Grayson Peters is the only local football player to take part in the U16 Western Challenge this week at Hillside Stadium (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Peters representing Kamloops in U16 Western Challenge

Jul 15, 2019 | 3:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — Grayson Peters recently finished Grade 8 at South Kam Secondary. He is a six-foot, 170 pound offensively lineman, but just 13 years old.

This week, he’s competing in the U16 Western Challenge as part of Team BC.

“It’s really just trying to compete with the guys that are older than me,” said Peters. “Just trying to compete, be at the same level or higher than everybody else because being one of the younger guys, I definitely have something to prove.”

Peters got a look from Team BC thanks to his friendship with the son of former Kamloops Broncos head coach Brad Yamaoka.

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“He was the reason I tried out,” he said. “He basically wants me to go as far as I possibly can in football. He played in the CFL. He knows what it’s like. He thinks I have the talent for it.”

As a younger, undersized offensive lineman, Peters knows he has to be that much more aggressive.

“I am basically the smallest guy on the line being Grade 8, 170 pounds. Then I’m going up against these guys that are 225, 230 (pounds). Definitely try to get out my aggression, just getting off the line, attacking those guys, trying to drive them back.”

For a game that has lost its luster in Kamloops, the hope is the U16 Western Challenge can get more kids into the sport.

“An event like this can just raise awareness for football, especially in Kamloops because it’s kind of dying right now,” noted Peters. “But I’m just hoping some kids come out and watch this with their parents and say ‘oh, I want to try this.'”

B.C. plays Alberta on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Hillside Stadium. The earlier game is at 4:00 p.m. between Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The winners play in the gold-medal game on Thursday at 7:00, while the losers play for bronze in the earlier 4:00 p.m. time slot.