Edmonton – Quinn Van Gylswyk kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime, as the UBC Thunderbirds (1-1) rallied from a 27 point deficit to defeat the Alberta Golden Bears (0-2) 39-36 Saturday night in Edmonton, Alberta.
Down by 12 points with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter Carson Williams orchestrated a 12-play, 100-yard drive, culminating in a one yard yard quarterback keeper to cut the Alberta lead to 36-31 with 1:55 left in regulation.
On the ensuing possession, after Alberta quarterback Ryan Schwartz was sacked on second down by Yianni Cabylis, the Golden Bears elected to give up the safety rather then punting, making it just a three point game, 36-33.
With less than 30 seconds left in regulation, Williams connected with Micha Theil down the middle of the field for 50 yards to get the ‘Birds within field goal range and with just 0.6 seconds left on the clock Van Gylswyk kicked a 30 yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, both teams get an opportunity from the 35 yard line. Alberta went first and Schwartz, looking to the end zone, was picked off by Chris Adams, meaning a single could win the game for UBC.
Van Gylswyk would play hero, booting a 23 yard field goal through the uprights to earn the ‘Birds the come from behind victory and their first win of the 2013 campaign.
“I talked on the sidelines with the guys just before overtime and I said we haven’t played that well, but we have scratched and clawed our way back into this game so now, when it matters most, we need to come through,” said UBC head coach Shawn Olson. “Our defence made a huge play and then Quinn kicked the winner making it a pretty special ending, to come from 27 points down to win.”
“The saving grace toinght was our special teams. They created opportunities for our team to score recovering an onside kick and pulling off a fake punt. They deserve the credit tonight.”
WIlliams proved his resiliency, overcoming three interceptions that led to 21 Alberta point and being pulled in the second quarter, to lead the ‘Birds in the second half. He finished the game with 258 yards passing.
Brandon Deschamps was again the story offensively for UBC as he rushed for 212 yards on 28 carries, scoring two touchdowns. He added another 14 yards receiving.
“Brandon is one of the best backs to every come through UBC and that is pretty impressive company to be in,” said Olson. “He is so explosive when he touches the ball. Plan and simple he is the engine that drives this offence and he did once again tonight.”
In search of their first home win since 2010. the Alberta Golden Bears didn’t waste anytime getting on the board going 65 yards on the opening drive for a major as Ed Ilnicki punched it in from four yards out.
On their next drive, which started at their own five yard line, the Bears went the entire length of the field, capped off by a one yard plunge from Jon Waters. After starting the game with an incompletion, Schwartz went 8-for-8 for 105 yards.
UBC got on the board thanks to a bad snap on an Alberta punt. Stephen Fabian was forced to kick the ball out of the end zone, surrendering a safety and making it a 14-2 game.
Turnovers played a key role in the opening half, as the Bears took advantage of four UBC turnovers (3 interceptions and one turnover on downs) to put up 15 points. Williams, who got the start for UBC, was picked off twice. Both times it led to an Alberta touchdown. Schwartz hooked up with Ryley Richardson on a 44 yard TD pass and ran it in from 9 yards to put the home team up 29-2 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.
Greg Bowcott replaced Williams and on his second possession was intercepted. Fortunately the defence was able to slow the Bears down and get the ball back for the offence. That is when the work horse went to work. Deschamps scampered 39 yards for the major to cut the lead to 29-9. UBC would add a single just as time expired to make it 29-10 at the break.
In the third quarter, the ‘Birds got back in the game thanks to their special teams. Aundrey Webster mishandled a Van Gylswyk punt and UBC recovered at the Alberta 40 yard line. He would result in a Bowcott one yard TD run to cut the lead to 29-17.
An onside kick from UBC on the next play was recovered by the ‘BIrds and this time it was Deschamps running it into the end zone to make it a five point game 29-24.
The ‘Birds defence did their job in the third quarter, limiting Schwartz to just seven yards passing. UBC would get the ball back and would move into the red zone thanks to a Van Gylswyk 44 yard run on fake punt. Unfortunately, Williams would be intercepted in the end zone by Tyler Greenslade to kill the drive.
Alberta would not waste any time stealing the momentum back, Tylor Henry went 62 yards on a swing pass from Schwartz all the way to pay dirt and putting the Golden Bears up by 12, 36-24 with 13:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Next week the Thunderbirds play host to the Manitoba Bisons (1-1) on Saturday September 14 at 2:00 pm at David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium. It is homecoming weekend at UBC, so come on out and support your Thunderbirds.
