The UBC Thunderbirds have moved up four spots in the U Sports football rankings after finishing first place in Canada West for the first time since 1999.
The team beat the Alberta Golden Bears by a score of 23-10 this past weekend at Foote Field in Edmonton. Garrett Rooker threw for 178 yards and one touchdown, while Isaiah Knight ran for 128 yards and one score. UBC’s defence was dominant as the Golden Bears managed only 90 yards through the air and Matthew Peterson, the second-leading rusher in the country, was held to 102 yards along the ground.
The victory moved UBC into first place with a 6-2 record, marking the club’s highest single-season win total since 2017. Alberta came into the contest at 6-1 but finished second in the conference following the loss. The Golden Bears plummetted in the rankings following the loss, falling from No. 6 to No. 10. The Thunderbirds will host the Manitoba Bisons in the Canada West semifinal round this week, while Alberta will host the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The Queen’s Golden Gaels moved up from No. 7 to No. 6 after defeating the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA conference quarterfinals. The club’s defence has allowed only 51 points during their five-game winning streak, while Jared Chisari continues to be a workhorse as he carried the ball 28 times for 140 yards in the victory.
The top five spots in the rankings remained unchanged, while the Saskatchewan Huskies and Windsor Lancers held firm at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively.
Click here for a full recap of this past weekend’s U Sports action and here for a preview of this week’s playoff games.
No. 1 Western Mustangs
No. 2 Montreal Carabins
No. 3 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
No. 4 Laval Rouge et Or
No. 5 St. FX X-Men
No. 6 Queen’s Golden Gaels
No. 7 UBC Thunderbirds
No. 8 Saskatchewan Huskies
No. 9 Windsor Lancers
No. 10 Alberta Golden Bears
