The 6th Annual Yorkton Minor Football Association presentation of Football Night in Saskatchewan was held Saturday.
It marked the end of a very busy day of football related activities.
Earlier in the day, Brittany Thies had her cheerleading clinic, while several Riders took part in a lineman clinic at the Flexi-Hall. An hour or so later, the day concluded with YMF's Football Night in Saskatchewan.
"Absolutely, the cheerleading clinic was packed full of kids," claims Roby Sharpe, of YMF.
Sharpe thanked the community for helping out the cause.
"We're full at all levels," he said of minor football's ambitions.
"I hope that the quality of players keeps going up."
All money raised from all three events Saturday in Yorkton goes towards helping anyone interested in playing football to play, without always worrying about things such as costs.
Thies' cheer clinic helped pump about $700 towards those costs. While the banquet itself and everything associated with it, brought the total up towards $53,000, says Sharpe.
Part of the highlight of the night was the guest speakers.
Each year, YMF finds a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders to highlight a long list of speakers at the banquet.
This year's guest speaker was quarterback Darian Durant.
Durant was given a standing ovation.
Part of the reason he came was former YTW sports editor/Rider PR Sheri Trapp.
Among the highlights of Durant's career with the CFL club, he had guided them to back-to-back Grey Cup appearances.
The future looks fairly bright for the 5' 11" native of Carolina. He is a product of the North Carolina Tar Heels football program.
He also has a year of NFL experience.
Trapp told the paper that she is close to Durant and the two speak regularly.
Durant's appearance at St. Mary's that night was Trapp's work.
She had just ended a seven year tenure with the Green and -*white.
"Darian I am so proud of the man you have become. I tried to come up with one word to summarize Darian," she said into the microphone that night. "and that is impossible."
He has so much success ahead of him it is scary."
Sharpe said he had no idea Durant's and Trapp's speeches were going to centre around each other.
"He came as a favour to Sheri," he said. "I know they are close."
Close enough that Durant is still the heavily favoured QB in this year's race for the starting job.
Also in the running are J.T. O'Sullivan, Levi Brown, Drew Willy and Colt Brennan
Going back not that long ago, Durant could easily be off somewhere else claiming the starter's job.
"At the end of 2006, I was ready to give up football. (Then) I had a talk with Sheri," he said during his speech at St. Mary's.
"Don't quit," she had told him during a conversation the two had when things were apparently rough for Durant.
"You're a special guy."
At FNIS, it was more than clear that Durant took Sheri Trapp's helpful advice.
"I am very happy."
Trapp helped him during one of the toughest times in his life, he told the jam-packed St. Mary's during the FNIS banquet.
"You are the reason I don't ever want to leave Saskatchewan," Durant told the crowd of his 'connection' with Trapp.
As a result of all that, "I'm so proud to be here in Saskatchewan," Durant claimed nearing the end of his speech.
"This is the best place to play in the CFLhands down," Durant quoted.
Trapp was thankful for the "overwhelming support and gratitude I received (that night). and acknowledged the work of YMF.
"Since the inception of Football Night in Saskatchewan, a football program has been developed to allow all local youngsters the opportunity to be exposed to the great game of football."
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