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VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (4-2) scored three second quarter touchdowns to stake out a massive halftime lead, nursing home a 34-18 victory over the visiting Calgary Dinos (2-4) Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium to remain a perfect 3-0 on home field.
First-year phenom
Marvyn Larozar added to his growing legend by completing a 90-yard touchdown pass to
Trey Montour on the first play from scrimmage while the two completed the game with nearly half of UBC's 509 total yards of offence.
The T-Birds' defence once again came up with big play after big play, limiting Calgary to just four points in the final quarter in what was a gut punch to the Dinos' playoff hopes.
"We really needed that game," said UBC head coach,
Blake Nill, whose squad responded following week five's disappointing loss in Saskatchewan. "There were a lot of good things this game, but I'm still trying to get them to play 60 minutes. Protect the momentum, we talked about that at halftime, don't give up the momentum – make them earn it and unfortunately we gave it up."
After holding the Dinos to just 110 total yards of offence in the opening half while holding a 28-7 lead, the T-Birds weren't quite able to maintain their offensive mojo following the break.
The only points of the third frame were the result of a UBC fumble recovered by Calgary defensive lineman, Darius Redhead, who ran it 54 yards to the end zone, cutting the Dinos deficit to 28-14.
But UBC didn't allow another major against the rest of the way, holding Calgary to a 32-yard Boaz Comeau field goal and a late rouge.
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Leading all receivers on the field Friday, Montour completed the game with a whopping 152 yards receiving, just shy of his career high, along with his fourth touchdown of the season on the game opening trick play.
Drew Viotto threw a lateral to Larozar
who launched the ball from his own 20-yard line, caught by Montour at the 50 before turning on the jets for the spectacular opening score.
Far from stunned by the efficient one-play UBC drive, the Dinos responded with a touchdown of their own on their first possession, evening the score on a 38-yard David Jordan pass to Saboor Zeeshan.
What seemed like a barnburner in progress tilted firmly in the T-Birds' favour with two consecutive touchdown drives for a 21-7 lead.
With the ball at the Calgary one,
Zach Patfield took a direct snap and punched in his first score of the season.
Viotto's lone touchdown pass of the night came midway through the second when he found
Owen Herle in the back of the end zone. The third-year receiver high-pointed the ball under double coverage for his second major of the year and the two-possession lead.
UBC's defence got in on the action when Pasloski punched the ball out of Jordan's hands, recovered by rookie defensive lineman
Alex Longo at the Calgary 39. With 14 seconds left in the half, Larozar ran in his conference-leading ninth touchdown for the 28-7 halftime advantage.
In addition to his 90-yard touchdown pass to Montour, Larozar added another 56 yards on the ground, but it was veteran
Riley Michaud who led UBC's ground game Friday with 66 total.
"Running back has to be by committee," Nill insisted. "Marvyn will still have his moments but it's tough when everyone is keying on you, and our pass game has to accept part of that responsibility. We have to be efficient enough that they're not going to key on our run game. We're going to get there, it's still a work in progress for sure."
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Viotto ended the night with 278 yards passing going 23-of-31, including the second quarter TD toss to Herle.
"Herle is a dynamic receiver. And what you may not also see is his covering on punts. I have nothing but admiration for him, he's a good kid with the right attitude, I'm a big
Owen Herle fan."
Now at 4-2 and in sole possession of second place in the Canada West behind 5-1 Saskatchewan who earned a home win over Manitoba Friday night, the T-Birds hold fate in their own hands when it comes to locking down a potential home playoff berth for the first time in two years.
A major test for the blue and gold comes next Friday when they visit the 3-3 Regina Rams for UBC's final road contest of the regular season before they close out at home to the Huskies October 30.
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