T-birds rumble past Bisons

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This article was published 04/11/2023 (1061 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — Quarterback Garrett Rooker ran 15 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown and passed nine yards to Lucas Robertson for another major in the third quarter to rally the UBC Thunderbirds for a 29-21 victory over the Manitoba Bisons in Hardy Cup semifinal football action at Thunderbird Stadium Saturday.

Fourth-seeded Manitoba led 17-10 halftime and was poised for a major upset thanks to Matteo Vaccaro’s one-yard TD run and Vaughn Lloyd’s 41-yard TD scamper but Manitoba could muster only a field goal and a punt single in the second half.

“They’re the No. 1 seed in the conference and they played really well,” said Bisons head coach Brian Dobie of the Thunderbirds. “They had a great second half and I thought their offensive line, as the game went on, started to impose their will.”

UBC will face the Alberta Golden Bears next week for the Canada West title. The Golden Bears thrashed the Saskatchewan Huskies 40-17 in Saturday’s late semifinal.

Maya Turner booted field goals from 13 and 26 yards out and added and a pair of converts for the Bisons.

Dobie said an injury to star defensive back Nick Conway at the end of the third quarter had a telling impact on his team’s fortunes.

“Once you start moving the pieces around at our level, then you open up more potential for mistakes because it’s not their position that they’ve been working in all week and all year,” said Dobie. “That was probably was the biggest thing on the defensive side of ball but on offence, we played so well first half, generating first downs, field position and scoring and then we just had one field goal in the second half.”

Kieran Flannery-Fleck replied with three converts and 17- and 20-yard field goals for the hosts.

The Bisons had an edge in first downs (27-25) and total offence yardage (409-375).

Manitoba quarterback Jackson Tachinski went 15-for-28 for 179 yards and also carried the ball eight times for 61 yards. Lloyd was the top ball carrier for the Bisons with seven carries for 81 yards.

Rooker, meanwhile, went 16-for-21 for 245 yards and one touchdown.

Isaiah Knight led UBC runners with 80 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Sam Davenport of the Thunderbirds led all a receivers with six catches for 119 yards. Manitoba’s AK Gassama had four receptions for 66 yards.

Manitoba started 2023 with three consecutive losses and Dobie was impressed with his team’s grit and resolve.

“This is my 49th year as a head coach and honestly, this has been one of my favourite seasons in my entire career,” said Dobie, who has guided the Manitoba program for the last 28 years. “Because our guys have a great culture — I’m not being all rah and emotional. I’m being very sincere. This has been one of my favourite seasons because of the culture of the team, the attitude of the players and the resiliency. In the end, they just wouldn’t quit.”