It was The Kick heard around North America. Literally.
In the most viral moment in the University of Calgary athletic history, second-year kicker Niko DiFonte made a 59-yard field goal in the 81st Hardy Cup with zeros on the clock, to give his team one of the most dramatic victories ever seen in Canadian university football.
DiFonte’s legendary kick came in a back and forth shootout between the Dinos and the UBC Thunderbirds. The game was a rematch of the 80th Hardy Cup the previous year, where the Dinos edged UBC in a high scoring affair, 46-43. It was more of the same in the rematch, with both offences putting up a ton of points, and the game most likely coming down to whoever possessed the ball last.
After DiFonte’s fifth field goal of the game put the Dinos up 41-35 with 1:56 remaining, UBC pivot Michael O’Connor led a late touchdown to put the Thunderbirds up with just 16 seconds remaining. Down by just one point, the Dinos gave up a rouge to get the ball on their own 35-yard line, giving themselves one last shot, down 43-41.
“Coach told me the 45, midfield,” said Dinos quarterback Adam Sinagra, reminiscing on the moments leading up to the kick.
With just 16 seconds on the clock, Calgary had just two plays to try and give their kicker a chance. After an 18-yard completion to Tyler Ledwos on the opening play, Sinagra was only able to check it down for a six-yard gain on the following play, leaving the Dinos at the UBC 52-yard line with just two seconds on the clock, setting up the 59-yard kick.
