UBC quarterback Rooker appears to maneuver additional down comeback path with residence opener

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To know Garrett Rooker’s upside, think about that the UBC Thunderbirds quarterback was 19-of-25 for 305 yards and one landing final week and coach Blake Nill insists he’s “nonetheless getting his groove again.”

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Rooker helped UBC to a 25-10 win over the host Regina Rams to kick off the Canada West soccer season, and he will probably be on the controls Saturday (1 p.m.) for the house opener at Thunderbird Stadium towards the Calgary Dinos. 

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There was doubt for a while that the third-year pivot could be seeing sport motion at this early juncture within the season after the 6-foot-3, 205-pound League Metropolis, Tex. native suffered a posterior hip dislocation with a fracture throughout an Oct. 22 match-up final season at Thunderbird towards the Saskatchewan Huskies.

“He’s just a little rusty,” Nill mentioned of Rooker, the 2021 Canada West rookie of the 12 months who has now thrown for 3,479 yards and 15 touchdowns in his 15 profession begins with UBC. 

“Final week, he missed a few throws in the long run zone. He could make these throws and as his confidence turns into much less and fewer of a difficulty, he’s going to be nice.”

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This can be a UBC workforce that feels it may make performs in all sides all around the subject this 12 months. They’re overtly speaking about contending for a Vanier Cup nationwide title. They’ve had gamers resembling offensive linemen Theo Benedet and Giovanni Manu pull out of this most up-to-date CFL Draft and return to high school with that particularly in thoughts. Nill has mentioned that the pair are getting NFL curiosity as nicely.

The T-Birds remained at No. 9 on this week’s U Sport nationwide rankings. Saskatchewan is the highest Canada West workforce at No. 3. The Laval Rouge et Or are No. 1. 

Nill has seen up shut what chasing a Vanier Cup takes. He began out as a head coach with the Saint Mary’s Huskies in 1998 and did a stint with Calgary earlier than shifting into UBC. Nill has coached in eight Vanier Cups and been on the profitable aspect thrice, together with in his inaugural 12 months with the T-Birds in 2015. That was UBC’s fourth Vanier Cup and first since 1997.

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“Now we have to maintain shifting in a path the place we’re working laborious, we’re emotionally invested and we’re making good choices,” Nill mentioned. “That’s a tricky half with this contemporary day youth, that attempting to maintain them focussed on the elemental expertise wanted for fulfillment.

“They’ve aspirations however they’ve by no means actually confirmed it. Proper now, it’s only a imaginative and prescient. I’m attempting to direct them with what has labored with me prior to now. There are positively good indications that it’s working but it surely’s a piece in progress.”

Calgary options 16 B.C. natives and the workforce is coming off a 33-9 setback to the visiting Alberta Golden Bears final week. Nill has been warning his crew about sleeping on the Dinos all week. Calgary has dominated the head-to-head match-up over the long term. UBC’s 39-29 win in Calgary final season ended a 10-game Dino profitable streak within the sequence that dated again to 2016. 

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“In Canada West, any workforce might be defeated by another workforce on any given weekend relying on who reveals up dedicated and who doesn’t,” Nill mentioned.

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Third-year kicker Kieran Flannery-Fleck was 6-for-6 on subject targets towards Regina, with the longest of 38 yards. Third-year operating again Isaiah Knight had 20 carries for 100 yards to go together with three catches for 40 yards. 

The B.C. Lions are the presenting sponsor for the sport and anybody attending receives a hyperlink to a $20 ticket to the Lions’ Oct. 6 sport towards the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As nicely, the Lions’ merchandize truck will probably be at Thunderbird Stadium, as will the Lions dance workforce. 

Saturday is the primary of three straight at residence for the T-Birds. The Manitoba Bisons are subsequent up, with a Sept. 16 go to to Thunderbird Stadium. The Canada West Hardy Cup semifinals are set for Nov. 4. The Vanier Cup is Nov. 25 in Kingston, Ont., hosted by Queen’s.

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UBC completed 7-5 final season and misplaced 23-8 to Saskatchewan within the Canada West Hardy Cup championship sport. They have been 3-4 in 2021 after falling 39-17 to Saskatchewan within the Hardy Cup semifiinals.

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