The Matchup
Winners of three straight, the UBC Thunderbirds (3-1) return home for a massive tilt against the second-ranked Calgary Dinos (4-0) Friday, September 29th at Thunderbird Stadium.
The sixth-ranked T-Birds are looking for a share of the top of the Canada West standings, but will have to face the conference's most potent offence. The Dinos have scored an average of 57 points per game through the first four weeks of the season.
While Calgary boasts the conference's top offence, UBC's defence has allowed a Canada West best 85 points against, holding the opposition to a combined 28 points in their first two home games.
It's a rematch of last year's Hardy Cup final where the 'Birds lost a thriller, 46-43 in Calgary. The Dinos are currently riding a three-game regular season and playoff win streak over UBC with the T-Birds last beating Calgary in the 2015 Hardy Cup en route to the Vanier Cup championship.
The one and only meeting this regular season with the Dinos features UBC's first-ever 'Black Out'Â game with the team wearing special third jerseys. Â
Kick-off is 6:30 p.m. PT with the first 300 fans through the gate receiving a free black UBC Thunderbirds toque.
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Last Action
UBC downed the Alberta Golden Bears 41-21 last Saturday in Edmonton for the 'Birds' first road win of the season. First-year receiver
Lliam Wishart scored his first Canada West touchdown, while the Bears were limited to just 360 total yards of offence including just 106 passing yards.
The Dinos handed Saskatchewan their second straight loss with a 51-28 thumping at Calgary's McMahon Stadium. Receivers Hunter Karl and Michael Klukas each had over 100 yards receiving with a combined three touchdowns.
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By the Numbers
476.5 – The average total yards of offence per game by the Thunderbirds. UBC's 124 total points scored is just one point shy of Saskatchewan for second in the Canada West.
6 – The number of interceptions by UBC's defence including two last week against Alberta.
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Players to Watch
Will Maxwell (#3, DB) – The fourth-year defensive back earned Canada West special teams player of the week after a total of 155 kick return yards against Alberta including a 96-yard return for a touchdown. Maxwell also leads the Thunderbirds with 17 solo tackles on defence.
Trey Kellogg (#21, WR) – Kellogg led the T-Birds last week with 108 receiving yards bumping him up to a total of 213 on the season, ninth most in the conference. The second-year receiver has catches of at least 40 yards in back-to-back games.
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Coach's Take
The T-Birds have been improving week by week but for UBC head coach
Blake Nill this Friday's matchup with the undefeated Dinos will be a major litmus test.
"This is our biggest test to date," said Nill as he prepares to face his former team for the first and only time this regular season.
"Coach (Wayne) Harris and his staff have done a great job building the culture there, creating a championship type attitude. That's something we're still working on here to at least perform that consistently."
The T-Birds are riding a three-game win streak and a fourth straight victory this week would give them a share of first place in the Canada West, but Nill says all facets of his team must play to their full potential to be able to make that a reality.
"We still have a lot to prove," said Nill."We have to play our best football, we have to play physical and play with the kind of energy that it's going to take to beat a team like this."
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