By Canadian Press

Underdahl returns from injury to lead Calgary into Vanier Cup with win over St.FX

Nov 19, 2016 | 5:15 PM

CALGARY — Quarterback Jimmy Underdahl returned from injury in the second half to throw two touchdowns and lead the Calgary Dinos to a 50-24 victory over the St.FX X-Men on Saturday in the Mitchell Bowl.

Calgary will face the Laval Rouge et Or in the 52nd Vanier Cup next Saturday at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Laval beat the Laurier Golden Hawks 36-6 in the Uteck Bowl earlier in the day.

Underdahl has been sidelined for the past five weeks with a knee injury but came back to complete 11-of-16 passes for 217 yards and an interception. The senior QB also earned Mitchell Bowl MVP honours.

“I said it when I first injured myself that I’m not going to let this end my career and I’m happy that I was able to get back,” Underdahl said. “I think I played pretty well and the whole team played great.”

Adam Sinagra started the game in place of Underdahl and was 17-of-27, for 234 yards and one TD. Sinagra connected with defensive lineman Joel Van Pelt for a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

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“I didn’t even have a celebration ready because I never thought it was going to happen, so it was pretty awesome,” Van Velt said while grinning ear-to-ear.

It didn’t take Underdahl long to knock off the rust after entering the game. The Calgary native led the Dinos down the field on a one minute 52 second, 85-yard drive, capping it off with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Karl.

“We knew we wanted to play Jimmy at some point during the game it was just a matter of when we were going to do that,” Dinos head coach Wayne Harris Jr. said. “We talked about bringing him mid-second quarter to get his feet wet then we discussed it again at halftime and made the decision to get him into some game action.”

Harris Jr. said that he was happy with how both his quarterbacks played and that he’d likely wait until a day or so before the Vanier Cup to name his starting quarterback.

Calgary also entered the game without leading rusher Bryce Harper and top receiver Austen Hartley. But Harris Jr. isn’t using his team’s injury woes to paint his squad as an underdog against a powerhouse Laval squad.

“I don’t believe in that (underdog role) a whole lot. I think that you can fall into bad thoughts that way,” Harris Jr. said. “I think we just got to go in knowing that if we play, we can compete and in a national championship anything can happen.

“I don’t know how many personnel we’ve lost throughout the season, but it’s got to be the most in my coaching career.”

Jack McDonald caught the other TD while Jeshrun Antwi and Cole Kussmann ran in touchdowns for the No. 6 Dinos.

Calgary kicker Niko DiFonte added field goals of 41, 41 and 25 yards.

X-Men quarterback Tivon Cook connected with Dejaun Martin for two TDs. Cook finished the game 23 for 43 for 254 yards and an interception.

Jonathan Heidebrecht had three field goals from 15, 16 and 37 yards for No. 10 St.FX.

Ian Esplen, The Canadian Press

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