EDMONTON, Alta. – The UBC Thunderbirds struggled to move the football while the team's defence wore down as the game progressed, suffering a 38-18 defeat to the Alberta Golden Bears Friday night at Foote Field.

In what could have been a moment for UBC (2-3) to stake a claim towards a playoff berth while burying the previously winless Bears (1-4), the opposite now holds true as the Canada West remains wide open with three weeks remaining in the 2025 regular season.

Limited to just 259 total yards of offence, the T-Birds did open scoring on a Toluwalope Ayedegbe third down, six yard rush into the end zone early in the first quarter. Alberta quarterback Trey Rieder, making his first start of the season, fumbled the ball which was recovered by UBC defensive lineman Aaron Parker at midfield. Drew Viotto and the T-Birds offence marched towards the goal line and made the Bears pay for their mistake as everything looked to be going UBC's way in the early going.



But momentum shifted rather quickly thereafter, Alberta scoring the next 17 points, including a 27-yard Carter Kettyle touchdown reception, one of two on the night for the fourth-year receiver who also threw a 37-yard touchdown pass of his own on a third quarter feat of trickery.

Alexander Hillyard got the 'Birds back within a possession of the lead on a 15-yard field goal to end the half, the rookie kicker's first points in the Canada West as the Florida native made his inaugural start.

Alberta put the pedal down in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns in the frame to expand their lead to 31-10.

Veteran pivot Eli Hetlinger connected with Adam Dahoy for a 21-yard pass early in the fourth to essentially put the game on ice, especially with UBC struggling to get much offensive traction.



Inside the three-minute warning, the T-Birds finally found the end zone again as Drew Viotto threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Edgerrin Williams-Hernandez.

The Bears were able to successfully run down the clock with UBC failing to get their offence back on the field as Alberta secured their first win of the season.

Viotto finished a respectable 16-of-27 passing with 196 yards and the late touchdown pass. Reider went 20-of-27 for 281 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Ayedegbe closed out with 80 yards rushing for the 'Birds while Trey Montour led UBC's receivers with 80 yards on seven catches.



As the T-Birds lick their wounds and head back to Vancouver to prepare for a trip to Winnipeg next Saturday, to say the Canada West standings are muddled is an understatement. UBC currently holds onto the fourth and final playoff berth but a Manitoba victory Saturday over Regina (3-1) would see the Bisons (2-2) leapfrog the 'Birds while the Dinos (2-2) battle the Huskies (3-1) in Calgary.

Regardless of Saturday's outcomes, next week's T-Birds trip to visit the Bisons could very well be a season-defining contest with major playoff implications on the line heading into the Thanksgiving bye.