The UBC Thunderbirds are looking to end their season on a three-game win streak as they head into Calgary for the final week of Canada West action, facing the No. 8 Calgary Dinos Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.

After an 0-5 start to the season the 'Birds (2-5) have rattled off two consecutive victories including an upset last week at home over the third-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies.

But a third straight win to end the year won't come easy, not by any stretch, as the Dinos (5-2) are still gunning to clinch first place in the conference, coming off a loss in Winnipeg last week.



The T-Birds are certainly not happy about missing the playoffs for the first time in six years, but heading into the off-season with a third straight win with this young group would be a big boost heading into 2020.

This week marks the second meeting of the regular season between the 'Birds and Dinos after UBC dropped a 47-13 decision back in week three at Thunderbird Stadium. That result hasn't been forgotten by the men in blue and gold who are also looking for some redemption.

Kickoff for the final game of 2019 is 2:00 p.m. PT Saturday in Calgary. The game can be viewed live on Canada West TV.
 

Last Action

The T-Birds outscored the Huskies 16-7 in the second half last week, including a 13-0 margin in the final quarter for the 38-37 upset victory. Gabe Olivares threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns, his second straight game with over 300 yards passing.



Conversely, the Dinos were victims of an upset last week, courtesy of the Manitoba Bisons who handed Calgary a 43-29 loss. This, despite putting up 545 total yards of offence.
 

Players to Watch

Jacob Patten (#81, REC) – The second-year receiver had himself a career game, and then some, last week against the Huskies with 204 yards receiving and a touchdown, enough to earn him U SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week. Patten now boasts the third most receiving yards in the conference with 538.



Kene Ezekeke (#11, DB) – Ezekeke's ten total tackles last week against the Huskies led the T-Birds while setting a new career high. The third-year from Calgary is now averaging just shy of five tackles per game.
 

Coach's Take

It may have come too late to help make the post-season, but the 'Birds have been playing their best football the last few weeks, which bodes well for the future.

"I'm really impressed with how we're catching the ball, coming back for the football and that's made a difference," said UBC head coach Blake Nill. "The other thing that's noticeable is at quarterback we're having a little bit more consistency. But what you're seeing is this group starting to come together, they're a little bit closer than they were in the past. Having gone through the difficulty that we did initially, it might have served as a catalyst for us to start believing in one another."



Since the 'Birds were eliminated from playoff contention, the coaching staff has used the remainder of the season to evaluate what they have going forward. The Dinos can be expected to dress their best possible lineup this week in their attempt to clinch first, making for a real test for UBC.

"We want to see a realistic evaluation of our program," added Nill. "I think this situation is a good test for us right now. We've had two wins against good opponents but now we're facing arguably the top team in the last 10 or 15 years in the Canada West in their own backyard. What more can you ask for if you want to evaluate your team."