'Bigger than football': North Dakota Shrine Bowl celebrates 50th anniversary

MAYVILLE — Since 1974 the North Dakota Shrine Bowl All-Star Game has highlighted some of the best high school players to ever step on the gridiron in the state.

For the 50th time, the Shrine Bowl did just that Saturday at Mayville State University’s Jerome Berg Field.

“As far as what it means and to be able to carry on this tradition, we are just prideful,” said Shrine Bowl chairman Jason Kaufman. “We’re full of pride to keep it going and keep sharing the message of why the Shrine Bowl exists and our cause for kids, just helping kids be kids. That includes these players. “

Former Shrine Bowl players include some of the who’s who of North Dakota football, including current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cody Mauch.

“The most notable in North Dakota of late is Cody Mauch, who played in the game a handful of years ago,” Kaufman said. “He would’ve been here today but is actually with one of his former teammates Cordell Volson running his football camp.”

In addition to highlighting the all-stars of North Dakota high school football, one of the other primary goals of the Shrine Bowl is to bring awareness and help raise funds for Shriner’s Children.

According to the Shrine Bowl website, Shriner’s Children is committed to providing care for children in the areas of orthopedics, burn care, spinal cord injuries and craniofacial conditions, regardless of a family’s income.

“It’s critically important,” Kaufman said of spreading that message. “A lot of what we’re doing now through the Shriner Healthcare Network is sports medicine. You don’t need to be born with a condition, you can have an accident, have an injury. It’s really the best care possible.

“The way I think of it is Shriner’s Childrens is like the Mayo Clinic for kids 18 and under. It’s the best care possible regardless of a family’s ability to pay.”

After the East won the 9-man game 20-8 over the West, the 11-man East team completed the Shrine Bowl sweep in the nightcap.

Fargo Shanley’s Landon Meier led the East with three touchdowns on the way to a 41-26 victory.

“It’s so special,” Meier said of the Shrine Bowl. “Just to know what goes into this game and the dedication from the Shriners and what they do with their hospitals is so great.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a game and we’re out here having fun. There’s a bigger purpose and I’m glad we were able to donate the money we were able to.”

Grand Forks Central’s Jack Simmers got a preview of what he can expect playing at Mayville this fall in the Shrine Bowl. Like Meier, he said the Shrine Bowl was more than just a game.

“Playing the football game is fun, but this game is a lot bigger than football with raising all the money for the kids,” Simmers said. “I think I heard that we’d raised over $80,000 for this Shrine Bowl and that’s just amazing. It’s a lot bigger than football.”

Aside from highlighting some of the best high school players in North Dakota and raising money and awareness for the Shriners, the game also provides some players with one last opportunity to play the game they love.

Minot quarterback Lucas Beeter was one of those players.

“It’s super special,” Beeter said. “At Minot High, we ended the year with a bang with the state championship. But being able to come out here one last time and know it’s my last time really meant something to me.

“To get a group of guys of rivals from the West and rivals from the East to come together and have fun and just be a team was so special. I am super grateful for the opportunity.”