St. Mary's banquet centre was packed yet again, people everywhere, every table sold out ages ago. Among the highlights of the evening was a speech by Saskatchewan Roughrider and former California University of Pennsylvania running back Wes Cates.
"It was a huge success," claims Roby Sharpe, president of Yorkton Minor Football.
Each year, it takes the work of nearly 15 people to get the banquet planned, organized and set up on the night.
"You don't pull off an event like that without (the help) of lots of people."
Including Wes Cates who headlined the event, other speakers included Jordan Matechuk.
"It was really good," said Sharpe. "Our organizing committee does a lot of work. Hats off to them. They know how to get things done."
Football Night in Saskatchewan is the annual event held to raise money to promote football in and around the city.
Last year's banquet helped to raise nearly $25,000. This year's will probably make close to $10,000.
A street sign made of Matechuk brought in $10,000 last year which brought the total monies raised to $25,000 last year.
Cates, who is going into his sixth season with the Green Riders, talked about football in Canada and football in the USA and said he's looking at another strong season in Regina this year.
"We're as strong a team this year as last year and we keep getting better.
Cates added that rival Montreal may have made a mistake in letting go of Avon Cobourne and said he thinks Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo might return for another season.
As for the Roughriders, he's not worried about that affecting their chances for winning.
"We've pretty much got the blueprint.
"The last three Grey Cups, we kind of let them (Montreal) make the majority of the big plays."
He also noted the football support in western Canada is "unbelievable".
Cates said promotion of minor football is important because it teaches the kids knowledge of the game at an early age.
"It's all about the knowledge of the game."
Also unveiled at the banquet, as previously reported in YTW, Yorkton Minor Football is pleased to announce the lineup for the newest football team based in the City, the Atom Gridders. The team will be head coached by Dennis Nesseth, managed by Shawna Boyda.
