CWUAA RECAP (SEMIS): Dinos survives Huskies’ upset bid, T-Birds shut down Bisons to move on to Hardy Cup final [stats] (VIDEO)

CALGARY – The Saskatchewan Huskies handed the top-ranked team in the nation all they could handle, but the University of Calgary Dinos found a way to hold them off and came back to win 37-29 Saturday afternoon in a Canada West football semi-final.

The No. 1 Dinos, now 9-0, will face the UBC Thunderbirds in the 79^th Hardy Cup next Saturday, Nov. 14 at McMahon Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon MT, live nationwide on Global Television, with the winner advancing to the CIS Uteck Bowl against the champions of the Atlantic.

Calgary had to come back from an eight-point halftime deficit, which followed an uncharacteristically quiet first half by the explosive Dinos offence – but a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns were enough to stave off the tenacious Huskies.

“They shut down our run early in the game and came away with some points on offence,” said Dinos head coach Wayne Harris of the Huskies’ quick start. “They used their weapons effectively, and it was a good challenge for our team. You need those challenges if you want to go on in the playoffs.”

With Calgary’s offense sputtering early, the Huskies wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Kyle Siemens found Jarvis James on a shovel pass for a 27-yard touchdown just 5:29 into the contest. The Dinos responded with Mercer Timmis’s five-yard TD early in the second, but couldn’t manage much else in the opening half. Tevin Godfrey found the end zone on a 28-yard play with just 1:14 left in the second quarter, and Saskatchewan took a 16-8 lead into the break after holding Calgary to just 245 offensive yards and 42 on the ground.

Back from half time, however, the Dinos’ run game began to assert itself as Timmis began to find his stride. The offence started to gain momentum and, after Johnny Mark had cut the lead with a field goal on the opening drive, the Dinos pulled even at 19-19 late in the third quarter after a 17-yard Brett Blaszko touchdown catch. Calgary took its first lead 4:50 into the fourth when Timmis burst through the line for a trademark 24-yard touchdown, and Jimmy Underdahl added a one-yard plunge with less than two minutes to play.

Down two scores with time ticking down, the Huskies went 75 yards down field for a six-yard Julan Lynch touchdown, but Brendon Thera-Plamondon hauled in the onside kick attempt for the Dinos to preserve the win.

Timmis racked up 154 yards and the two touchdowns on 21 carries for Calgary, as the Dinos picked up 146 rushing yards in the second half alone. Andrew Buckley, meanwhile, was as calm as ever in the pocket, setting a school record with 33 completions on 40 attempts for 367 yards and a touchdown.

Siemens, who breathed life into the Huskies offence late in the season, completed 29 of 46 passes for 356 yards and three majors for Saskatchewan and kept Calgary’s defence off balance with excellent play-action execution. He spread the ball around nicely, with five receivers picking up at least three catches. Mitch Hillis led the way with eight catches for 82 yards, while James led the Huskies with 87 yards on the ground along with eight receptions for 72 yards out of the backfield.

Rashaun Simonise had another big day for Calgary with 10 receptions for 116 yards, while Blaszko picked up 115 yards on eight catches for the Dinos.

Defensively, the Dinos were able to sack Siemens five times and kept Calgary in the game until the offence was able to must some production in the second half.

The adversity, something the Dinos didn’t have to face much this season as they averaged a 40-point margin of victory, was welcomed by Harris as critical to the team’s prospects going forward.

“You can’t expect the kinds of outcomes that we’ve had so much this season – it’s just not realistic,” said Harris. “We still had more than 500 yards offence, which is great production. But we had a few breakdowns, a couple of penalties that cost us – things that we need to clean up and ensure that we don’t put ourselves in a bad position.”

The semi-final results set up a Hardy Cup replete with storylines as the Dinos welcome back former head coach Blake Nill. The Dinos and Thunderbirds played just once this season – a 49-16 Calgary win on the opening day of the season – and will meet for the Canada West title for the first time since 2011next Saturday.

“We know Coach Nill very well and what they’re able to do,” said Harris. “He surrounds himself with great athletes, they have a good coaching staff and they’re going to have a great game plan. We’re going to have to match their intensity. You can never forget the emotional part of the game is huge to your success – you have to be excited and enthusiastic about what you’re doing on the field.”

