EDMONTON – Veteran UBC Thunderbirds quarterback Michael O'Connor had the ball in his hands trying to complete a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, but a broken up play in the end zone with no time on the clock sealed a 26-21 win for the Alberta Golden Bears Friday night at Foote Field.
The Thunderbirds (1-4) held a 10-0 lead through the first quarter but were outscored 26-11 the rest of the way en route to a fourth straight loss while the Golden Bears (1-4) win their first game of the season and now sit in a tie with UBC for fifth in the Canada West.
Jonathan Rosery paced the offence for the Golden Bears, rushing for 161 yards on 23 carries, including his second touchdown of the season early in the fourth quarter. His major score would hold up as the difference, as the Bears stopped UBC's final drive with no time left on the clock.
Alberta starting quarterback Brad Baker also had his best performance of the season, tossing for 250 yards and one touchdown. O'Connor threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns himself, but was haunted by 17 incompletions including a handful of dropped passes.
Forcing those incompletions was a rejuvenated Golden Bears defence, who easily put forth their best performance of the season. O'Connor was sacked twice, while the Bears D also forced three fumbles and finished with three pass-breakups.
UBC opened the game with a TD drive, capped off by an O'Connor pass to Trey Kellogg from five yards out. A 33-yard field goal late in the first quarter gave the Thunderbirds a 10-0 lead.
The Bears slowly started to chip away at the deficit, as Brent Arthur made three straight field goals to open the second quarter. Baker gave Alberta their first lead with a 38-yard TD bomb to Daniel Bubelenyi, as the Bears took a 16-10 lead into the half.
A 45-yard catch and run touchdown from O'Connor to
Ben Cummings restored the UBC lead at 17-16, who opened the third quarter with an impressive drive. Another Arthur field goal restored Alberta's slim lead, before Rosery's TD plunge gave the Bears a 26-17 fourth-quarter edge.
UBC was able to manage two drives late in the fourth quarter, in an attempt to comeback from their deficit. The first of which led to a 30-yard Greg Hutchins field goal. The second drive provided the 'Birds with three late shots at the end zone from the Alberta 22, all of which fell incomplete.
The 'Birds have two weeks now to regroup with the conference-wide bye next weekend. UBC will be back home at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday, October 12th when they host the Saskatchewan Huskies.
