'Birds clipped by Dinos in OT but still clinch playoff berth

Jeremy Laurie/UBC Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER - For the second consecutive home game, the UBC Thunderbirds football team (3-5) decided their fate in overtime. A win over the Canada West leading Calgary Dinos (6-2) on Saturday night at Thunderbird Stadium would guarantee the 'Birds a spot in the post-season. However, despite 335 passing yards from QB Michael O'Connor, the Dinos won 41-35 in overtime.

It was a tale of two halves on Saturday night, with UBC dominating in the first and Calgary's offence reigniting in the second.

UBC head coach Blake Nill acknowledged his team lacked the full-game consistency required to win against a challenging opponent like Calgary.

"We ran the ball well in the first half, but not in the second. I didn't see urgency in my crew in the second half," Said Nill. "We are a good football team, but we are not playing up to our capabilities. That's what is frustrating."

Calgary running back Bryce Harper was the difference maker, accumulating 145 rushing yards and three of his team's five touchdowns. UBC's Ben Cummings logged an impressive 179 rushing yards, while receiver Trivel Pinto recorded a pair of touchdowns.

For O'Connor, the night was one to remember, even if his team didn't secure the win. O'Connor finished the 2016 campaign with regular-season school records for passing yards (2,598), passing attempts (335) and pass completions (203). He also ties Billy Greene's 2011 record of 20 passing TDs.

Both teams fared well between the uprights, with Calgary kicker Niko Difonte and UBC's Greg Hutchins accumulating 10 and nine points respectively.

Nill was pleased with many aspects of his team's performance, and blamed certain coaching decisions for the OT loss.

"We didn't execute," said Nill. "There were times when I should have been more decisive. I'll take responsibility for that. I made mistakes that I thought might have created momentum."

Calgary struck first with a TD from Harper, but it was UBC who dominated in the opening half with three touchdowns and a 13-point lead heading into halftime. UBC's stingy defence also forced Calgary to opt for field goal attempts twice, only one of which was successful. >

Things shifted in Calgary's favour during the second half, with the Dinos securing 14 unanswered points thanks to touchdowns from Austen Hartley and Harper. Cummings reignited UBC's hopes with a dramatic, 74-yard run to the end zone midway through the fourth quarter. A successful two-point conversion followed, giving UBC a 35-28 lead.

Calgary responded when Michael Klukas caught a 31-yard pass with just over two minutes remaining to tie things up 35 apiece, forcing extra time. After UBC failed to reach the end-zone in OT, Harper ran the ball in from the 19-yard line to give the Dino's the victory.

An hour after Saturday's game ended, Regina secured a win over Manitoba. The outcome of that game stamped UBC's ticket to the playoffs. The Thunderbirds will head to Regina's Mosaic Stadium to face the Rams next Saturday, November 5 in the Canada West Hardy Cup Semifinals.

IMAGE CREDIT: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds