VANCOUVER – Two touchdowns and a shutout performance by UBC's defence in the fourth quarter powered the Thunderbirds to a 30-21 comeback victory over the Alberta Golden Bears to open up the Canada West season Saturday night in front of more than 4000 fans.
Starting the final frame with a 21-14 deficit, second-year quarterback
Garrett Rooker found rookie receiver
Shemar McBean for a 98-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. The 2021 Canada West Rookie of the Year then called his own number for a six yard rushing score later in the quarter to cap off a terrific night on offence as UBC starts the year 1-0 for the first time since 2018.
"We found a way to win, that's the most important thing," said UBC Head Coach
Blake Nill. "In game one of the season, teams aren't running at full speed, it's still a new season, everyone is sort of feeling themselves out. You need a break every now and then, we got enough breaks and got enough plays to win."
Facing second-and-long at their own 12-yard line, Rooker aired out the ball 40 yards to McBean who took over from there, untouched to the end zone. That 98-yard play now stands tied with a Jordan Grieve catch in 2012 as the second longest completion in UBC history.
A safety on Alberta's ensuing drive followed by Rooker's rushing major capped off a 16-0 final frame for the T-Birds who saved their best for last in what was a see-saw affair through 45 minutes.
"Our defence played a really good game and stepped up in the big time moments," said Rooker who finished the game 14-of-23 for 251 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score. "On offence, we executed some things in the fourth quarter that put us over the edge, and some special teams plays. Just a collective fourth quarter, we just came out and executed better than the earlier part of the game and finished strong."
After both teams traded punts to start the game, Alberta (0-1) moved quickly down the field on their second possession with second-year quarterback Eli Hetlinger heaving up a 36-yard pass to Jonathan Rosery who was tackled at the UBC 39 yard line. Five plays later, Hetlinger called his own number and got the ball across the goal line for the game opening score.
On UBC's second possession,
Isaiah Knight dashed 31 yards to the Alberta 33-yard line, his longest of 13 total rushes on the night totaling 106 yards. On second-and-long, Rooker threw a perfect arc to veteran receiver
Lliam Wishart who reeled in the ball while, fighting off tight coverage while staying on his feet before falling into the end zone, tying the game with four minutes to go in the opening quarter.
After forcing the Bears to punt on their next drive,
Dane Kapler exploded for a 26-yard run to get UBC back into Golden Bears territory early in the second quarter as the T-Birds' two-headed monster at running back was on full display. Kapler finished the game with 75 total rushing yards on eight carries.
A couple more first down plays and some help from Alberta penalties saw the ball eventually placed at the Bears' one-yard line.
Derek Engel was put in for a successful quarterback sneak as the T-Birds took their first lead of the game, 14-7.
Late in the half, Hetlinger found Jonathan Rosery in the end zone as the visitors tied the game 14-14 late in the half.
In his first start for Alberta, Hetlinger finished the game 20-of-33 for 237 yards and two touchdowns.
The visitors picked up their momentum from late in the first half when Reggie Schoeppe forced a fumbled, scooped it up himself and dashed for the end zone, only to be tackled by McBean at the UBC 14. Benefiting from tremendous field position, Hetlinger connected with Kolby Hurford to give the Bears their second lead of the game.
But the rest of the night belonged to the T-Birds who made some clutch plays on both sides of the ball.
After tying the game with McBean's 98-yard touchdown, UBC took a 23-21 lead on a safety after Bears punter Nathan Kasowski fumbled the ball in the end zone and had to simply fall on it to avoid an even worse fate.
Special teams continued to plague the Bears late in the game as an attempted punt fake went awry, leading to the T-Birds recouping the ball at the Alberta 18-yard line, just inside the three minute warning.
On second and goal from the five, Rooker pump faked then ran it in for his first rushing touchdown of the season. The successful
Owen Brown convert gave the T-Birds their biggest lead of the game, 30-21 with 2:07 on the clock for what turned out to be the final points of the game.
"We're better conditioned than I think we were last year, and we're older and a little wiser," said Nill of his more mature team compared to 2021's season opening loss to the Bears. "We didn't play well enough I thought, I thought we made a lot of mistakes but it's the first game of the year, that's going to happen. I just feel fortunate we pulled that off."
While not recording a touchdown, Alberta running back Matthew Peterson led all rushers with 144 yards on the ground. Rosery led the Bears' receivers with 86 yards.
McBean, starting his first U SPORTS game, led all receivers with 136 yards while the veteran Wishart finished with 40 and his fourth career touchdown.
UBC hits the road for the first time this regular season next Friday, September 9 when they visit the defending Hardy Cup champion Saskatchewan Huskies while the Bears are back in Edmonton for their home opener against the Manitoba Bisons.
