The biggest game of the calendar year is almost here as the UBC Thunderbirds (0-2) host the No. 4 Calgary Dinos (2-0) for Homecoming 2019 on Saturday, September 14^th at Thunderbird Stadium.

The first of two 2019 regular season meetings between the bitter rivals is critically important for both sides even though it's just the third week of the Canada West campaign. After dropping their first two games of the season, the T-Birds are hungry and anxious to get into the win column and keep pace with the rest of the conference.

The Dinos, meanwhile, enter this week as the fourth ranked team in the country and the only undefeated squad in the Canada West at 2-0.
 

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Thanks to the amazing fans who came out to the @officialubcfootball season opener! Let's bring the same spirit to Thunderbird Stadium again this Saturday as our 'Birds take on Calgary in the biggest football game of the year - Homecoming! The street party will begin at 1pm and will include food trucks, activities, big inflatables, contests, prizes and giveaways! Tickets are going fast and you don't want to miss out! Get them while you can at gothunderbirds.ca/homecoming #gobirdsgo

A post shared by UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) on Sep 10, 2019 at 3:44pm PDT

UBC will have their hands full with the Dinos who lead the conference in points, averaging 31.5 per game, while allowing just 19.5 against.

The T-Birds have at times shown good promise on both sides of the ball, but have also looked like the young team they are, finding their way at the U SPORTS level.

In addition to searching for their first victory of 2019, the T-Birds are looking to end a seven-game losing streak against Calgary. The last time UBC earned a win against the Dinos was back in the 2015 Hardy Cup en route to the 'Birds' Vanier Cup championship. This year marks the second straight time the Dinos visit UBC for Homecoming with Calgary earning a 32-28 win in 2018.

The homecoming street party begins at 1 p.m. PT in front of the stadium with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available now on Ticketmaster.


 

Last Action

Despite trailing by just 10 points heading into the fourth quarter in Saskatchewan last week, the Huskies put up another 23 points in the final 15 minutes to hand UBC a second consecutive decisive loss to start the season. The T-Birds' only scoring play came courtesy of a 12-yard Tommy Yanchuk pass to Jacob Patten in the first quarter.

Veteran Calgary quarterback Adam Sinagra threw three touchdown passes in the first half, two of them to veteran receiver Dallas Boath, to power the Dinos to a 24-10 win over the visiting Manitoba Bisons.
 

Players to Watch

Nick Cross (#9, LB) – The transfer from Regina has had an immediate impact on the T-Birds. Through the first two weeks of the season, the linebacker sits second in the Canada West in total tackles with 16, behind only teammate Ben Hladik. He led the way against Saskatchewan last week with eight solo tackles, 12 total, and a sack.



Trey Kellogg (#21, REC) – Now in his fourth season with the 'Birds, Kellogg is being counted on to help lead a young offence. The Calgary native put up 74 yards receiving last week in Saskatchewan.
 

Coach's Take

The excitement of Homecoming isn't just limited to students and fans but it definitely extends to players on the field and coaches on the sideline as well.

"This is one of the premiere games in all of U SPORTS," said UBC head coach Blake Nill who's preparing for his fifth Homecoming game as head of the T-Birds program. "It celebrates UBC, it provides a great opportunity for both our players and in this case the Calgary Dinos to play in front of an excited crowd and I think you're going to see a very good football game."

Given the youth and relative inexperience on the Thunderbirds, the first two weeks of the season have shown inconsistency but also flashes of what can be expected when experience has been gained.



"We need to play for 60 minutes, at times we've played so well," said Nill. "Right now our players are trying to determine what it takes to compete at this level. We do have a lot of youth playing their first season and we just need to have confidence in our abilities that when you break the huddle for each play you can compete and do that consistently over the course of the entire game."

The Dinos find themselves atop the conference standings as well as several key statistical categories, but the 'Birds are only focussed on themselves and what they can do to generate success this week.

"The pressure comes from us, we need as coaches to do what it takes to put our young men in the best position possible to succeed and you'll see that. Using our experience, we'll take advantage of our strengths to try to give us our best chance."