Photo credit: Ā Uno Weiz
Source: Ā UBC Thunderbirds Sports Information
Rookie kicker Quinn Van Gylswyk nailed a 21-yard field goal in overtime to put the nail in Albertaās coffin, as the UBC Thunderbirds picked up a stunning 39-36, come-from-behind, overtime win over the Alberta Golden Bears,Ā SaturdayĀ night at Foote Field in Edmonton. Van Gylswyk also sent the teams into OT when, with just .6 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter, he hit a field goal from 30 yards out to tie score.
UBC outscored Alberta 29-7 combined in the second half and in overtime, and scored 24 points off six Golden Bearsā turnovers. The loss drops Albertaās record to 0-2 on the season, while UBC improves to 1-1.
After the Bears staked themselves to a 29-10 half-time lead, UBC clawed their way back into the game when they recovered a pair of Golden Bear fumbles early in the second half, and turned them into touchdowns. Although Alberta managed to get one back, which made the score 36-24, the T-Birds responded with another major which was followed by Alberta conceding a safety with 41 seconds left in the game, making the score 36-33.
On the ensuing possession, UBC quarterback Carson Williams marched the Birds 52 yards on four plays to the Alberta 23-yard line, and with just six one-hundredths of a second remaining, Van Gylswyk connected from 30 yards out for the tie score and overtime.
The Bears were awarded the ball first in OT, and from the UBC 35-yard line, quarterback Ryan Schwartz completed a 14-yard, first down pass to rookie receiver Tylor Henry. A pass to Ryley Richardson went incomplete, and then on second down, a corner route end zone toss was picked off by T-Birds DB Chris Adams, which gave UBC the ball, and the opportunity to win the game with just a field goal.
After Birdsā runningback Brandon Deschamps rushed for 21 yards on first down, Van Gylswyk hit the 21-yard chip shot winner.
The Golden Bears piled up 474 yards of offence in the game, including 352 through the air as Schwartz completed 29 of 39 passes. He also tossed a pair of touchdown strikes, as well as the OT interception.
Alberta also had a combined 172 of rushing offence, led by 110 from freshman Ed Ilnicki, who also scored a touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Bears, UBC banked 598 yards of offence, including 332 yards via the running game. Deschamps, who led Canada West in rushing yards in 2012, finished with 217 yards on 28 carries, and two touchdowns.
Williams, meanwhile, passed for 258 yards by completing 22 of 32 passes. He was also intercepted three times and had no touchdown passes.
The Golden Bears had control of the game right from the opening possession, as they marched 58 yards on seven plays, finishing with Ilnickiās four yard TD run justĀ 1:49Ā into the game, but couldnāt close out the win.
First-year full back Jon Waters made it 14-0 when he barreled in from one yard out at theĀ 8:16Ā mark of the first quarter.
Following an Alberta safety and rouge, Richardson took a play action pass 44 yards to the house early in the second quarter to make the score 22-2. Schwartz then rushed in from nine yards out, and the rout seemed to be on at 29-2.
But, a fumbled punt snap in their own end by Alberta, set up Deschamps for a 38-yard TD run, followed by a 37-yard rouge by Van Gylswyk which made the 29-10 score at half.
The T-Birds cut the score to 29-17 when they recovered another Alberta fumble and turned it into a touchdown, and then drew to within five points, 29-24, after Alberta fumbled the ensuing kick-off which led to another Deschamps TD scamper atĀ 10:37Ā of the third quarter.
Schwartz and Henry followed that up with a 62-yard pass and run touchdown atĀ 1:14Ā of the fourth, but UBC capped off a 12-play 100-yard drive when Williams pulled the QB for the one yard TD plunge to make the score 36-31.
UBCās defence then forced the Bearsā offence into a punting situation deep in their own end, late in the fourth, and with Alberta electing to concede the safety, the Birds got the ball back and drove for the game tying points, which set-up the OT winner.
The Bears remain in Edmonton for their next game when theyāll take on the 0-2 Regina Rams onĀ Saturday, September 14 at 5:00 pm MTĀ at Foote Field. That game will be broadcast live on Shaw TV. UBC, meanwhile, will return to Vancouver to take on the 1-1 Manitoba Bisons.
Game Notes:
Henry had a spectacular home debut for Alberta, finishing with 10 catches for 139 yards and one touchdownā¦ Richardson had four catches for 84 yards and a TD, and he now has over 1,000 receiving yards in his Alberta career…Fifth-year slot back Jess Valleau, playing in his first game back from off-season injury, now has over 1,500 receiving yards as a Bear
Source: Ā Matt Gutsch, University of Alberta Golden Bears Sports Information
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