T-Birds to make the most out of season finale

UBC out of Canada West playoff picture, look to escape basement in standings

The UBC Thunderbirds will try to play spoilers again as they wrap up their Canada West football schedule Saturday.

The T-Birds (2-5) head to Calgary to face the playoff-bound

Dinos (5-2) for their season finale and seek to clutter up the standings — like they did last week when they came from behind to surprise the then-No. 3 nationally ranked Saskatchewan Huskies 38-37 at the University of B.C.

Saskatchewan (4-3) hosts the

Alberta Golden Bears (4-3) on Saturday and the Manitoba Bisons (4-3) are at the Regina Rams (2-5) in the other final-week-of-leagueplay games, so there are various playoff possibilities.

UBC is missing the post-season for the first time in Blake Nill’s five seasons as head coach.

They won the Vanier Cup national title in his first year in 2015.

The T-Birds did show considerable fight against the Huskies, rallying from a 37-25 fourth-quarter deficit.

UBC second-year receiver Jacob Patten finished with 10 catches for 203 yards, including a six-yard touchdown with 4:28 left that cut Saskatchewan’s margin to 37-35.

For that, he was named U Sports national offensive player-of-theweek Wednesday morning.

Third-year kicker Garrin McDonnell connected on an 11-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining for the winning points. It was his fifth field goal in six attempts for the game.

Second-year quarterback Gabe Olivares was 27-of-40 for 376 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

He also rushed for 43 yards on 10 carries.

The Dinos beat the T-Birds 47-13 at the University of B.C. on Sept. 14.