EDMONTON – Quinn van Gylswyk kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime, as the UBC Thunderbirds (1-1) rallied from a 27-point deficit to defeat the Alberta Golden Bears (0-2) 39-36 Saturday night in Edmonton.

Down by 12 points with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter, Carson Williams orchestrated a 12-play, 100-yard drive, culminating in a one-yard quarterback keeper to cut the Alberta lead to 36-31 with 1:55 left in regulation.
 
On the ensuing possession, after Alberta quarterback Ryan Schwartz was sacked on second down by Yianni Cabylis, the Golden Bears elected to give up the safety rather then punting, making it just a three point game, 36-33.
 
With less than 30 seconds left in regulation, Williams connected with Micha Theil down the middle of the field for 50 yards to get the 'Birds within field goal range and with just 0.6 seconds left on the clock van Gylswyk kicked a 30-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
 
In overtime, both teams get an opportunity from the 35-yard line. Alberta went first and Schwartz, looking to the end zone, was picked off by Chris Adams, meaning a single could win the game for UBC.
 
Van Gylswyk would play hero, booting a 23-yard field goal through the uprights to earn the 'Birds the come from behind victory and their first win of the 2013 campaign.

"I talked on the sidelines with the guys just before overtime and I said we haven't played that well, but we have scratched and clawed our way back into this game so now, when it matters most, we need to come through," said UBC head coach Shawn Olson. "Our defence made a huge play and then Quinn kicked the winner making it a pretty special ending, to come from 27 points down to win."

"The saving grace toinght was our special teams. They created opportunities for our team to score recovering an onside kick and pulling off a fake punt. They deserve the credit tonight."
 
WIlliams proved his resiliency, overcoming three interceptions that led to 21 Alberta point and being pulled in the second quarter, to lead the 'Birds in the second half. He finished the game with 258 yards passing.
 
Brandon Deschamps was again the story offensively for UBC as he rushed for 212 yards on 28 carries, scoring two touchdowns. He added another 14 yards receiving.

"Brandon is one of the best backs to every come through UBC and that is pretty impressive company to be in," said Olson. "He is so explosive when he touches the ball. Plan and simple he is the engine that drives this offence and he did once again tonight."
 
In search of their first home win since 2010. the Alberta Golden Bears didn't waste anytime getting on the board going 65 yards on the opening drive for a major as Ed Ilnicki punched it in from four yards out.
 
On their next drive, which started at their own five-yard line, the Bears went the entire length of the field, capped off by a one-yard plunge from Jon Waters. After starting the game with an incompletion, Schwartz went 8-for-8 for 105 yards.
 
UBC got on the board thanks to a bad snap on an Alberta punt. Stephen Fabian was forced to kick the ball out of the end zone, surrendering a safety and making it a 14-2 game.
 
Turnovers played a key role in the opening half, as the Bears took advantage of four UBC turnovers (three interceptions and one turnover on downs) to put up 15 points. Williams, who got the start for UBC, was picked off twice. Both times it led to an Alberta touchdown. Schwartz hooked up with Ryley Richardson on a 44-yard TD pass and ran it in from nine yards to put the home team up 29-2 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.
 
Greg Bowcott replaced Williams and on his second possession was intercepted. Fortunately the defence was able to slow the Bears down and get the ball back for the offence. That is when the workhorse went to work. Deschamps scampered 39 yards for the major to cut the lead to 29-9. UBC would add a single just as time expired to make it 29-10 at the break.
 
In the third quarter, the 'Birds got back in the game thanks to their special teams. Aundrey Webster mishandled a van Gylswyk punt and UBC recovered at the Alberta 40 yard line. He would result in a Bowcott one-yard TD run to cut the lead to 29-17.
 
An onside kick from UBC on the next play was recovered by the 'BIrds and this time it was Deschamps running it into the end zone to make it a five point game 29-24.
 
The 'Birds defence did their job in the third quarter, limiting Schwartz to just seven yards passing. UBC would get the ball back and would move into the red zone thanks to a van Gylswyk 44-yard run on fake punt. Unfortunately, Williams would be intercepted in the end zone by Tyler Greenslade to kill the drive.
 
Alberta would not waste any time stealing the momentum back, Tylor Henry went 62 yards on a swing pass from Schwartz all the way to pay dirt and putting the Golden Bears up by 12, 36-24 with 13:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Next week the Thunderbirds play host to the Manitoba Bisons (1-1) on Saturday, September 14 at 2 p.m. at David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium. It is homecoming weekend at UBC, so come on out and support your Thunderbirds.