Vancouver, BC - It doesn't get any easier for the UBC Thunderbirds (0-3) football team this weekend as they welcome the #2 ranked team in the nation and four time defending Canada West Champions to town, the Calgary Dinos (3-0).
These two teams are no strangers to each other, having met in last year's Hardy Cup final, which the Dinos won 62-13. However, the Thunderbirds did hand Calgary their only regular season loss during the 2011 regular season, a 36-23 victory for UBC at Thunderbird Stadium. Despite his team's record in 2012, UBC head coach
Shawn Olson is confident they can knock off the Dinos.
"We have a chance to shock the country," said Olson. " The number two ranked team going up against a winless team, that is a good story if we can follow through. We haven't played a team this year we cannot beat. We have been unable to take care of our business and excute at the right times, but we believe we are still in the playoff hunt. Go 4-and-4 on the year and that should get us in."
Calgary is just one of five teams in the country still undefeated. They are coming off a 33-12 victory over the Manitoba Bisons last weekend in Winnipeg. The Dinos boast the top offense in the Canada West averaging 555 yards of total offense a game, 348 yards passing a game, and 45 points per game. They are led by quarterback Eric Dzwilewski who has complete 69.6% of his passes this year, averaging 301 yards a game in the air, to go along with seven touchdown passes and just two interceptions. Calgary's offense will also be bolstered by the return of running back Steven Lumbala to the line up. The 2011 1st Team All-Canadian missed last week's game vs. Manitoba.
"We need to try and limit what they do offensively and make some big plays of our own creating turnovers," said Olson talking about the Dinos high octane offense. "We have been hit hard by injuries on the defensive side of the ball, which has led to us giving a number of young players the opportunity to prove themselves. Now is the time for these guys to grab their chance and step up."
On the offensive side of the ball UBC ranks first in the Canada West in rushing yards per game (267) and second in total offense per game (510). Running back
Brandon Deschamps (Prince George, BC) is second in the conference in rushing with 271 yards on the ground. He is averaging just over 90 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. He will be looked upon early to set the tone and help to control the ball for UBC.
Despite their record, UBC has been in every game this year. They lost by seven on the opening week of the season to Manitoba, they led Regina 13-7 at half time before self destructing in the second half and allowing 42 unanswered points, and last week they led Saskatchewan 31-22, only to give up 17 points in the fourth quarter to lose 39-34.
"This season comes down to a matter of two or three plays a game," said Olson. "If they went the other way it would have been a different football game, a different result. We need to start making those plays if we want to come out on the winning end."
Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm on Saturday September 22nd at Thunderbird Stadium.
