No. 3 Dinos wrap up first-ever undefeated season (VIDEO HILITES)

CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos were able to accomplish a first in program history Friday night, wrapping up an 8-0 record with a 34-17 win over the UBC Thunderbirds at McMahon Stadium.

BOXSCORE

The undefeated season – a first in program history – comes after the team lost two-thirds of its starting lineup and played the bulk of the season without the reigning conference MVP, Eric Dzwilewski. It’s an incredible accomplishment for a team full of youth, and it was sophomore tailback Mercer Timmis that carried the team to victory one more time Friday night.

Timmis ran the ball 23 times for 184 yards and one touchdown to lead the Calgary offence Friday night to all but wrap up the national rushing crown with 1,183 yards on the season, the third-best campaign in school history. He extended his conference and school single-season touchdown record to 19, and it would require a massive performance in action elsewhere in the nation Saturday for him to be caught for the 2013 CIS rushing crown.

A proud Dinos head coach Blake Nill was hardpressed to explain his team’s surprising success this year as they head back to the playoffs in search of a sixth consecutive conference title and that still-elusive Vanier Cup.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Nill on the field after the game. “I can’t describe how this happens. Realistically you look at the changes we had to make the amount of the responsibility to put on such an inexperienced kids, whether they’re first year or returning players…to have them respond like that just shows the quality of this team. No matter what happens in the playoffs, this will help us in future years.”

Calgary didn’t take long to score in this one, driving 75 yards downfield on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead on Andrew Buckley’s touchdown pass to fullback Mac Sarro.

After a 42-yard UBC field goal and the teams traded rouges, UBC passer Greg Bowcott found David Scott in the end zone from 17 yards out to give the Thunderbirds the lead at 11-8 on their best drive of the night. Just over three minutes later, however, Timmis’s 19^th touchdown of the year put the Dinos ahead for good at 15-11, and Jake Harty caught another Buckley pass and took it to the house before the end of the half, giving Calgary a 22-11 advantage at half time.

A low-scoring third quarter saw just four points put on the board: another single by UBC along with a 21-yard Johnny Mark field goal for the Dinos. Quinn Van Gylswyk split the uprights for a second time early in the fourth from 28 yards out to bring UBC within 10 points, but that was as close as they would get as Buckley ran untouched into the end zone from four yards out.

The teams traded safeties in the final half of the quarter to round out the scoring.

Buckley, who was thrust into the starter’s role the last time these two teams met on the first day of the season because of the injury to Eric Dzwilewski, completed 17 of 24 passes for 228 yards and two majors – another solid effort from the third-year pivot.

“We knew Andrew was a quality quarterback,” said Nill, “but people don’t realize that he had to change his role, he had to change his mindset on what his responsibility was. He was used to coming off the bench finishing games or going in unique situations – but he had to become a starter, to prepare like a starter. For him to be able to transition to that role speaks volumes about the kind of young man this kid is again he deserves a ton of credit.”

His top target was Harty, who hauled in five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

For the Thunderbirds, running back Brandon Deschamps had another outstanding outing with 20 carries for 161 yards, finishing the season just behind Timmis in most rushing categories, including breaking the 1,000-yard barrier. Bowcott completed 16 of 33 passes for 224 yards and a major, while Carson Williams threw just two passes – one for a 37-yard completion to Micha Theil. Theil was the Thunderbirds’ leading receivier with seven catches for 110 yards on the night.

The Dinos will enjoy home field advantage throughout the Canada West playoffs and will host a semi-final next Saturday, Nov. 2. Kickoff will go at 3 p.m. MT – likely against these very same UBC Thunderbirds. The final playoff positioning will be determined with the final two games in the conference on Saturday.

A young Calgary squad now faces the challenge of the postseason – a challenge Nill will lean on his coaching staff to help his team prepare for.

“As coaches it’s our responsibility to make sure we carry the burden of this playoff preparation,” said Nill. “We’re the guys with experience, we’re the guys that know how to handle the situation and I’m looking at all my coaches, myself included, to  make sure that we do everything possible to our kids fired up ready to go to get into the play without stress come next week.”

