VANCOUVER – The Alberta Golden Bears managed to exact some vengeance with a 42-28 victory over the host UBC Thunderbirds in their 2024 Canada West season opener Friday night.

Trailing 13-11 at the half, Alberta outscores UBC 31-15 in the second, leading by as many as 22 in the fourth quarter. The win snaps a five-game UBC win streak over Alberta, which included a 28-27 win in the 86th Hardy Cup last November. It is also the Bears first win in Vancouver since 2019. 

Along with a 32-22 advantage in first downs, the Bears added three sacks and one interception in the victory.

Alberta struck first to open scoring late in the first when Bears quarterback Eli Hetlinger – hit as he threw – managed to find Orrin Schellenberg in the far corner of the end zone.

UBC took absolutely no time in responding as on the T-Birds' first play from scrimmage on their ensuing possession, Garrett Rooker connected with Mark Webb for an 89-yard touchdown to level the score at 7-7 on the longest UBC reception in nine years.

Rooker finished the game with an impressive 25-for-34 with 375 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. Hetlinger missed only five of his pass attempts on the night going 17-for-22 with 248 yards and two TDs.

After trading field goals along with an Alberta punt single, the Bears held an 11-10 lead late in the second quarter until Kieran Flannery-Fleck punched through an 18-yard kick with no time on the clock to put UBC up by two.

The 'Birds marched down into the red zone in the dying moments of the opening 30, capping off the drive with an 18-yard Flannery-Fleck field goal to head into the break with a 13-11 advantage.

Justin Giustini kicked off – quite literally – Alberta's mammoth third quarter with a 48-yard field goal to push ahead 14-11, a lead the Bears would never relinquish.

On their next drive, Hetlinger connected with Chevy Thomas for a 61-yard catch and run as the fourth-year receiver turned on the jets and scampered straight for the end zone, just crossing the line while being tackled.

With two minutes remaining in the third, the Bears found themselves knocking on the door once again. On second and goal from the one, receiver Erik Torjhelm lined up under centre and ran wide and across the line to open up a two-possession Golden Bears lead, 28-13 following the convert.

Not to be outdone and with plenty of work left ahead, Rooker and the UBC offence responded in a big way to begin the final quarter. On second-and-long just across midfield, Rooker found his favourite 2023 target in Davenport who reeled in a perfectly placed 48 yard pass, down to the Alberta four. Isaiah Knight finished off the drive on the next play for his first touchdown rush of the season. Flannery-Fleck's convert reduced the UBC deficit to 28-20 still with most of the final frame remaining.

Once again, however, Alberta responded, restoring their 15-point lead on an efficient 84-yard drive capped off with a 13-yard Ope Oshinubi run.
That Bears defence showed itself again midway through the fourth when Giustini, in his defensive back role, intercepted Rooker at the Alberta 53-yard line, returning it back well into UBC territory giving Hetlinger instant field position in an attempt to seal away the victory. The Bears were able to do just that when Torhjelm once again lined up for a direct snap and ran in for his second score of the game. Giustini's convert pushed the visitors' lead to 42-20 with just under five minutes to go.

Starting the season with a loss for the first time in three years, the game was also UBC's first home loss since week four of the 2022 season.

Mark Webb finished the game with a whopping 168 yards receiving, tops among both teams wide outs. Davenport collected 104 while Chevy Thomas led the Bears with 135 yards.

Isaiah Knight's 89 yards rushing easily led UBC's ground attack while Matthew Peterson racked up 117 to lead Alberta.

The 'Birds will lick their wounds and quickly regroup for another home battle next Friday, September 6 when the Manitoba Bisons pay their lone visit of the season to Thunderbird Stadium.

Alberta will host the Calgary Dinos (0-1) for their home opener next Friday at Foote Field.