EDMONTON – Second-year Golden Bears running back Matthew Peterson found the end zone three times, leading Alberta to a season-opening 44-19 win over the UBC Thunderbirds, Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.
 
The win was the second-straight for Alberta over UBC, after a 40-20 win in their last meeting in 2019. It also marked the first conference win for the Golden Bears since September 28^th, 2019.
 
Golden Bears starting QB Brad Launhardt finished with 224 passing yards and three touchdowns, as he found Peterson, Dryden Kalesnikoff, and Jonathan Rosery for major scores through the air.
 
First-year Bears quarterback Luke Hornung also found playing time in the third quarter, finishing with 68 total yards and one TD pass. Jonathan Giustini also recorded a pair of field goals, finishing 5/5 on extra point attempts. 

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Hat-trick for Matthew Peterson!! Luke Hornung finds Peterson for a nine-yard TD reception, giving @UABearsFootball a 27-11 lead over UBC!

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— UAlberta Golden Bears & Pandas (@BearsandPandas) September 25, 2021

 
Rookie UBC quarterback Garrett Rooker showed promise in his first career start, finishing with 372 passing yards on 32/45 throwing, tossing for two touchdowns and one interception.
 
While UBC finished the game leading the Bears in both total yards (459-352) and time of possession (34:59), the Thunderbirds were completely undone by penalties and special teams lapses. UBC finished the game with 22 penalties for 179 yards, while six UBC punts netted just 27 yards per kick.
 
The lack of a strong kicking game allowed the Bears to have excellent field position multiple times, leading to major scores.
 
After a slow start, Alberta finally found the end zone midway through the second, when Peterson plunged in for a two-yard rushing score.
 
He added his second TD of the first half just under two minutes later, as Launhardt found the second-year Bears RB for a 10-yard passing score.
 
UBC showed signs of life early in the second half, as Jason Soriano scored the first of his two touchdowns on the day with a 32-yard pass play, before Ben Kolb added a 25-yard field goal.
 
That would be as close as the visitors would get, as Alberta scored the next 16 points to put Saturday's contest out of reach.
 
Peterson scored his third major off a gorgeous pass from Hornung in the third, before Launhardt found Kalesnikoff for a 70-yard passing touchdown late in the quarter.

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What a play from Dryden Kalesnikoff! Brad Launhardt finds #32 for a 70-yard touchdown bomb!

Alberta extends their lead to 36-11! @UABearsFootball pic.twitter.com/5LtHemSdZ1

— UAlberta Golden Bears & Pandas (@BearsandPandas) September 25, 2021

 
Soriano and Rosery had matching receiving scores for each team in the fourth quarter.
 
Alberta will be back in action on Friday night, when the host the 1-0 Manitoba Bisons at Foote Field (7:00 p.m. MT).
 
UBC will host the Saskatchewan Huskies in their home-opener on Friday night in Vancouver.