisons Saturday at 1 p.m. — plenty of time to make it to your Halloween debauchery.
This is the second of three games between the ninth ranked ‘Birds and the eighth ranked Bisons. Last time, the two teams met on September 19 and UBC walked away with a 51-48 win. The team has come a long way since then, but Manitoba has had time to mature too.
Expect the game to be a high scoring, pass-heavy game — a battle between star quarterbacks. Manitoba’s second-year Theo Deezar has passed for 2,227 yards in just six games this year placing him second in the league. Michael O’Connor has come into his own in the last few games. He threw for 449 yards and three touchdowns, going 20-31. Against Calgary, he threw 14 for 22 for 214 yards to clinch a playoff spot with a big win.
The game promises to be exciting even though both teams have already qualified for the playoffs and will be playing against each other in the first round. The only thing this game determines is who has the home field advantage, but it’s sure to set the tone for the playoff game. A loss for either team this week is sure to put a damper on their playoff run.
But regardless of this weekend's game — or next weekend's — the ‘Birds have surpassed everyone’s expectations this season both on and off the field.
It was never a question that Head Coach Blake Nill was going to turn the team around, but to do it in a season is impressive— even by Nill’s standards. Standout performances from high profile newcomers like O’Connor and Taylor Lauffler, along with returns Brandon Deschamps, Marcus and Terrell Davis as well as so many others, have proven crucial this season.
But what's more important than any athletic accomplishment this season is that the team and the student population proved that UBC football can draw a crowd. Homecoming was the biggest athletic event that any student can remember and home games have consistently drawn crowds bigger than previous years.
Win or lose, the ‘Birds proved UBC can care about sports.
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