Knight, T-Birds find another level with gutsy road win in Calgary – University of British Columbia Athletics

CALGARY – In a wild contest that saw five lead changes and enough dramatics to last half a season, Kieran Flannery-Fleck kicked the game winning field goal with 59 seconds on the clock as the UBC Thunderbirds earned a hard-fought 32-30 victory over the Calgary Dinos, extending their win streak to three games and now in sole possession of second place in the Canada West.

Following up on a massive performance last week against Saskatchewan, T-Birds all-star running back Isaiah Knight outdid himself at McMahon Stadium Saturday afternoon, rushing for another career high of 235 yards and his fifth touchdown of the season.

Trailing 30-25 early in the fourth after Dinos quarterback Dom Britton punched the ball in from the one, the ‘Birds’ defence went into shutdown mode, giving Garrett Rooker and the UBC offence plenty of time to work.

 

?? FB | In a performance for the ages, @ubcfbl‘s Isaiah Knight finished the game with 235 yards rushing and 268 total on offence, including this 76 yard race up the sideline ?? pic.twitter.com/1aTUgdeYcQ

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 28, 2024

With more than half the final frame remaining, Flannery-Fleck kicked his second of three field goals, a 36-yarder, to cut UBC’s lead to two.

Forcing the Dinos to punt on their next possession and facing third and short at their own 17, the ‘Birds got a first down with Derek Engel in for the carry over the top. But two plays later, a Rooker pass attempt was deflected by Calgary DB Nate Beauchemin who managed to secure the ball for the turnover with just over four minutes on the clock.

That turnover didn’t cost the ‘Birds, though, with UBC’s Maka Bangura laying a sack on Britton, forcing yet another Dinos punt, this time from near midfield.

Still trailing by two and nearing the three-minute warning, UBC faced a long field starting at their own 27. Yet another massive carry by Knight – this time for 41 yards – got the ball back inside the red zone as the clock ticked down to the final minute. Flannery-Fleck came in to attempt a 22-yard attempt for the lead which the veteran kicker easily punched through for the 31-30 advantage, adding another single on the ensuing kickoff.

Cue UBC’s defence which once again answered the bell, forcing Britton into a third and long pass attempt which went incomplete with 14 seconds left, securing the T-Birds’ third consecutive win.

“I felt today we weren’t at our best on defence or special teams. I felt offensively, other than a few mistakes, we won that game,” said UBC head coach Blake Nill. “Calgary’s a very good, young football team. But, I feel we have to be better and we got a big game this weekend. I’m going to look for the players to get excited about this game and start work on Alberta as soon I get home from the airport tonight.”

Rooker had a second straight solid game under centre, completing the game with 268 yards on 20-of-31 passing and a pair of touchdowns.

Britton went 15-of-22 for 225 yards, two touchdowns and two picks.

Rooker and the ‘Birds scored on the game’s opening drive, capped off with a shovel pass to Sam Davenport who scored his second touchdown of the season.

A 40-yard Vince Triumbari field goal cut UBC’s lead to three points (the Calgary kicker opening the game with a single point into the end zone) and the Dinos defence forced the ‘Birds into a quick two-and-out.

Britton and the Dinos efficiently moved into T-Birds’ territory. Escaping pressure, the Calgary pivot found his brother, Ben Britton, for a 39-yard touchdown pass which gave the hosts their second lead at 11-7 late in the opening quarter.

Starting their first drive of the second frame from deep inside their own territory, the ‘Birds got across midfield but consistent pressure by Calgary’s front line led to a stall. With the wind at his back, Flannery-Fleck came out to attempt a 47-yard field goal which he banked off the left upright and through to get the ‘Birds back within three points, matching his previous career-long try set in 2022.

UBC’s next possession started with a flash when Rooker connected with Skyler Griffith for a 35-yard catch-and-run across midfield. Facing second-and-long, Rooker threw to a wide-open Knight for a 30-yard pickup to make it first-and-goal T-Birds. After yet another Knight touch to get down to the five, Rooker faked the handoff and connected with tight end Brad Hladik for his first touchdown of the season, putting the T-Birds back in front just inside the three minute warning.

Looking for another response, Dom Britton, from mid-field, heaved the ball up to Matt Sibley, but UBC defensive back Jerrell Cummings perfectly read the play, getting a hand on the ball to avoid what would have at the very least been a massive Dinos gain. Several plays later, UBC’s defence came up big again when rookie defensive back Darrien Brown earned his first career interception, picking off Britton at the one-yard line.

 

?? FB | Rookie @ubcfbl DB Darrien Brown comes up with his first career interception! The ‘Birds now hold a 17-13 halftime lead in Calgary #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/svRr2wLtrM

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 28, 2024

On the first play of UBC’s drive, Knight appeared to be stopped in his tracks, but the fourth-year back bounced off the pile and pushed the pedal to the medal, bursting up the right sideline for a massive 76 yard gain – a career high for the Hamilton product.

The ‘Birds weren’t able to get any points off the turnover, however, as a Flannery-Fleck field goal attempt was blocked by the Dinos, UBC forced to head into the halftime break with the 17-13 lead.

A 23-yard Triumbari field goal cut UBC’s lead to just two at 18-16 midway through the third before the ball went back into Rooker’s hands.

The T-Birds quarterback spread the ball around while getting a pair of first down catches out of Dane Kapler. Another hard-earned Knight rush on second down made it first-and-goal T-Birds. Two plays later, it was another handoff to Knight, this time for a two yard scoring run, his fifth of the season, increasing UBC’s lead to 25-16.

The Dinos got the response they needed on the first play of the fourth quarter when Britton found Sibley out wide who finished off a 30-yard touchdown catch-and-run to once again cut UBC’s lead back to just three points. Britton didn’t have to wait long to get another chance on offence when the ‘Birds fumbled on the kickoff return, giving the Dinos instant field position at the UBC 25.

Getting a fresh set of downs at the one, Britton’s QB sneak saw the Dinos re-take the lead, 30-25, setting up UBC’s late-game heroics.

 

?? FB | Flannery-Fleck kicks the game winning field goal as @ubcfbl hangs on for a 32-30 win over the Dinos! pic.twitter.com/UMfItSjCZ1

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 28, 2024

Knight finished the game with 268 total yards of offence, his 235 rushing yards surpassing Brad Yamaoka for sixth all-time in UBC Thunderbirds history with 2,835.

“Isaiah took the team on his back and got it done for the other 44 athletes,” said Nill. “He’s got to be a contender for Player of the Year in this conference right now.”

With Manitoba’s victory over the Rams Saturday, the T-Birds now enter week six alone in second place in the conference at 3-2. The Dinos have now dropped three in a row and at 1-4 sit alone at the bottom of the heap.

The ‘Birds will enjoy their victory at McMahon before turning focus to another tough road game next Friday night in Edmonton when they visit the 2-3 Alberta Golden Bears.