 

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

CGY – Mac Sarro 10 yard TD catch from Andrew Buckley (Johnny Mark convert), 3:19, 7-0 CGY

UBC – Quinn Van Gylswyk 42 yard FG, 5:28, 7-3 CGY

UBC – Quinn Van Gylswyk 85 yard kickoff single, 5:41, 7-4 CGY

 

2^nd Quarter

CGY – Johnny Mark 49-yard punt single, 4:21, 8-4 CGY

UBC – David Scott 17-yard TD catch from Greg Bowcott (Quinn Van Gylswyk convert), 5:41, 11-8 UBC

CGY – Mercer Timmis 4-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 9:11, 15-11 CGY

CGY – Jake Harty 8-yard TD catch from Andrew Buckley (Johnny Mark convert), 14:25, 22-11 CGY

 

3^rd Quarter

UBC – Quinn Van Gylswyk 54-yard punt single, 3:16, 22-12 CGY

CGY – Johnny Mark 21-yard field goal, 14:10, 25-12 CGY

 

4^th Quarter

UBC – Quinn Van Gylswyk 28-yard field goal, 3:02, 25-15 CGY

CGY – Andrew Buckley 4-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 6:14, 32-15 CGY

UBC – TEAM safety, 8:33, 32-17 CGY

CGY – TEAM safety, 13:34, 34-17 CGY

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Calgary, AB – In a possible opening round playoff preview, the #3 Calgary Dinos (8-0) defeated the UBC Thunderbirds (4-3) 34-17 Friday night at McMahon. With the win, the Dinos completed their first perfect regular season in school history.

In a game which featured the top two running backs in the country, they did not disappoint. In the end it was Calgary’s Mercer Timmis outdueling UBC’s Brandon Deschamps. Timmis ran for 184 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown, while Deschamps racked up 161 yards on 20 carries in a losing cause.

The Thunderbirds hung tough with the #3 ranked Dinos, but in the end costly mistakes were the difference. The turning point came late in the first half with the Thunderbirds trailing 15-11 and driving in Calgary territory when Micha Theil fumbled. It was recovered by the Dinos on their own 44 yard line. They would march the length of the field in just over a minute as Andrew Buckley hooked up with Jake Harty on an eight-yard touchdown catch to put the home side in front 22-11 with 35 seconds left in the half.

The third quarter saw neither offence find their groove, the ‘Birds managed a single while the Dinos put up a field goal to lead 25-12 with one quarter left to play.

After a field goal got UBC within 10 points, Buckley would put it out of reach, punching it in from four yards out to give Calgary a 32-15 lead. Both teams would surrender safeties late to make it 34-17 final.

Calgary started the game with a bang, scoring on the opening drive on a Mac Sarro touchdown grab to go ahead 7-0.

Quinn Van Gylswyk responded with a 42 yard FG and a safety off the ensuing kickoff to cut the lead to 7-4 after one quarter of play.

UBC took the lead early in the second quarter as David Scott caught a 17 yard touchdown strike from Greg Bowcott capping off a four play, 75 yard drive, giving the Thunderbirds a 11-8 lead.

The Dinos responded immediately courtesy of Timmis. He scored his league leading and Canada West record setting 19th touchdown of the season to put Calgary back in front 15-11.

With the 161 yards on the ground today, Brandon Deschamps went over 1000 yards for the season finishing with 1,007 yards in seven games, averaging 144 yards per game on the ground.

UBC will now sit and wait to see where who they will be playing in the opening round of the playoffs next week. If Saskatchewan and Manitoba both win tomorrow, they will play Calgary. If Manitoba wins and Saskatchewan loses, they will play in Calgary. If Saskatchewan wins and Manitoba loses, they will play in Saskatchewan. If both Saskatchewan and Manitoba lose they will play Calgary.

Photo credit:  Rick Lam

Source:  UBC Thunderbirds Sports Information