The UBC Thunderbirds are heading back to the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2015 after defeating the St. FX X-Men in the Mitchell Bowl by a score of 47-17.
Hardy Cup hero Sam Davenport was active once again, hauling in eight receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns — including a diving 11-yard grab to open the scoring. Garrett Rooker found running back Dane Kapler for a 10-yard major later in the first, setting the stage for a 303-yard, four-touchdown performance in which he threw just four incompletions and earned the game’s offensive MVP award.
St. FX held the home team to just a seven-point lead at the half thanks to a Silas Fagnan touchdown run, but the floodgates opened early in the third quarter. UBC defensive back Max Kennedy picked off Fagnan on the first play from scrimmage, setting up a toe-tapping touchdown catch from Shemar McBean. The defence forced another two-and-out on the ensuing series, resulting in a 60-yard return touchdown from first-year receiver Cesare Rednour-Bruckman.
The X-Men received their own fortuitous bounce late in the frame, as a blow from Jay Turnsek popped the ball loose from UBC running back Toluwalope Ayedegbe and into the arms of Brandyn Martin for a 22-yard defensive score. The shift in momentum was short-lived, as UBC barred the door defensively for the entire second half and Davenport opened the fourth quarter with his second score.
AUS MVP Silas Fagnan was held completely in check by a swarming Thunderbirds’ defence, completing 16-of-31 passes for 195 yards and three interceptions. Star running back Malcolm Bussey was no more effective, carrying 10 times for 49 yards.
Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown was named the game’s defensive MVP after collecting eight tackles and a sack. Clark Leonard and Mitchell Townsend also got home on Fagnan, while Kennedy, Ben Sangmuah, and Kaden Cook had interceptions. Ryan Baker forced and recovered a fumble.
UBC’s last victory over St. FX came in the 2015 national semi-final. The school claimed its fourth-ever Vanier Cup victory the following week, defeating the Montreal Carabins 26-23.
The Thunderbirds will once again face off against the Carabins for the national title on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Richardson Memorial Stadium in Kingston, Ont. Montreal stunned the Western Mustangs 29-3 in the Uteck Bowl earlier on Saturday.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”553670″ site_id=”3downnation”]
