Closing out the regular season on a three-game win streak, the No. 9 UBC Thunderbirds are riding some positive momentum into this weekend's Hardy Cup semifinal where they host the No. 7 Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday, November 3rd at Thunderbird Stadium.
It's the third time in the last four years the T-Birds are hosting a Hardy Cup playoff game, but the first matchup against the Huskies since 2011. A win for UBC would punch their ticket to a fourth straight Hardy Cup final while Saskatchewan, winners of two straight, is looking to advance to their first conference championship game in nine years.
Both teams finished the regular season with 5-3 records while the 'Birds earned the right to host Saskatchewan thanks to a 20-10 week six win over the Huskies in Vancouver.
The 'Birds have won their last three meetings with the Huskies over the last two seasons but that doesn't mean much in the winner-take-all playoff matchup.
Kickoff of the Hardy Cup semifinal is 2:00 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at
gothunderbirds.ca/hardycup.
Last Action
The T-Birds clinched a second straight home playoff berth with a thrilling 38-34 overtime win over the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg last Saturday. Down by as much as 21 points in the second quarter, the 'Birds rallied to shutout the Bisons 18-0 in the second half forcing overtime where
Ben Cummings caught the game-winning touchdown.
Saskatchewan thumped the Regina Rams 57-14 in week eight putting up 659 total yards of offence while limiting the Rams to just 219 yards and less than 70 through the air.
By the Numbers
33 – Despite finishing the regular season with a -15 point differential, the T-Birds outscored their opponents by a combined 33 points over the final three weeks. The 10 points scored by the Huskies in their week six meeting with UBC was their lowest total on the season.
343.3 – The T-Birds averaged 343.3 yards passing through the regular season, the second highest total in the conference. While UBC had the lowest total rushing yards in the Canada West, the Huskies averaged the most on the ground with 172 per game.
Players to Watch
Michael O'Connor (#15, QB) – O'Connor threw for over 400 yards for the second straight game, finishing with 467 total along with four touchdowns. The fourth-year QB was named U SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. O'Connor finished the regular season with 2,741 yards and 14 touchdowns along with a conference leading 70.3 completion percentage.
Trivel Pinto (#1, REC) – The veteran receiver set a new single-season Canada West record with 67 total receptions, despite missing one game due to injury. The fourth-year wide out led the conference with 130.9 average yards receiving, as well as 1,503 all-purpose yards.
Coach's Take
The regular season, and any history for that matter, is irrelevant now that the playoffs are here, but UBC's veteran bench boss knows exactly what kind of team to expect from the visiting Huskies.
"They're very physical, a very disciplined program, they play with a lot of energy and a lot of toughness," said UBC head coach
Blake Nill who has fought against the Huskies for over 20 years. "They've had some new coaches but the culture of Saskatchewan Huskies football has not changed in a quarter century and I'm expecting a very physical team coming in, a well-coached team, and we're going to have to be at our best."
One guy who has been at his very best of late has been UBC quarterback
Michael O'Connor, playing as good as he ever has for the blue and gold.
"He has played exceptionally well the last three or four games," praised Nill. "He is a difference maker, a very special young man and a very special athlete. If he's on, I can't think of anyone in the country who presents the type of opportunity Michael gives us."
