Hub Territory players begin preparations for Shrine Bowl (2024)

KEARNEY — Shrine Bowl week swept into full swing Monday with the Beyond the Field Experience, exposing the players on the North and South teams to the work of Shriner’s Childrens Hospitals and some of their patients.

Then the players got to work preparing for Saturday’s game at UNK’s Ron and Carol Cope Stadium and Foster Field.

“It’s more than just a game. We want them to understand Shriners really is about supporting our patients and our hospitals; educating them on that and helping to install why the Shriners hospital is so important,” said first-year Executie Director Jon Cerny.

The event is a great experience for both the players and patients. Patients and players attended a picnic in Harmon Park, playing variations of ring toss, corn-hole, lawn darts, frisbee and other games.

“We have some outstanding young people that are patients in Nebraska having to overcome some physical conditions to be able to come out here and compete in the games with the Shrine Bowl players is just amazing to watch,” Cerny said..

Players reported Sunday for their first practices before getting inspired by the accomplishments and abilities of the Shrine patients.

“It’s more than the game,” said Jake Ryan of Minden, one of five Hub Territory players on the South team. “You learn about how lucky we are to be able to walk and have not overcome any disabilities day in and day out in our lives. It really broadened my horizons on how lucky I am to be here and be able to play football.”

Ryan is the first Minden player selected to play in the Shrine Bowl since Peter Trausch in 2010. He’s just the 11th Whippet ever selected.

“I’m really excited. ... I’m really glad to be able to represent my hometown,” he said.

Ryan is one of three NCAA Division I recruits on the South team. He will leave Jan. 8 to report to Wake Forest University. He expects to play the rover position for the South team as well as at Wake Forest.

“It’s more of a boundary safety, strong safety type of look,” he said.

Zander Reuling and Beau Buchanon will represent Kearney High in Saturday’s game. Reuling will be an slot receiver while Buchanon expects to play guard in the offensive line — positions both played for the Bearcats.

“I’m pretty excited, not just playing with a bunch of good people, but doing it for a good cause as well,” Reuling said.

Reuling is on familiar footing. After playing his high school games at Foster Field, he will return to play his collegiate career and UNK. Buchanon also plans to attend UNK, but just as a student, making this his last football game.

“It’s great. I love my team and the coaches are really good coaches,” Buchanan said. “Obviously we want to win but I just want to keep these memories forever and the friendships I make with these guys. It’s just a great experience.”

Kearney Catholic graduates Carson Murphy and Garrett O’Hare will join Ryan on the South defense. Murphy will play safety and O’Hare will line up in the defensive line. Both have family influences who helped prepare them for the experience.

“My dad (Brady) played in it and he told me how fun it was. I’ve heard all about it for a long time and I’m really looking forward to playing in it,” O’Hare said.

Murphy’s uncle, Kearney High graduate Tyson Bertrand, played in the 1995 game.

“He told me it was going to be a lot of fun. And some of my older teammates (at Kearney Catholic), played in it and I’m really excited,” Murphy said. “Being around the kids, that’s cool. That’s really an experience for me. And then, playing against all these other good players is an experience.”