UBC Sports Information
VANCOUVER – The No. 3 Calgary Dinos outscored the UBC Thunderbirds 14-3 in the final quarter to hand the hosts a 32-28 loss in front of a 9,534-strong Homecoming crowd at Thunderbird Stadium Saturday night.
Down by four, the 'Birds got the ball back with 1:25 left in the game when fourth-year defensive lineman Connor Griffiths recovered a Calgary fumble at the UBC 21-yard line, giving veteran quarterback Michael O'Connor enough time to complete a game winning drive. But on third and long with half a minute remaining, the 'Birds couldn't convert and turned over on downs to secure Calgary's fourth straight win to start the season.
"The point is we were outplayed in the second half, we gave up a big play on broken coverage and took some penalties that hurt us, they keep hurting us," said UBC head coach Blake Nill. "These guys got to realize you can't win football games when you can't play with discipline."
The T-Birds racked up 137 yards in penalties compared to Calgary's 63.
The Dinos (4-0) threatened on their first possession of the game as reigning Canada West offensive player of the week Adam Sinagra looked for Jalen Philpot in the end zone but a brilliant swatting effort by Malcom Lee thwarted what would have been a touchdown catch, holding the visitors to a field goal.
Lee was a beast on defence for the 'Birds finishing the game with five total broken up passes.
"Malcom Lee had one of his best games as a member of UBC," praised Nill. "He was locked up on a tough kid and they threw a lot of deep routes at him.
The T-Birds (1-3) were quick to respond on the ensuing possession as it took O'Connor seven plays and just over three minutes to put UBC back in front with their first major score, a 43-yard catch and run touchdown pass to Marcus Browne for the second-year receiver's first TD as a Thunderbird.
UBC kicker Greg Hutchins and Calgary's Nico Di Fonte traded field goals later in the quarter as the home side took a four-point lead into the second frame.
After Lee broke up two sure fire Sinagra touchdown passes in the first quarter, UBC's secondary continued to get the job done in the second with Jean Ventose denying another deep ball attempt that led to a third straight Calgary punt.
The 'Birds got the ball back yet again with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. O'Connor called his own number to scamper for a first down and after getting inside Calgary territory, the veteran pivot looked for one of his favourite targets downfield, connecting with Trivel Pinto who carried a defender on his back into the end zone. Hutchins' successful convert gave the 'Birds a 17-8 advantage.
Both teams' defences came to play in the third quarter but Calgary got back within a single score thanks to a 41-yard Di Fonte field goal with six-and-a-half minutes left in the frame.
On UBC's ensuing possession, O'Connor looked downfield on second down looking for Pinto but was picked off by second-year defensive back Matthew Lucyshyn who returned it to UBC's own 54-yard line. Helped by T-Bird penalties, the ball ended up on the 24 and on the next play Robinson Rodrigues rushed all the way into the end zone as the Dinos re-took the lead, 18-17.
The T-Birds were forced to punt on their next possession but on second-and-long for the Dinos, Sinagra was picked off by Stavros Katsantonis at UBC's 43-yard line and ran it all the way back for a 67-yard pick six. Pinto caught the two-point conversion pass from O'Connor to put the 'Birds back in front, 25-18.
After Hutchins knocked through a 12-yard chip shot, Sinagra responded with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Philpot, cutting UBC's lead to three points still with half a quarter to play.
UBC's offence, however, began to stall and was unable to find the end zone again.
With 4:10 left, Sinagra found Alex Basilis for a 10-yard touchdown that put the Dinos ahead for good.
Sinagra finished the game 24-for-41 for 327 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. O'Connor also threw two majors and a pick going 26-for-40 for 331 yards.
Pinto led all receivers with 163 yards, his second consecutive 100-plus yard game. Calgary was led by Hunter Karl's 101 yards receiving while Rodrigues won the rushing battle with 82 yards on 16 carries. Ben Cummings finished the game with 61 yards on the ground for the T-Birds.
Suffering three consecutive losses for the first time in two seasons, the T-Birds visit the Alberta Golden Bears (0-4) next Friday, September 28th.
"We're going to have to win a game on the road and we're going to have to grow up and play with more discipline, play like we did in the first half tonight," added Nill. "Ultimately, you got to finish and we just aren't finishing."
The undefeated Dinos are back home at McMahon Stadium hosting the Saskatchewan Huskies (3-1) Saturday night.