VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds eased a lot of concerns amongst their supporters Saturday night with a 39-24 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears before a raging crowd of over 5600 at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. During a tough week of practice the UBC coaching staff demanded a response from their players after the 50-7 drubbing the T-Birds took in exhibition play against the Manitoba Bisons.
 
UBC quarterback Michael O'Connor threw for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns on the evening, while wide receiver Trivel Pinto caught 6 passes for 105 yards and one major.


 
"We got the win and that's what's most important," said O'Connor post game. "We have a lot of things to clean up. Overall it was a good team win but we have a lot to work on for next week."
 
Alberta wasn't able to capitalize on their prolific run game. Golden Bear's tailback Ed Ilnicki scampered for 175 yards on 28 carries, while quarterback Ben Kopczynski also crossed the century mark gaining 101 yards on 7 rushes, with 68 of those yards coming on a late game touchdown dash.


 
"Our defence played well enough for us to win, they just have a very good offence," said Alberta Head Coach Chris Morris. "We just can't make mistakes, you can't get penalties to give them points. It was a good learning experience for us, we played hard, we just didn't get there."
 
Four different Thunderbirds found the end zone on the evening, as along with Pinto, Marcus Davis and Will Watson caught O'Connor passes for six points. Kory Nagata opened the scoring for the Thunderbirds with 16-yard dash to pay dirt in the first quarter.
 

Thanks to the Thunderbirds for the W on my first UBC football game #UBCTuumEst @ubctbirds pic.twitter.com/5UOEQ59BBw

— Santa J. Ono (@ubcprez) September 4, 2016

 
Colby Miller caught the lone Golden Bears touchdown pass on a 17-yard strike from Kopczynski.
 
The Thunderbirds will head out on the road to face the Calgary Dinos on Friday, as the teams will play a rematch of last years thrilling Hardy Cup Final that UBC won on their way to a Vanier Cup Championship. 


 
"We knew going in we've got to develop as a defence," said UBC Head Coach Blake Nill. "We managed to win a game. We'll be better on defence next week and hopefully good enough to compete in Calgary."
 
Alberta also plays on Friday, this time at home versus the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.