SATURDAY
#9 UBC 23 Regina 16 (Shaw TV "Game of the Week")
Rams-Thunderbirds Stats
by Wilson Wong, UBC Sports Information
VANCOUVER - For the first time in five seasons, the UBC Thunderbirds football team will take part in the Canada West playoffs.
The CIS #9 Thunderbirds needed a second-half surge to beat the visiting Regina Rams by a score of 23-16 in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon and clinch a post-season berth.
The winning points came at 10:45 of the fourth quarter when quarterback Billy Greene found Dave Boyd with a 25-yard touchdown pass to put UBC up 20-9. Greene completed 19 of 37 passes and threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Boyd, who also had a team-high 47 yards rushing, caught both of Greene’s touchdown passes
At 11:46 of the third quarter, the pair connected for a ten-yard touchdown play that gave UBC a 10-7 lead after the ‘Birds had trailed at halftime. On the ensuing Regina possession, Vivie Bojilov grabbed the first of his two interceptions when picked off a Zach Oleynik pass at the Rams’ 41-yard line.
Oleynik marched his team down the field and found Mark McConkey from five yards out for a touchdown that brought the Rams to within seven points with 1:59 left in the game.
Oleynik again drove his team deep into Thunderbirds territory. He found receiver Jared Janotta four times on the final possession of the game. But on its very last play, from the UBC five-yard line, Oleynik threw to Janotta once more only to the pass knocked away by Devin Kavanagh (5th, Montreal, QC), setting off a celebration by Thunderbirds players and fans.
The win gives UBC a Canada West playoff spot for the first time since 2006.
UBC (4-2) will now travel to Edmonton for its next game, against the Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday, Oct. 22. Regina (2-4) will host provincial rivals, Saskatchewan (3-3) as both teams fight for playoff spots in a game that can be seen live across Western Canada on Shaw TV at 7:00 p.m.
GoThunderbirds.ca
Manitoba 48 Alberta 20
Golden Bears-Bisons Stats
With files from U of Manitoba Sports Information
WINNIPEG - In a game they really had to have to stay in the playoff race, the unranked Manitoba Bisons football team notched a convincing 48-20 win at home on Saturday, October 15 at University Stadium (U of Manitoba campus). In the process, the emerging star of running back Anthony Coombs was in full flight as he rushed for four touchdowns.
With the victory, Manitoba moves to 3-3 in the 2011 season while Alberta stays winless at 0-6.
For a first year running back, Coombs has shown maturity beyond his 19 years old on his birth certificate. He dazzled, dashed, wiggled and scampered to a season-high and CIS career-high 226 yards on 20 carries, along with touchdown runs of 69, one, five and 12 in only his fifth game so far in his young university career.
QB Khaleal also found wide receiver Christian Hansen with a 13-yard TD pass and a 31-0 lead after 24 minutes.
Alberta pivot Julian Marchand drove the ball and found receiver Dillon Prince on a six-yard TD pass and a successful two-point conversion made it 31-8. Coombs made it 38-8 at the half with his third TD.
For the Bisons, after Coombs brilliant day, Williams went 14-20 for 182 passing yards with 1 TD and also added 30 rushing yards on six attempts with 1 rush TD.
Manitoba (3-3) now travels to play in Calgary against the #2 Dinos (6-0) on Saturday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m. Alberta (0-6) hosts the #9 UBC Thunderbirds (4-2), also on Oct. 22.
22 at 1 p.m. local time.
GoBisons.ca
FRIDAY
#2 Calgary 20 #7 Saskatchewan 8
Dinos-Huskies Stats
by Nicole Betker, U of Saskatchewan Sports Information
SASKATOON — In a showdown between two teams ranked in the CI Top 10 in Canada, the #2 Calgary Dinos posted a 20-8 win over the #7 Saskatchewan Huskies at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
Calgary limited Saskatchewan to 11 completions and 30 per cent passing efficiency. The Huskies mustered only 149 yards offence.
The Dinos' defence also delivered on the scoreboard. Halfback Mike Edem intercepted a pass by Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and returned it 15 yards on the last play of the third quarter. Edem's pick came two plays after Saskatchewan safety Bryce McCall recovered a fumble by Dinos running back Steven Lumbala on the Huskies' six-yard line.
Johnny Mark had four field goals for the Dinos, from 37, 28, 24 and 19 yards, a convert and a single.
Shayne Dueck scored a touchdown for the Huskies on special teams. Dueck recovered the ball after Nico Higgs blocked a punt by Mark in the fourth quarter. Stephen McDonald added a convert and single for Saskatchewan.
The Dinos (6-0) have secured a berth in a league semifinal. The Huskies (3-3) are among four teams in the mix for the other three playoff spots.
The Huskies now go on the road to Regina, a game that can be seen Live on SHAW TV at 7:00 p.m. next Saturday, while Calgary is home to the Manitoba Bisons, also on Saturday.
huskies.usask.ca