The Matchup

Friday, August 26th – 7 PM – Westhills Stadium, Langford, BC

 
These two teams will have developed a healthy dislike for one another by now. The Thunderbirds and Bisons met three times during the 2015 season, with UBC winning all three games. The scores became more lopsided as the season wore on. (51-48, 24-10, 52-10)
 
The exhibition game will make history as the first ever CIS football game played on Vancouver Island. All proceeds of the game will go to support Greater Victoria Minor Football, the Westshore Rebels and the UBC Football Island Scholarship Fund.
 
 

Last Action

 
The last play for UBC was Quinn van Gylswyk's (now with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders) last second, game winning field goal in the 51st Vanier Cup. The 26-23 victory was the fourth Vanier Cup in the Thunderbirds history.
 
In their final game of 2015 Manitoba was drubbed 52-10 by UBC at Thunderbird Stadium. The loss knocked Manitoba from the Canada West Playoffs and propelled UBC to their magical run to the Vanier Cup championship.
 
 

By the Numbers

 
848 / 6 – the amount of passing yards and TD's UBC quarterback Michael O'Connor put up in the three games versus the Bisons in 2015. With UBC's offense expected to be even more potent than last year, the Bisons' defence will need to be at their best to slow down O'Connor's right arm.


 
5 – the number of defensive starters UBC moved into CFL rosters for 2016. The exhibition game will be the chance for first year UBC Defensive Coordinator Pat Tracey's to examine his new look defence in action. Tracey is new to Point Grey, but has over a decade of CIS experience with Queen's University and was most recently on the coaching staff for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
 

Players To Watch

 
Marcus Davis – UBC - (#5 – RB) – the Victoria born offensive dynamo is chomping at the bit to play in front of his hometown family, friends and fans. With the graduation of UBC running back Brandon Deschamps, Davis is expected to see even more touches than the 167 he had in 2016.


 
Theo Deezer - Manitoba (#1 - QB) - the second year Bisons QB will need to have a prolific game to keep pace with O'Connor and the UBC offence. 
 

Coach's Take

 
"It means a lot from player perspective to get the chance to play in front of family and friends for the small group of players we have from Vancouver Island," says UBC Head Coach Blake Nill. "The growth of Island football is great for UBC football as a lot of good players come from there and I'd like to see the day where I'm recruiting four to five Vancouver Island student-athletes a year."