FINAL

Saskatchewan   08  08  03  10 – 29

#1 Calgary           00  08  11  18 – 37

 

SCORING SUMMARY

1^st Quarter

SASK – Jarvis James 27-yard TD pass from Kyle Siemens (Sean Stenger convert), 5:29, 7-0 SASK

SASK – Sean Stenger 59-yard missed FG single, 12:57, 8-0 SASK

 

2^nd Quarter

CGY – Mercer Timmis 5-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 1:21, 8-7 SASK

CGY – Johnny Mark 53-yard missed FG single, 5:25, 8-8

SASK – Tevin Godfrey 28-yard TD pass from Kyle Siemens (Sean Stenger convert), 13:46, 15-8 SASK

SASK – Sean Stenger 76-yard kickoff single, 13:46, 16-8 SASK

 

3^rd Quarter

CGY – Johnny Mark 39-yard FG, 3:25, 16-11 SASK

SASK – Sean Stenger 38-yard FG, 11:08, 19-11 SASK

CGY – Brett Blaszko 17-yard TD pass from Andrew Buckley (Johnny Mark convert), 14:09, 19-18 SASK

CGY – Johnny Mark kickoff single, 14:11, 19-19

 

4^th Quarter

SASK – Sean Stinger 18-yard FG, 3:00, 22-19 SASK

CGY – Mercer TImmis 24-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 4:50, 26-22 CGY

CGY – Johnny Mark kickoff single, 4:52, 27-22 CGY

CGY – Jimmy Underdahl 1-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 13:03, 34-22 CGY

CGY – Johnny Mark 40-yard FG, 13:58, 37-22 CGY

SASK – Julan Lynch 6-yard TD pass from Kyle Siemens (Sean Stenger convert), 14:45, 37-29 CGY

Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Dinos Sports Information

VANCOUVER – The No. 9-ranked UBC Thunderbirds football team escaped with a 24-10 win over the No. 8-ranked Manitoba Bisons on Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale, earning the right to host next week’s Canada West playoff semifinal against the very same Manitoba squad.

Saturday’s contest was a defensive show of force for the ‘Birds, as their stop unit was led by linebacker Terrell Davis‘ (Victoria, B.C.) 9.5 tackles (six solo, seven assisted) and a forced fumble. In the secondary, defensive back Stavros Katsantonis (Bakersfield, Calif.) had his second straight week with two interceptions, as he forced Manitoba quarterback Foster Martens into bad decisions all day.

On offence, it was an up-and-down day for UBC quarterbackMichael O’Connor (Orleans, Ont.). The freshman completed just 17-of-30 passes for 219 yards and two interceptions, but also contributed 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground. TailbackBrandon Deschamps (Prince George, B.C.) had a solid outing, picking up 119 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Marcus Davis (Victoria, B.C.) was his usual two-way terror, catching five passes for 94 yards, and adding a 14-yard rushing score on his only carry of the afternoon.

Manitoba was also led by its defence, and it was linebacker Brett McFarlane who led the way. The fourth-year player forced two fumbles on the afternoon, to go along with 4.5 tackles. Defensive back Jayden McCoy also had a solid afternoon, with three tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery.

Bisons quarterback Foster Martens, making the start in place of the injured Theo Deezar, completed 10-of-18 passes for 82 yards and three interceptions before being benched late. The Bisons used the committee approach on the ground, as Jamel Lyles picked up 55 yards, Alex Christie gained 47, and Andrew Barry picked 42.

Despite the end result, the game certainly didn’t start out the way the Thunderbirds wanted. On O’Connor’s third throw of the contest, the freshman quarterback put the ball right in the hands of McCoy, who ran it back 29 yards.

Opening their next drive at the UBC 45-yard line, Manitoba drove the ball well. Several different rushers kept the UBC defence off balance, and Martens was able to hit a couple of short throws to keep the sticks moving. The Bisons reached the UBC 17-yard line before the T-Birds’ defence stepped up.

T-Birds linebacker Riley Jones (Delta, B.C.) made a great jump on a short throw from Martens, picking him off at the 10-yard line and making it all the way out to the UBC 37-yard line. A 15-yard penalty to the Bisons was tacked on, bringing the ball out just shy of midfield.

After UBC was dinged on a procedure call on first down, Deschamps busted a huge 17-yard run to open up the defence. Then, O’Connor hit Davis and Will Watson (Surrey, B.C.) for gains of 22 and 9 yards, respectively. After H-Back Liam Haime (Winnipeg) got UBC a first down on a one-yard plunge to the Manitoba 14-yard line, Davis went back to work

The offensive weapon took the handoff from O’Connor and seemed to get swallowed by the Bisons’ defensive line. Out of nowhere, Davis popped back out of the pile and scampered to paydirt, going untouched the rest of the way. The touchdown put UBC up 7-0 with 6:35 left in the opening quarter.

On the ensuing Manitoba possession, UBC’s defence stepped up again, forcing another turnover. After Lyles broke through the defensive line on a second-down carry, he was met by Davis at the Manitoba 43-yard line. The linebacker won the battle, popping the ball out. T-Birds defensive lineman Boyd Richardson (Regina, Sask.) was there to scoop up the loose ball.

The Bisons got the ball back in short order. With backup quarterback Trevor Casey (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) in for a third-and-short situation on the ensuing UBC drive, he attempted to carry the ball for first down. Casey got the first down and more, making it to the Manitoba 30-yard line before McFarlane deftly knocked the ball out.

McKoy recovered the ball for the Bisons, but they couldn’t turn the turnover into points, as the UBC defence forced another two-and-punt.

