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VANCOUVER – With the Thanksgiving weekend bye come and gone, it's a full sprint to the finish line of the 2026 Canada West regular season, starting this Friday night, October 16 as the UBC Thunderbirds (3-2) host the Calgary Dinos (2-3).

With just three weeks remaining until the Hardy Cup Playoffs, little has been determined in what appears to once again be a wild, wide open conference.

UBC currently holds down second in the Canada West standings behind 4-1 Saskatchewan, the Huskies earning a comeback victory over the T-Birds in week five, snapping what had been a three-game win streak following a season opening loss in Calgary.



Not only does Friday night's game mark a key opportunity for redemption against the Dinos, a UBC win would go a long way to securing a sixth straight playoff berth while inching closer to earning one of two coveted home field semifinal spots.

"What I've told my athletes is, we have secured nothing," said UBC head coach, Blake Nill, as things ramp back up to full speed following the bye. "We haven't really accomplished anything and we have to approach every game like it's basically a must-win scenario. I asked my players to start the week fast and make sure we're not going through a lull. I thought we've practiced very well, I thought we've practiced with intent and I'm hoping that continues."

Much has happened since UBC's week one 23-7 loss to the Dinos, but that game – and week five's fourth quarter – remains a sticking point for a team justifiably expecting to take things to a different level this year.

Just as Calgary rebounded to defeat Regina following a week four loss to previously winless Alberta, the T-Birds are looking for a cleaner, smarter effort Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium.



"We have to continue to try to limit self-inflicted mistakes," Nill said. "Penalties, specifically like in the last game, offside penalties. We can't take plays off, physically or mentally. The best teams eliminate mistakes and make the other teams beat them. If we can continue to improve in those two areas, we're only going to get better. We're a pretty good program, if we can find a way to be 10 per cent better by the end of the year, we're going to be tough."

As the weather cools, typically there's a greater reliance on the running game, a change that should suit UBC just fine. Freshman Marvyn Larozar continues to lead the country with eight rushing touchdowns while sitting atop the conference leaderboard in rushing yards (725) and all-purpose yards (877).

Perhaps more importantly, the T-Birds' offence as a whole averages a Canada West best 191 rushing yards per game with another first-year in Josh Martin and veteran Riley Michaud also chipping in.
 

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But success against the Dinos will also rely heavily on UBC's defence returning to the form seen during the 'Birds' three-game win streak where they held their opponents to just 12 points against on average.

Calgary's biggest offensive threat remains veteran receiver Matt Sibley, the current conference leader who has torched the rest of the Canada West racking up 641 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback David Jordan is also working on an impressive 68 percent completion rate with a 10:2 touchdown to interception ratio.

"It's a huge week with incredible ramifications for both programs. Certainly, we are preparing for the potential the Dinos program has. They do a lot of things very well, there are a lot of terrific athletes and playmakers on that team. Coach (Ryan) Sheahan's done a good job and it's going to be just a classic Canada West battle where you have two teams fairly equal that are fighting for their lives."
 

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The T-Birds have thus far taken care of business at Thunderbird Stadium, winning each of their first two home dates. It's a trend the team knows must continue if the hope of a home playoff date is to remain alive.

Calgary, on the other hand, needs to avoid falling to 2-4 which would put the Dinos in serious danger of missing the postseason for a sixth straight year.

Kickoff for the massively consequential week six battle is set for 6:00 p.m. Friday at Thunderbird Stadium. Tickets are available online or at the door with the game also streaming live on Canada West TV.