September 1,2019 Vancouver, BC (ISN) – The UBC Thunderbirds dropped their home opener in front of 3711 cheering football fans as the Regina Rams dominated 46-16 to spoil the T-Birds game one start to the 2019 Canada West Football season.
UBC would look every bit the winning part to open the game as starting freshman pivot Tommy Yanchuk would march his team down field on their second possession of the game, scoring on a QB keeper from twenty yards out to seemingly set the tone.
Regina’s QB Josh Donnelly would smartly reply, taking his team 87 yards down field with the help of two back-to- back major penalties, to match UBC’s TD with a one-yard run by Sam Varao, his first of three majors in the game.
Regina jumped out to a commanding 31-7 lead at the half on TD’s by Varao (1 yd. run), Ryan Schienbein ( 6 yard pass reception ) , and another goal line rush for a TD by Varao, his third of the half. Rams’ Aldo Galvan would also connect for his team, kicking a 43-yard field goal.
Although showing individual signs of football athleticism, the Thunderbirds could not find an offensive finish to their game despite 303 yards net total offense as the Rams smothering defensive would keep UBC away from the red zone much of the game. The Rams keeping pressure on the T-Birds offensive line much of the second half, would find UBC’s back field five times to bring QB Yanchuk down.
The Thunderbirds would be the benefactor of a Regina safety to start the third quarter with the game all but out of range. Rams’ Donnelly would continue to roll despite the comfortable lead. Perhaps taking advantage of a down and out UBC defense, Donnelly would throw a seventy-five-yard strike over an unsuspecting T-Bird defense secondary to receiver Riley Boersma for a 39-9 score.
UBC would find a glimmer of life early in the fourth quarter, despite the score, when Yanchuck would march his team 75 yards down field in three plays and throw a nineteen-yard pass to Jacob Patten to put their first earned points to the board since nine minute of the first quarter of play to advance the score 39-16.
Rams’ running back Trey Campbell, used mid-fourth quarter, would take the ball twenty yards out of the back field for the major to round out the scoring, giving the Rams a convincing 46-16 win.
Rams’QB Josh Donnelly would finish the game throwing for 377 yards and 2 TD’s. Sam Varao 3 TD’s. Receiver Riley Boersma would pull in the ball for 103 net yards, 1TD. Kyle Moortgat would receive the ball for 90 yards. Lineman Josh White and Ryder Varga would each share Rams defensive honors with eight tackles each.
UBC’s Tommy Yanchuk would throw for 248 yards, 1 TD, 1 rushing TD. Receiver Jacob Patten would catch for 86 yards, 1TD. Lineman Ben Hladik would be a defensive force in the loss with a game high 10 tackles. Bashiru Sis-Odaa would assist with nine tackles on his own.
The UBC Thunderbirds will next travel to Saskatoon September 6thto take on the 0-1 Huskies, while Regina will return home to take on the 0-1 Alberta Golden Bears
