Jeff Sargeant, UBC Athletics
VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds combined solid defence and timely offence to down the visiting Manitoba Bisons 30-20 to open up the 2018 Canada West football season Saturday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
Third-year running back Kory Nagata finished the game with 229 all-purpose yards for the 'Birds while scoring two touchdowns including a 21-yard reception from Michael O'Connor, his 71st passing TD as a Thunderbird, tying Dan Smith's record set 40 years ago.
UBC entered the final quarter with a 10-point lead only to have the Bisons claw back within a field goal when Des Catellier hit veteran receiver Dylan Schrot in the end zone with a 21-yard strike.
With just 1:20 left on the clock, the T-Birds went back to Nagata who ran in a ten-yard carry to restore the ten-point lead and securing the home opening victory.
"We've only played at practice speed until tonight and we needed this," said UBC head coach Blake Nill who didn't have a preseason contest for the first time in his four seasons at the helm of the Thunderbirds. "We're fortunate to come out with the win and now we find a way to win next week. We knew there'd be some rust, and at times we looked very good but at time we made mistakes. Penalties hurt us, hopefully we got that out of our system."
UBC's defence was the story in the first quarter making their first big play of the 2018 season when rookie defensive lineman Tom Schnitzler stripped the ball from Manitoba's Jamal Lyles giving O'Connor the ball just inside Bisons' territory. Facing third down and several yards to go, UBC head coach Blake Nill kept the offence on the field as fourth-year running back Ben Cummings scampered for a first down and then some. A pass interference call against the Bisons put the ball on the one-yard line where Cummings punched it in for his first major score of the season as the T-Birds took their first lead of the contest.
Early in the second quarter the leading Canada West defence in 2017 came up big once again when Kene Ezekeke blocked a Matt Riley punt. The loose ball was scooped up by second-year defensive back Payton LaGrange who returned the ball 45 yards to the house giving the 'Birds a 14-6 lead with the successful convert.
The Bisons answered back on their very next possession scoring their first touchdown of the season when Des Catellier found Riley Harrison in the end zone for the seven yard reception to make it a one-point ball game which is how things remained at the half.
UBC's offence showed some more signs of what they're capable of in the second half, highlighted by O'Connor's pass to Nagata which gave the hosts a 23-13 lead, their first two-score advantage of the game.
After Schrot's touchdown, the Bisons got the ball with just over four minutes left after stuffing UBC backup quarterback Cole Meyer on a short yardage rush attempt. But the visitors were unable to take advantage and ended up punting giving UBC's offence another chance to put the game on ice which they did thanks to Nagata's second score of the night.
Nagata finished the game with 229 all-purpose yards and two major scores including O'Connor's record-tying touchdown pass. The UBC pivot went 26-for-37 for 309 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
"The biggest component which put a smile on my face tonight was our offensive line," said Nill as O'Connor had plenty of protection throughout the game. "We had four different offensive linemen on the field today than we had in the Hardy Cup last season. They looked good, they're physical, athletic and move well."
Catellier was dominant through the air going 23-for-35 for 379 yards and two touchdowns, despite UBC's defence hurrying him repeatedly throughout the entire game. The 'Birds managed two sacks on Manitoba's quarterback while 2017 Canada West defensive player of the year Stavros Katsantonis finished with 9.5 total tackles.
The Thunderbirds will quickly turn their focus to a rematch of last year's Hardy Cup final when they visit the Calgary Dinos Friday night at McMahon Stadium.