BURNABY – UBC quarterback Derek Engel scored on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line with 25 seconds left to steal an 18-17 Shrum Bowl victory from Simon Fraser, crushing the spirit of 2,922 mostly Red Leaf fans at SFU Stadium at Terry Fox Field Friday evening.
 
SFU stadium holds 1,823 fans but capacity was expended with on-field student sections behind each endzone to capture the anticipation for the rivalry game.  The first game between the two schools in 12 years came down to the final 96 seconds to determine the winner in the 34^th edition of the classic that was played under American four down rules.
 
The lead changed five different times in the final 30 minutes and SFU appeared headed for a win when it scored the go-ahead touchdown with 96 seconds left.  SFU senior running back Mason Glover punched the ball through the line from two yards out to give the Red Leafs a 16-12 lead, capping an eight-play, 91-yard drive that had the home crowd on their feet, anticipating a fourth straight Shrum Bowl victory.
 

Place kicker Kristie Elliott converted the touchdown to make the score 17-12. She kicked two converts to become the first female to play and score in a Shrum Bowl game.
 
All of that set the stage for Engel. The second-year pivot marched the Thunderbirds 65 yards in 12 plays in the game-winning drive. The game was decided on a fourth-and-10 at the SFU 15-yard line with 37 seconds left. The Thunderbirds came out of a timeout and Engel connected with receiver Lliam Wishart for 14-yards over the middle to the one-yard line and a fresh set of downs. On the very next play Engel took it to the house for the winning score; the 'Birds missed on the two-point convert.

"It came all the way down to fourth down and they just made a big play," said SFU head coach Mike Rigell. "At the end of the day, it's a game about making plays, and they earned the win."

"Our physical presence was there the whole game," said senior defensive back Evan Currie. "Our defence was getting after them the whole game; we just missed a big play at the end when we needed it."

Cornerback Jerrell Cummings gave SFU a chance to win it with eight minutes left. He snuffed out a UBC drive by intercepting an Engel pass at the nine-yard line and the Thunderbirds threatening to score. That turn over ignited the Red Leafs and inspired the offence on its go-ahead drive where Glover scored..
 

Nearly all of the scoring came in the fourth quarter. SFU led 3-0 at the half on a Giovanni Linuzzi 25-yard field goal but trailed 6-3 after three quarters.
 
SFU quarterback Justin Seiber threw a 55-yard bomb to Ethan Beselt, who danced his way into the endzone that put the hosts back in front, 10-6, two minutes into the fourth quarter. The 'Birds grabbed the lead back less than three minutes later on a Dane Kapler 17-yard TD run to put UBC up 12-10 after a failed convert attempt.

There was no shortage of players who left their mark on the game.

The Red Leafs caused numerous turnovers and had big plays throughout. On a second quarter punt, Robert Meadors forced and recovered a fumble at the UBC 37-yard line. SFU's Gideone Kremler had a forced fumble in the third quarter that was recovered by Ishmael Togi. Ryan Barthelson blocked two kicks Friday, stopping the convert on the Thunderbirds' first touchdown, and blocking UBC's field-goal attempt at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Later in the final period, defensive lineman Tank Brewster forced a fumble, sacking Engel in the red zone to keep the game within reach.

Beselt, who led the SFU Red Leafs with seven touchdown receptions and in receiving yards during the season, caught four passes for 106 yards and the one touchdown. Sam Davenport (62 yards), Aidan Pearce (41 yards) and Meadors (24 yards) all had three catches each.
 
Seiber completed 18-of-25 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown. He was under pressure all game, sacked 11 times, three times by Ryan Baker. "They physically dominated us up front," said Rigell. "They were bigger, stronger and physically dominant in the trenches. If you can't win up front, you can't sustain drives. We tried different things but we didn't have an answer for them up front."

Seiber was sacked on two of SFU's first three plays of the game and twice on its final three offensive plays when the Red Leafs were desperately hoping to march down the field in those final 25 seconds.
 

 
Engel finished with 211 yards on 20-of-36 passing, one touchdown and one interception.
 
Established in 1967, the rivalry game between SFU and UBC has been played intermittently over the past 45 years, and last took place in 2010. SFU holds a slight advantage all-time, with a 17-16-1 record in the series.
 

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