Second year player Casey Powell scored his first touchdown as a member of the Broncos this year.

Kevin McBain
of The Clarion

Three former members of the Kindersley Kobras football team competed with the Kamloops Broncos of the Canadian Junior Football League this season.

Derek Walde, Casey Powell and Riley McLean each played for the team that finished the year with a 2-8 record.

Walde, in his fourth season with the Broncos has now started more than 40 consecutive games at centre and was recognized for his efforts once again this season, earning the team’s offensive lineman of the year award for the second straight season.

Rookie Riley McLean had a good season with the Broncos this year.

Walde also won the award last season, when he was also named to the BCFC all-star team.

“I’ve put in a lot of hours watching tape and getting better each season and it is great to be recognized,” he said.

Walde is taking his Bachelor of Arts with a major in history and minor in Math at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.

He hopes next year to be back in Kamloops playing football for the Broncos for a fifth and final year.

Following this, he hopes to work towards getting his education degree.

Kamloops just won two of 10 games this year and finished in fifth place in the six-team league. However, Walde said that his team was in a lot of close games that could have gone either way.

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One of the highlights of the season was being able to do some blocking paving the way for a running back to garner a touchdown.

He also said that in the final game he was able to switch things up, as did a number of players, and play a different position. He was able to try his hand at being a defensive lineman for the first time.

When not delving into his studies or playing football, he has enjoyed coaching high school football.

Derek Walde receiving his top offensive lineman award from Coach Brad Yamaoka.

Powell, Walde’s roommate, who was playing in his second season with the team, said that he had a pretty good season at the linebacker position and even scored his first touchdown. He picked up a fumble, jarred loose by one of his team-mates and ran the ball in from 25 yards – a play that made the CJFL Plays of the Week.

He also said that the team had a bit of a rough year, but they were in a lot of the games that they lost.

He hopes to be heading back for another season next year.

McLean, in his first season with the team, said that he enjoyed playing at this level. He worked at playing guard beside Walde and playing a little bit at the centre position.

He said that he enjoyed the season.

“It was fun. It was a good change,” he said. “It was way more intense than high school.”

He said that the whole season was a highlight for him, but especially enjoyed it when they were able to beat up on the Valley Huskers twice this season.

He said that he is definitely considering playing a second season with the Broncos.

For now, Walde is continuing his studies in Kamloops and Powell and McLean are both helping to coach their old team, the Kobras, on their path towards the provincial playoffs!

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© Kindersley Clarion