Davis appeared to have put the ‘Birds up 14-0 on the ensuing punt return, as he outran the coverage to the right sideline and found a seam, taking it 63 yards for the score. Unfortunately for the ‘Birds, the play was called back on an illegal block near the midfield mark.

Manitoba got on the board two minutes into the second quarter, as kicker Ryan Jones knocked a 30-yard field goal through the uprights

The next UBC drive stalled quickly, and Quinn van Gylswyk (Victoria, B.C.) uncharacteristically shanked the punt, giving Manitoba possession at the UBC 51-yard line.

Katsantonis made sure that the mistake didn’t cost the ‘Birds, as he came in over the top on a deep ball from Martens and made an easy interception, keeping the ‘Birds up by four points just two minutes after Jones’ field goal.

UBC added to their lead with four minutes to go in the first half, thanks in part to little trick play magic.

Faced with a third-and-five on his own 40-yard line, van Gylswyk lined up to punt. Instead, the former quarterback picked up the ball and delivered a 16-yard strike to Taylor Loffler (Kelowna, B.C.), moving the chains for UBC.

From there, O’Connor hit Deschamps on a 25-yard screen play, and after a three-yard Deschamps run, O’Connor found Davis on a short crossing route for a 12-yard gain down to the Bisons’ four-yard line.

O’Connor then called his own number, scrambling to his left and forcing his way into the end zone. With just 58 seconds left in the first half, the touchdown put UBC up 14-3.

After Manitoba punted early in the third quarter, there was a scary moment for the UBC faithful. After Davis raced 12 yards on the punt return, McFarlane came in and delivered a booming hit, forcing his second fumble of the afternoon. Manitoba recovered the loose ball, but worse for the T-Birds was that Davis stayed down on the field after the hit.

Fortunately, Davis returned to the game with about five minutes left in the third quarter, just in time for UBC’s next scoring drive. O’Connor caught the defence off-guard on the first play of the series, as, starting on the Manitoba 50-yard line, the quarterback faked a hand off to Deschamps and took it himself, racing through the secondary all the way to the Bisons’ five-yard line.

van Gylswyk hit the ensuing chip shot, and his 12-yard field goal put the ‘Birds up 14-3 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

Another Katsantonis interception ended Manitoba’s next drive, as the defensive back snagged a Martens deep ball attempt at the UBC 26-yard line, taking it back five yards.

UBC couldn’t capitalize, and the offence was forced to punt yet again as the third quarter expired.

To start the final frame, the UBC defence forced another two-and-out, and O’Connor took the field once more. Starting at their own 48-yard line, O’Connor got the ‘Birds into a second-and-nine on the Manitoba 21-yard line. O’Connor went for it all, looking for a receiver in the corner of the end zone. Instead, it was Bisons defensive back Houston Rennie who came up with the ball for Manitoba’s second pick of the game.

Manitoba earned their first major of the contest with just 3:05 to go in the fourth quarter. Billy Hart, who replaced Martens at quarterback following Katsantonis’ second pick, drove the Bisons downfield, getting help from a couple of defensive penalties on the ‘Birds. Cameron Fox punched the ball in from the one-yard line, bringing the Bisons to within one touchdown, down just 17-10.

Then, the T-Birds offence stuck in the dagger.

It took UBC just two plays and 47 seconds to answer the Bisons’ touchdown. Opening the drive at his own 20-yard line, O’Connor let fly of a beautiful ball over the middle, hitting a wide-open Davis for a 40-yard catch-and-run. Then, Deschamps did the rest, taking a hand-off and, racing through a hole on the left side of the line, took it 50 yards to the house.

The scoreboard read that same 24-10 score as the final whistle sounded just minutes later, as Manitoba wasn’t able to put any points up late in the contest.

After the contest, UBC head coach Blake Nill praised the defensive effort shown by his squad, who allowed just seven first downs in the first half. Nill also alluded to the injury troubles and roster issues that the ‘Birds have faced in recent weeks, and was impressed with how his side still managed to get the job done.

“All year, our offence has carried us, and this game, I thought that our defence had their best performance of the season. It was pretty neat to see. With these kids, people need to realize, that we’re operating with two thirds of a team and we went 6-2 in the toughest conference in the country. It’s pretty special.”

The ‘Birds and Bisons will square off in the Canada West playoff semifinals next week, as the two teams finished at No. 2 and No. 3 in the conference. The win this afternoon means that the playoff showdown will be held at David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium, with the opening kickoff set for 12 noon PT.

The semifinal will also serve as a part of the UBC Thunderbirds Super Weekend, as six teams will host 13 total games across campus over the two days.

Starting at just $5, Super Weekend passes, which give fans access to all the weekend’s games for one low rate, are available now. Purchase your pass here.

Source: Aaron Martin, UBC Thunderbirds Sports Information

Saskatchewan vs. Calgary at Calgary, AB 11/7/2015 at 1:07 pm
Saskatchewan 29	Calgary 37