CALGARY – Behind a strong ground game that churned out nearly 300 rushing yards and helped control the clock late, the UBC Thunderbirds (2-3) marched to a 39-29 win Friday night over the University of Calgary Dinos football team from McMahon Stadium.
Lucas Mastrodomenico finished the night with two touchdowns while receiver
Jason Soriano added a superb 87-yard touchdown reception. The UBC offense finished with 549 total yards of offense, three successful field goals and a 15/24 effort from quarterback
Garrett Rooker.
The Dinos (0-5) were able to make it a one-score game twice in the second half, but an 11-play, 100-yard drive that ate up nearly six minutes gave UBC a 36-22 edge with just 6:14 left on the clock to all but ice this one away.
After seeing UBC add a 20-yard field goal by
Kieran Flannery-Fleck on the opening possession of the second half to make it a 21-9 game, Calgary responded nicely.
The Dinos paired the run game nicely with good distribution by
Daniel Sananes, before the second-year QB connected with
Dante Carbone on a 14-yard strike to cut the gap to 21-16.
UBC responded in a big way though. After each team traded two-and-outs, the T-Birds connected on a home-run ball from
Garrett Rooker, hitting
Jason Soriano in stride for an 87-yard bomb completely rip moment back in their direction.
Calgary's defence responded to that adversity in a big way on the next Thunderbirds possession as
Matthew Lucyshyn picked off Rooker near midfield and picked up big blocks from
Liam Reid and
Subomi Oyesoro for the 58-yard pick six to once again cut the lead to five at 27-22 with 2:09 left in the third.
But UBC was able to control the clock from there. Getting the ball with 12:04 left to play and a 29-22 lead, the Thunderbirds ran the ball eight times and needed just three passes before
Lucas Mastrodomenico plunged through the line for a 15-yard touchdown with just 6:14 left on the clock.
Flannery-Fleck added another kick from 42 yards, while Sananes connected with
Mikel-Ange Desjardins for a four-yard touchdown pass late to close out the scoring.
Rooker finished the game going 15 of 24 for 244 yards and one touchdown, while Sananes completed 17 of his 26 attempts for 197 yards and two scores.
The loss spoils a career performance from first year running back
Matthieu Clarke, who exploded for 204 yards on 18 carries.
Both teams will have the Thanksgiving holiday off from competition, as UBC returns to action Oct. 15 at home when they host Manitoba, while the Dinos will hit the road that same day for a showdown with Alberta inside Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
