By Chad Klassen

New quarterback hopes to bring new life to the Kamloops Broncos

Aug 3, 2018 | 9:32 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Broncos come into the new season with lots to prove after back-to-back two-win seasons. A young group returns for Kamloops and they face a stiff test right off the bat with the Okanagan Sun, the one team the Broncos have never defeated in 11 years. 

“It’s going to be an uphill battle. Okanagan did a great job of recruiting this year. I think they’re going to be the class of the league, so it’ll be a good test for us,” said Broncos head coach Brad Yamaoka. “We’re young. We’ve brought in a lot of new players. It’s just going to be a matter of how we can come together as a group. It should be a good game, but it’ll be a challenge.”

One of the young players on the Broncos this season is first-year quarterback Reid Vankoughnett. The 18 year old comes to Kamloops from Winnipeg, encouraged by his older brother Braden, a former All-Star linebacker with the Broncos, to join the team. Reid remembers coming to a couple Broncos games to watch Braden.

“His first season, I came out to visit my grandparents for a few weeks, went on a fishing trip, then ended up seeing one of his games. It was awesome,” said Reid. 

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Reid comes from a football family. Braden played for the Broncos before going to Acadia University in Nova Scotia for two seasons, and his dad Dave played 11 seasons in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a member of the last Grey Cup-winning team in 1990. Dave played his high school football  in Kamloops at Westsyde Secondary.

“He never really forced football upon me. It was really just my choice to play,” noted Reid, who helped his Dakota High School football team win the AAA championship last year. “He was just there, ready to teach me whenever he could. But he played centre and I play quarterback, so there’s a bit of relation there but he couldn’t teach me everything.” 

Reid describes himself as a “pocket passer” but someone who isn’t afraid to scramble when needed. His teammates and coaching staff are excited about his strong arm and calm demeanor under centre. 

“I think he brings calm to the game for us,” said Yamaoka. “He’s a very level-headed kid. Whether he’s freaking out or he’s really happy, I don’t think you’d be able to figure that out one way or another. But at that quarterback position, I think that’s the key. The guys seem to like him and I think he’s a guy that everybody wants to be a friend with.”

Reid hopes to turn the Broncos’ fortunes around this season. 

“Just hoping we can have a winning season this year and bring as much energy and excitement to this team and hopefully get some wins.”

Kick-off between the Broncos and Sun is at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hillside Stadium.