In this photo: Kamloops Broncos’ receiver Devin Csincsa makes the catch and turns upfield against the Valley Huskers of Chilliwack at Hillside Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20. For more photos, see slideshow below. Allen Douglas/KTW
When defensive lineman Kyle Crall forced a Valley Huskers fumble with 1:36 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Kamloops Broncos recovered and their fans could finally be assured of victory.
Kamloops let Valley hang around but, in the end, moved to 6-2 with a 23-14 triumph over the visitors from Chilliwack on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Hillside Stadium in front of 651 fans.
“The effort was there, but we came out extremely flat at the beginning of the game,” said Broncos’ head coach Duncan Olthuis, who credited Valley for its spirited effort.
“It’s always tough with the third matchup with these teams. It’s tough to get the guys up. We didn’t come out prepared.”
Kamloops had already twice beaten Valley, which was winless at 0-7 heading into the game, and it seemed the home team’s guard was down in the first quarter.
Valley running back Benedict Muhima was dominant before leaving the game with an injury.
He rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown and Valley held a 12-4 lead before Kamloops quarterback Stephen Schuweiler connected with receiver Devin Csincsa on a touchdown pass with time winding down in the first quarter.
“On defence, the start was ugly,” Olthuis said. “I didn’t like how Valley marched the ball on us, but the guys tightened stuff up.”
Too many Broncos’ drives stalled deep in Huskers’ territory on Saturday night and, if it weren’t for several defensive stands by a Kamloops unit that congealed in the second half, including one on the goal line late in the third quarter, Valley might have went home victorious.
“We cannot be kicking field goals, especially against Okanagan and Vancouver Island, if we expect to win,” Schuweiler said.
The Broncos’ pivot, who will likely have the reins the rest of the way, had an up-and-down game.
He completed 21 of 34 passes for 260 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception, the pick leading to a Valley score on the very next play.
Schuweiler also fumbled in the Huskers’ red zone early in the second quarter and Valley recovered.
On defence, Kyle Richardson had a team-high six tackles for the Broncos and Chris Rosa had an interception.
Colin Mather came up with a big play on special teams, intercepting a pass when the Huskers faked a punt in the third quarter.
Valley receiver Tyron Ledingham gave the Broncos’ secondary fits, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound wideout finishing with 112 yards on seven catches.
Jacob Palmarin led the Kamloops rushing attack with 67 yards on 11 carries and Csincsa was the Broncos’ top receiver, catching three passes for 74 yards and one major.
Derek Yachison racked up 66 yards receiving on six catches, including one of the highlight-reel variety in the fourth quarter.
In the second quarter, Jesse Neufeld caught Schuweiler’s second TD pass.
Broncos’ kicker Aaron Smit was good on three of four field-goal attempts and tacked on a rouge.
Kamloops can place no lower than third in the BCFC and will finish with a winning record for the first time in franchise history.
The Okanagan Sun of Kelowna are atop league standings at 7-1 and the Broncos and Langley Rams are tied for second at 6-2.
With the top two teams set to host playoff games, a first-ever post-season matchup at Hillside is not out of the question, although it is a long shot.
Should the Rams and Broncos finish with matching records, Langley holds the tiebreaker, having walloped Kamloops 70-24 on Aug. 31.
Langley finishes the campaign with games against the Sun in Kelowna and Valley in Chilliwack.
The Broncos are hosting the Vancouver Island Raiders (3-5) of Nanaimo at Hillside on Saturday, Sept. 27, before wrapping the regular season against hometown Okanagan on Oct. 5.
Game time on Saturday is 7 p.m.
Kamloops’ detractors will say the team’s record is inflated by victories, all six of them, over the league’s weaker teams, in Valley and Westshore of Langford.
Bronco backers will argue the wins have mostly been of the convincing variety and it’s clear the squad has taken a step forward in 2014, separating itself from the Rebels and Huskers.
Beating Vancouver Island on Saturday would go a long way in legitimizing the Tournament Capital’s BCFC squad and it would keep afloat its hopes of hosting a home playoff game.
“When game day comes around, we’ve got to make sure we put it all together,” Crall said.
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