VANCOUVER – Jason Soriano scored two touchdowns while Isaiah Knight had his second straight game with more than 100 yards rushing as the UBC Thunderbirds withheld a late Manitoba surge to earn a critical 27-21 win over the Bisons, moving into sole possession of third place in the Canada West standings.
Entering Saturday in a three-way tie with the Bisons and the Alberta Golden Bears for the final two Hardy Cup playoff berths, the T-Birds not only split their season series with Manitoba but also earned the edge with a point differential of just one. The Bears also lost their game Saturday to the Calgary Dinos to put the T-Birds in the driver's seat in the race for a spot in the post-season.
"It just keeps us alive for a week, we still have two very tough games coming," said UBC Head Coach Blake Nill after his team beat the Bisons as Thunderbird stadium for the seventh straight time. "We got to somehow find a way to win. I like this team, I like the talent, it's just a constant effort to just educate and motivate."
Staking out a 21-7 lead at the half on touchdown scores from Soriano,
Zach Patfield, and a
Garrett Rooker rush, the 'Birds (3-3) made it a three-score game midway through the third when Soriano recovered a fumble in the end zone.
The Bisons (2-4) were undeterred and clawed their way back with two touchdowns within less than two and a half minutes, pulling within six with less than two minutes on the clock. But the T-Birds offence ate up the remainder of the clock, aided by several Knight first down carries as UBC earned a second straight win to get back to .500.
"With this particular group, playing ahead is something I think is easier for them, it's something we try to strategize and game plan for and manufacture the lead any way we can," added Nill. "It wasn't a bad game except for the last minute and a half of each half. It just showed that it's a constant education and a constant effort to make these kids understand impact can happen at any point of the game…you can't give up two late touchdowns like that."
With time counting down and facing third and long from their own side of midfield with less than five to play in the fourth, the Bisons gambled and got a fresh set of downs on an 18-yard pass to Brendt Adams. Eventually getting the ball to the UBC one yard line with a 21 yard rush by quarterback Des Catellier, the Bisons scored their first touchdown since the opening quarter on a Breydon Stubbs carry. Manitoba went for the two-point conversion but Catellier's pass was intercepted as UBC's lead stood at 13 with four minutes remaining.
After Manitoba forced the 'Birds to punt, Catellier quickly got across midfield with an athletic 47 yard catch by AK Gassama, keeping the visitors' faint hopes of a comeback alive. But those faint hopes got a lot brighter two plays later when Catellier threw a perfect touchdown pass to Gassama who fended off a pair of UBC defenders for his second score of the game, cutting the 'Birds' lead to just six with the successful convert and two minutes left.
But rather than try another short kick, the Bisons decided to try to pin the 'Birds deep on the kickoff which they did, only to see UBC make enough gains to secure the victory.
Soriano finished his career-best game with 117 yards receiving and two touchdowns while Gassama amassed 118 yards and two scores.
Rooker completed 14 of 20 passes for 182 yards, a touchdown pass to Soriano, and his second rushing major of the season.
UBC opened scoring 7:08 into the first quarter when facing a key second down at the Manitoba 24-yard line. Rooker found his favourite target on the day as Soriano scored his first major of the season to give the 'Birds a 7-0 lead on a drive that took just 2:45.
The Bisons responded with a game tying score in the early stages of the second when Catellier – who finished the game with 231 yards passing and two touchdowns – found AK Gassama in the end zone for a 10-yard score.
On their ensuing drive, UBC restored their seven point lead when Rooker called his own number on second and goal from the Bison's ten yard line. The mobile pivot raced toward the sideline and leaped over a Manitoba defensive back and into the end zone.
Instead of Manitoba's offence getting right back to work, the T-Birds went for some trickery lining up for an onside kick which was executed to perfection with Kieran Flannery-Fleck getting the ball past the minimum 10 yards where it was recovered by Aiden Bertuzzi, giving UBC instant field position at the Manitoba 51.
Showcasing their depth under centre, the T-Birds used both Rooker and Derek Engel on the drive with the latter finding Zach Patfield in the end zone, the first Canada West touchdown for both quarterback and receiver as UBC took a two-possession lead – 21-7 – which they took into the break.
Midway through the third on first-and-goal for the 'Birds, Knight bolted for the end zone and was stripped of the ball just before the goal line, but Soriano was quick to pounce on it in the end zone for his second touchdown of the afternoon, increasing UBC's lead to 27-8 after the extra point was missed.
The Bisons did score the final 13 points of the game but UBC's lead was just too much to overcome with too little time to do it with.
The end result could have been a potential killer for Manitoba which falls to 2-3 on the season, but Alberta's loss to the Dinos now has the Bisons and Bears tied for the fourth and final playoff berth with two games to go in the regular season.
Next week the Bisons host Alberta for a critical week seven battle while the T-Birds remain at home where they'll matchup with the conference leading Saskatchewan Huskies who clinched first place in the Canada West with a win Saturday over Regina.
Tickets for the T-Birds and Huskies on Saturday, October 23 are on sale now with kickoff slated for 1:00 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium.
