Iowa Shrine Bowl more than football

AMES - Former Linn-Mar star Mark Atwater absorbed a few hard knocks while preparing for Friday's Iowa Shrine Bowl football game.

And that's a good thing.

“You come from being the best kid at your school and now you're playing with kids who are all the best kids at their school,” said the Gazette/KCRG player of the year, who joins Coe's program this fall. “It's been a very fun experience, a very humbling experience. Proud to be here.”

Football's the name of the game, but not the reason for this matchup pitting the best recently graduated high school players from the “North” and “South” against each other at Jack Trice Stadium. The game will unfold for the 40th time and more than $2 million has been raised for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

This year, players raised roughly $100,000 by asking local businesses to place ads in the 504-page program book. Cheerleaders chipped in nearly $50,000 to the fund-boosting effort.

“We know this is all for the kids and that's what it's been about,” said Kennedy multisport standout Josh Jahlas. “Football's always been second.”

Football slid to third for Jahlas when he slugged three hits Wednesday to help the Cougars clinch a state baseball tournament berth.

“Got right back in the swing of things,” said Jahlas, an invited walk-on for Coach Paul Rhoads at Iowa State. “It's been a lot of fun.”

Meaningful, too.

A rite of passage of sorts framed by flying footballs and soaring spirits.

Kids on crutches playing with their heroes - and sometimes demanding push-ups from them.

“It's definitely been a huge transition,” said former Cedar Rapids Washington standout Flynn Heald, who will play for William of Mary in his native Virginia. “It seems like just yesterday I graduated high school and now - when you see this stuff in front of you and you realize the purpose that you're playing for, it's no longer a game anymore. You're playing for something better, something bigger. It's a tremendous honor.”

In this venue, talk of giveaways and take-aways wanes. Giving stands alone, front and center.

“(Players) will call me six months later,” said 12-year Shrine Bowl General Manager Jerry Hoffman. “And they'll say, ‘This was a life-changing experience for me.' It's unbelievable.”

And it's football. The scoreboard's secondary, but ...

“We're looking to win this game, for sure,” said Atwater, who amassed more than 2,500 yards passing and rushing last season. “But the biggest thing is the kids here; what the cause is for. Everyone gets pretty amped and jacked for the game, but they know what the cause is for and the reason for it.”