FB: T-Birds get clutch performances in finale

November 8, 2021

VANCOUVER - UBC Thunderbirds teammates Isaiah Knight and Owen Brown received Canada West Player of the Week honours after helping lead UBC to a playoff spot with a win in the Thunderbirds season finale.

The two T-Birds were recognized along with Saskatchewan's Clovis Lumeka with the conference's weekly awards on Monday.

Knight is the conference's Offensive Player of the week after racking up 146 yards on 23 carries in UBC's 30-27 win over Alberta on Saturday. The Ottawa, Ont. product scored a pair of touchdowns in the game that saw the Thunderbirds lock up fourth-place in the conference standings.

Knight, a first-year running back, finished the season as the Canada West's leading rusher, with 626 yards in six games.

Making his first appearance in a game this season, UBC's Owen Brown certainly made his mark on the Canada West season. The first-year kicker connected on a 34-yard field goal attempt with just seconds remaining, to give the Thunderbirds the victory on Saturday.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after going a perfect three-for-three on the day, hitting on field goals of 27, 16 and 34 yards, respectively.

Fifth-year Saskatchewan defensive back Clovis Lumeka is the Defensive Player of the Week after leading a Huskies defensive unit that gave the Calgary Dinos all sorts of troubles in Saturday's 31-23 win. Lumeka recorded his first interception of the year, returning it 31-yards, to go along with a sack and 4.5 tackles. In addition to his defensive efforts, the Abbotsford, B.C. product also scooped up a blocked Dinos punt in the end zone for a score of his own.

The matchups for the 2021 Hardy Cup playoffs are set with the top-seed Saskatchewan Huskies hosting the fourth-place UBC Thunderbirds Saturday at 1:00 p.m. CST, and the second-seed Manitoba Bisons playing host to the third-place finishers, the Alberta Golden Bears, at 4:00 p.m. CST.

Both games are featured on the Canada West Football Showcase with fans able to watch the games live on SaskTel, TELUS, and Canada West TV Presented by Co-op.

OFFENCE: RB - Isaiah Knight

  • UBC Thunderbirds
  • 1st-year
  • Ottawa, Ont.
  • Arts
  • STATS: 23 carries / 146 yards / 2 touchdowns

DEFENCE: DB - Clovis Lumeka

  • Saskatchewan Huskies
  • 5th-year
  • Abbotsford, B.C.
  • Arts & Science
  • STATS: 4.5 tackles / 1 sack / 1 interception / 1 touchdown (special teams)

SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Owen Brown

  • UBC Thunderbirds
  • 1st-year
  • Winnipeg, Man.
  • Business
  • STATS: 3/3 FG / GW FG with 18 seconds remaining / 3/3 XP