Winnipeg, MB - In the final Canada West football game at University Stadium in Winnipeg, the fans in the Manitoba capital witnessed a thriller between UBC and Manitoba as the Bisons hung on to defeat the Thunderbirds 37-31.
Trailing 30-4 at the half, the Thunderbirds scored 27 straight points in the second half to lead 31-30; however, Anthony Coombs would score the winning touchdown with just under six minutes left to help the Bisons to their fourth win of the season and end the playoff hopes of the UBC Thunderbirds.
With their loss today and Saskatchewan's victory over Alberta, the Thunderbirds have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.
Windy conditions played a big part in Saturday afternoon's affair and it was the Thunderbirds starting with the wind at their backs and getting on the board first thanks to a 31 yard field goal from
Thomas Moult (Calgary, AB).
Bryan Rideout (Victoria, BC), the reigning CIS Defensive Player of the Week, continued his strong play picking off Cam Clark for his third interception of the season and putting the 'Birds offense back on the field. Unfortunately, all they would get is a Moult single to go ahead 4-0.
UBC looked to be getting the ball back after Anthony Coombs was taken down for a big loss, but a questionable face masking penalty kept the drive alive. That would be the spark the Bisons needed as Kienan LaFrance capped off the drive with a 16 yard touchdown run. Manitoba went in front 7-4.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Bisons would recover a short kick to keep their offense on the field. Another UBC penalty, this time a pass interference call in the end zone, kept the Manitoba offense on the field. Andrew Barry would punch it in from one yard out to put the Bisons in front 14-4.
It wouldn't take long for Manitoba to get the ball back after a six yard punt into the wind by Moult. Starting in UBC territory the Bisons went to work. The Thunderbirds
Jordan Bosa (Burnaby, BC) though thought he had an interception, but a penalty against UBC kept the ball in Manitoba's hands. Anthony Coombs would run it in from 11 yards out to extend the Bisons lead to 21-4.
Offensively the 'Birds struggled to keep drives alive. Their best drive of the game that started at their own 29 yard line was snuffed out at the Bisons 31 after UBC failed to convert on third and short.
Later in the half the Thunderbirds gave up a safety to try and change their fate with regards to the field position battle. The two points made it 23-4 Manitoba.
Starting from their own 35, the Bisons went to work and twice it looked like the drive would come to an end. Brendon Bowman's run on a fake punt, picked up a first down and then another pass interference call in the end zone put Manitoba first and goal from UBC's one yard line. Andrew Barry would score on the final play of the first half to put the Bisons up 30-4 at the break.
The second half didn't get off to a good start for UBC as
Billy Greene (Surrey, BC) threw his eighth interception of the season. Fortunately the Thunderbirds defence was able to hold the Bisons to no points in the third quarter.
The only points in the quarter came on a Greene 98 yard touchdown pass to
Jordan Grieve (Salmon Arm, BC). UBC mised the convert and trailed 30-10 through three quarters of play. The 98 yard touchdown reception sets a new UBC record for the longest touchdown reception. The previous record was 95 yard touchdown catch by Brad Coutts in 1998.
Shawn Olson was the quarterback.
UBC continued to push in the fourth quarter as Greene connected with
Andrew Darcovich (White Rock, BC) from 18 yards out in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 30-17.
The Thunderbirds would recover the short kickoff and Greene confident as ever went back to work. Third and long and down by 13, head coach
Shawn Olson went for it and Greene found
Patrick Bull (Vancouver, BC) who dove into the end zone for the major to get UBC within 6, down 30-24.
After the defence quickly forced Manitoba into a two and out, the ball was back into the hands of Greene. He would come through, hooking up with Darcovich on his second touchdown grab of the day from 30 yards out to put UBC up by one, 31-30.
The Bisons offense, which had been shutdown for the majority of the second half, had a response. Cam Clark connected with Anthony Coombs for the major and Manitoba was back in front. The two point convert failed, but they would get a single off the ensuing kickoff to lead 37-31 over UBC with just under six minutes remaining.
Next possession for UBC and Greene's pass went off the hands of
Ryan Couper (London, ON) and right into the open arms of Bisons defender Bami Adewale who returned it inside the Thunderbirds 10 yard line. However, after a great defensive stand,
Chris Adams (Tsawwassen, BC) blocked the Nick Boyd field goal to keep it a six point game.
The Thunderbirds took over on their own three yard line and would take it all the way into Manitoba territory after Greene hooked up with Darcovich on a third and 10 to keep the drive alive. Unfortunately, Greene would take a couple of hard shots and was forced to leave the game.
Dominik Bundschuh (Vienna, Austria) replaced him and on third and 12 his pass to
Jordan Grieve went incomplete to end the comeback attempt. Pass interference could have been called, but there were no flags on the play. The Thunderbirds fall to 2-5 on the season, losing a heartbreaker 37-31.
Billy Greene finished the game 23-38 for 428 yards passing, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Greene moved into fourth all-time in the Canada West in career passing yards and into first place in UBC's history, passing former Thunderbirds quarterback Blake Smelser and Saskatchewan pivot Brent Schneider to move into the fourth spot. He now has 8,322 yards passing for his career. His four touchdown passes also move him into 10th all-time in the Canada West for career touchdown passes. Danny Smith holds the UBC career record with 55 touchdown passes.
Jordan Grieve had eight catches for 177 yards and one touchdown, while
Andrew Darcovich continued to impress, racking up 102 yards on five receptions and two touchdown catches.
UBC wraps up the season next Friday night in Saskatoon as the take on the University of Saskatchewan. Kickoff is at 6:00 pm PST.
