VANCOUVER – Winners of two straight and heating up at just the right time, the UBC Thunderbirds face another big test Saturday when they host the undefeated Saskatchewan Huskies at Thunderbird Stadium for their final home game of the regular season - the Casey Smith Legacy Game presented by Integral Wealth.
In a rematch of a week two loss in Saskatoon, the T-Birds (3-3) are a much more confident group as they host the number two ranked team in the country. Coming off back-to-back wins over Calgary and Manitoba, UBC can clinch a berth in the Hardy Cup playoffs with a third straight victory Saturday, but it certainly won't be easy against a Huskies (6-0) team which has already secured first place in the Canada West while boasting both the conference's leading offence and defence.
"We have got to approach this as a must-win type of game, which it is," said UBC Head Coach
Blake Nill. "It's exciting that it's against Saskatchewan, it's exciting that we're going to be tested to our fullest. I've always taken a realistic approach with the game. If you want to get to the top and be the best, you have to beat the best, and right now Coach (Scott) Flory's program is the best in our conference and I'm looking forward to this opportunity."
A key to the Huskies' success this season continues to be the outstanding play of quarterback Mason Nyhus whose 2,012 passing yards is the second highest total in the country. The fifth-year pivot also leads the Canada West with 12 touchdowns and a 67.4 completion percentage.
Perhaps the only more impressive stat by the defending Hardy Cup champions is their team defence, limiting opponents to an average of just 13.8 points per game and a conference leading seven interceptions.
But while Nyhus gets plenty of due credit, UBC's own quarterback continues to impress in his own right as second-year
Garrett Rooker is fresh off a Canada West Offensive Player of the Week performance against the Bisons having thrown for 217 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing major along with 49 yards on the ground.
The ground game in general will no doubt continue to be key for both teams as Saturday afternoon features the top two rushers in the conference. UBC's
Isaiah Knight leads the Canada West with 562 yards while Sask's Ryker Frank is a close second with 522 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
UBC has put up more than 230 yards rushing in each of their last two games with Knight,
Dane Kapler, and Rooker all sitting in the top 15 in the conference.
"In 2021 we were primarily a zone conscious team," Nill explained. "Coach (Stevenson) Bone has brought in a level of gap run so it's taken a little bit of time to sort of hit that potential with that type of approach. But again, it comes down to confidence, knowing your assignments. We've just done a better job in that category the last few games."
On the defensive side of the ball,
Ryan Baker continues a terrific season for the blue and gold, leading the conference with 43.5 total tackles and a pair of sacks.
Overall the 'Birds have noticeably improved in all aspects following a 1-3 start to the season. Along with improved execution in the red zone, UBC has limited penalties and continued to hold the edge in time of possession, giving their offence time and opportunity.
"I think we're peaking somewhat in terms of our performance," added Nill. "I don't feel we have any reason to act overconfident about anything, I don't think we've hit the levels we're capable of yet. I get excited with the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country and coach Flory and his crew have been at or near the top of Canada the last three or four years, so really looking forward to the opportunity to test this program."
The last time the T-Birds came away victorious against the Huskies was a 38-37 comeback victory near the end of a challenging 2019 season. Those that remain with the program certainly hold that in their memories and know a much stronger T-Birds team in 2022 has a big chance in front of them to end what's been a three-game losing skid against Saskatchewan since then.
Kickoff for the final T-Birds home contest – the Casey Smith Legacy Game presented by Integral Wealth – is set for 1:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, October 22 at Thunderbird Stadium.
Tickets are available now and the game will also be
streamed live on Canada West TV.
