VANCOUVER – The first test for this young UBC Thunderbirds team was to make the Hardy Cup playoffs. Now comes an even bigger test as they head to Saskatoon to face the No. 4 Saskatchewan Huskies in a conference semifinal on Saturday, November 13th at Griffiths Stadium.
Winning three of their final four games to advance to the post-season for the first time since 2018, the T-Birds know they have their work cut out for them, especially after the Huskies came into Thunderbird Stadium in week two and handed UBC a 43-15 loss. But the memories of that game, along with the vast improvement the 'Birds have shown since then, has the visitors both motivated and confident, but fully aware of the task at hand.
"They're the top in this conference and perhaps the top in the entire country," said UBC Head Coach Blake Nill who has guided the T-Birds to the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons. "The Saskatchewan tradition combined with the veteran team they have makes them especially formidable. But at the same time, you got to go out and play the game. Whether this is just a stepping stone for this program, it's still a necessary step and I'm taking that approach. This is a game that we have to prepare fully for and go out and compete every single play."
Finishing atop the Canada West at 5-1, the Huskies haven't lost since week one in Calgary, putting up a +89 point differential in the process. With the Dinos failing to advance to the Hardy Cup playoffs, Saskatchewan is the conference's top remaining offence, averaging over 475 total yards per game compared to the T-Birds' 437.
The Huskies kept their opponents to an average of 21.3 points per game, second only to the Manitoba Bisons. Saskatchewan led the conference with 17 quarterback sacks, and a pair of defensive touchdowns.
"They play with extraordinary effort on special teams and defence," added Nill. "I always talk about the Saskatchewan legacy and tradition, I think that's one of the biggest challenges is overcoming that. If it was one thing, it would be to stop the Sask run game. I don't know if that's possible, let's say limit their run game."
The Huskies are certainly a strong team on the ground, with 1160 yards rushing. But it was, in fact, the Thunderbirds who finished the regular season as the Canada West rushing leaders, averaging 198 yards per game and a conference leading eight touchdowns (tied with Alberta).
The emergence of rookie running back
Isaiah Knight has been a game changer for the T-Birds. Named this week as a conference All-Star, the Ottawa product finished the season with back-to-back 100+ yard efforts, leading the Canada West with an average of 104.3 yards per game.
Fourth-year offensive lineman Diego Alatorre joins Knight as a conference offensive All-Star and for good reason as the veteran has helped lead an O-line that has shown tremendous growth over the course of the season, helping create those holes for Knight and fellow rookie running back Dane Kapler.
Defensively the T-Birds also head to Saskatoon a much different team than what the Huskies saw in Vancouver in early October.
"Defensively we're a work in progress still, we're trying to find where these athletes best fit, how we can best utilize their skillsets. It's taken a little longer than both myself and (Defensive Coordinator) Coach Tracey would have hoped, but I think they will have their best effort this coming weekend."
Saturday marks the first visit for UBC to Saskatoon since week one of the 2019 season. The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was also the last time the T-Birds played a post-season game, a 31-28 overtime loss in Vancouver in 2018.
Kickoff at Griffiths Stadium is set for 11:00 a.m. PT on Saturday. The game will be available live on Canada West TV.
