Note to BC Football Conference schedule makers — if you could just schedule the Valley Huskers versus the Kamloops Broncos 10 times next year, that’d be good.
Thanks.
The Huskers and Broncos squared off Saturday night at Hilltop Stadium in Kamloops. Seven days earlier, the teams had played to a 29-29 tie in Chilliwack in a game that was hugely entertaining.
The rematch was just as good, with the Huskers prevailing 33-30.
Chilliwack led 16-8 at halftime and 29-16 through three quarters, then hung on at the end.
A Dan Erickson field goal was the difference as the Huskers improved to 1-1-1.
Based purely on the numbers, Kamloops should have run away with this one.
The Broncos rolled up 435 yards of net offence.
Kamloops QB Connor Whitelaw completed 16 of 39 passes for 262 yards, with TD tosses to Derek Yachison, Sean Poeppel and Devin Csincsca.
Bronco running backs rumbled for 178 yards on 32 carries (5.56 average), with Sheldon Brown finding the endzone on one of his runs.
On the flipside, the Huskers generated just 222 yards.
Cody Parray completed 13 passes for 167 yards.
Dylan Boykowich caught five for 100 yards and two touchdowns, topping the century mark for the second time in three outings this year.
The Husker running game fizzled, averaging a tepid 2.33 yards per carry on 27 rushes for 63 yards. Ty Derayos led the ground game with 14 carries for 50 yards and a major.
Erickson was one of the difference makers. The reigning BCFC special teams player of the week nailed three of his four field goal attempts, including a 45 yarder.
It was Calgary’s Samuel-Matuet Buomkuoth who turned in the play of the game, returning a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown.
“Our defence stopped them when we needed to, our offence was able to convert in the red zone and our special teams continued the great effort that they had last week,” said Husker head coach Tyson St. James said afterwards. “But we had a lot of penalties that we need to clean up, and our defense will be working on protecting the lead.”