What a difference a week can make.
There was a somber tone to Blake Nill's media availability following UBC's 37-20 defeat to Regina two weeks ago. The Thunderbirds were only 1-2, but the coach admitted that his squad didn't look like they had the pieces to rifle off four or five consecutive wins just as the 2024 edition of his team had after falling to 0-2 last season.
The night is always darkest just before the dawn. A week later, this past Friday night, UBC eked out a 23-22 victory over Calgary on homecoming night in front of a capacity 7500 fans at Thunderbird Stadium.
The Dinos were a field goal away from a win themselves in the game's dying seconds, but kicker Vince Triumbari couldn't come up clutch at the 39 yard line, sealing Calgary's fate.
Prior to an electric final two minutes of play in the fourth quarter, the meatgrinder of a game looked like it was going to fall the Dinos' way.
Reciever Zion Grant caught a 37 yard pass from David Jordan to put Calgary up 22-14 with five minutes remaining in the fourth. As this season has shown however, nothing is certain with time on the clock in Canada West.
Running back Toluwalope Ayedegbe had a monster game, converting on a three yard pass from Drew Viotto for his second touchdown of the contest to bring UBC within two with 2:11 remaining.
Kieran Flannery-Fleck would make good on a field goal from 17 yards just under 30 seconds later to give the Birds the one point lead.
"Good to be back [in the win column,]" Ayedegbe told OB.SESSED postgame.
"2-2 now, anything can happen, so hey, we're here. That's all that matters, you know? We're here. Canada West — know this — UBC is back up, we're coming, that's all that matters."
Ayedegbe racked up 107 yards on 16 attempts on the night, sparking an otherwise stagnant running game for UBC where offence continues to be an issue.
Calgary narrowly edged UBC in total rushing yards 125-119, but dominated the passing game accumulating 287 yards compared to UBC's 143. Sometimes it just comes down to luck, though.
Dinos' quarterback David Jordan was 21 for 32 on on passes but threw an untimely interception to UBC's Darrien Brown sending Thunderbird stadium into chaos and giving UBC the opportunity to hold Calgary downfield long enough to convert on the eventual game-winning field goal from Fleck.
"I heard a lot of good things about homecoming and the fans definitely showed out, it was awesome," said T-birds quarterback Drew Viotto.
After being benched last game in favour of Derek Engel, Viotto took every snap for UBC after the first quarter, as UBC continues to tinker with their rotation. Viotto was 10 for 19 on passes for 109 yards, and scored the game's first touchdown on a run at the one yard line.
For the first time this season someone other than Kinsale Philip led the Thunderbirds in tackles on defence. Isaiah Cooper had 13 to Philip's 10.
This athletic defensive unit for UBC continues to be their hallmark, and made life on the Dinos hard enough to ensure that Calgary's winless streak in Point Grey going back to 2019 will continue.
"I went through quite a spell without winning in Calgary too," said Blake Nill, tongue in cheek.
"You've got to be your best at home — every year you start the season you say, if we can win at home and find a way to win two on the road, we should host playoffs, right? But it's tough when you fly.
"And so, yeah, they might not have won here for a while, but they're an improving team, and I know right now they're very disappointed. But like us, there's a lot on the line — Honest to God, we just [made] one play, one difference, man."
UBC now begins their first of two straight games on the road against Alberta and Manitoba.
The Golden Bears remain the lone winless team in Canada West, while Manitoba will be hungry for revenge after UBC's victory over the Bisons on opening night. The Dinos head to Saskatchewan to take on the Huskies at Griffiths Stadium.