Shrine Bowl has had special performances over the years

 1 comment(s)  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

Jeff Tomlin has a unique perspective on the Shrine Bowl.

He played in the 1984 Shrine Bowl (his North team won); he was an assistant coach in the 1999 game (again, his North team won); and he is the head coach of the North squad in this year’s game (is that a trend?).

Today’s contest, the 50th Nebraska Shrine Bowl Classic, kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

View Slideshow

Gale Sayers (31) of Omaha Central breaks away for his second of four touchdowns during the 1961 Shrine Bowl game. Sayers scored on runs of 27 and 43 yards and pass receptions of 51 and 26 yards to set the Shrine Bowl record for touchdowns. (LJS file)

“I know that my take on this game has changed in my three times, which includes three trips to Shrine hospitals,” Tomlin said. “As a player, I looked as it from the perspective that I was blessed and take things like being able to walk for granted.

“When I was an assistant, I was a young coach and realized I was fortunate to have my two kids who didn’t need help from the Shriners.

“And this time, I was struck that I need to be involved in helping to raise money for them because they do such an incredible job for children.”

While the trip to the hospitals and meeting young patients is certainly a highlight for every player and coach, the game is always a competition between some of the best and brightest stars of high school football.

A glimpse into the history of the Shrine Bowl is perhaps the best way to anticipate the 50th annual game. Here are a sample of some record-setting, memorable performances:

1959 — South 7, North 6

The Shrine Bowl theme of “Strong legs run that weak legs may walk” pretty much told the story of the initial contest. The strong legs of Omaha South’s Godfrey (Sonny) Calta carried him 74 yards on a fourth-quarter punt return to give the South a 7-6 win in a game postponed one day because of heavy rains at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium. Calta’s touchdown came with 6:05 left in the game. The South quarterback was Omaha South’s John Faiman, the head coach for the South team in 1976 and now the head coach at Bellevue West.

1961— South 32, North 0

For three years, Gale Sayers of Omaha Central had shared the prep headlines with Broken Bow’s Kent McCloughan and Lincoln High’s Bobby Williams. But this was strictly Sayers’ day, as he scored on runs of 27 and 43 yards and on passes covering 51 and 26 yards from Omaha Westside’s Terry Rusthoven. Sayers finished with 95 yards rushing on six carries, and his four touchdowns are still a Shrine Bowl record. Williams, who gained 51 yards and picked up five first downs, scored the South’s other TD, on a 15-yard run. McCloughan, who had beaten both out for Athlete of the Year honors, sat out most of the second half with a pulled leg muscle.

1971— South 16, North 13

Aurora’s Tom Kropp scored from 1 yard out with 49 seconds remaining to climax a 73-yard, 10-play game-winning scoring drive. The South relied on a block-busting running game featuring Tecumseh’s Tony Davis (99 yards) and Kropp (78 yards). The South attempted only three passes all afternoon, but one completion was vital in the winning drive — a 34-yard pass from Lincoln Southeast’s Don Osvog to Millard’s Brad Bryant.

1980 — South 23, North 20

Lincoln Southeast’s Craig Sundberg had five completions on the South’s final drive, including a 15-yard TD pass to Sandy Creek’s Terry Anstine with two seconds left that capped a game featuring six lead changes. Sundberg completed 15 passes for 206 yards, both still Shrine Bowl records, including seven to Lincoln East’s Scott Schoettger. Sundberg also broke the record for total offense with 203 yards.

1991— South 21, North 19

Brandon Bender of Nebraska City stopped Omaha Benson quarterback Tony Veland short on a two-point conversion attempt to preserve the South’s win. That was about the only time Veland was stopped. He took over the rushing and total offense Shrine Bowl records with 180 yards rushing, including a 72-yard touchdown run, and 260 yards of total offense, which still stands as the Shrine Bowl record. His 6-yard scoring pass to Merritt Nelson of Fremont with 1:19 left in the game set up the two-point conversion attempt.

2000 — North 30, South 23, ot

The lead changed hands seven times in the game, the first in Shrine Bowl history to be extended to overtime when Cody Butler of Hastings St. Cecilia hit a 38-yard field goal with 2 seconds left. Dusty Stamer of Grand Island set the Shrine Bowl rushing record with a 185-yard performance on 18 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 4, 38 and 2 yards.

2003 — South 24, North 0

Andy Birkel of Lincoln Southeast added an exclamation point to the South’s defensive statement. He stepped in front of a North pass at the 14-yard line and raced 86 yards for a touchdown, the longest interception for a score in Shrine history, with just 5 seconds left in the game. The defensive scheme started up front with Brandon Teamer of Omaha Central, who was named defensive player of the game, and San Jose State recruit Christian Mungin of Papillion-La Vista. They helped limit the North to just 57 yards rushing.

2005 — North 18, South 13

Jordan Alegria of North Platte connected on a record four field goals to help the North. The South scored just two touchdowns but both are Shrine records. Robert Wesley of Omaha Central galloped 75 yards for a score and Tyler VanEperen of Holdrege threw the ball back to Jim Tvrdy, who was Waverly’s quarterback, who found Mitch Ostgren of Holdrege open for a record 80-yard score with 5:17 left in the game.