Through the years, the Shrine Bowl, which features 68 of the top high school football players in the state, has showcased many of Kansas’ all-time greats, including several who have gone on to enjoy great success at the collegiate and professional levels. Listed below is one man’s list of the top 25 players in the first 25 years of the Shrine Bowl. The list is based not only on what players did in the Shrine Bowl, but also takes into consideration what they did after moving on to the collegiate, and in some cases, the pro level. The Top 25 are listed in alphabetical order:

BROOKS BARTA, Smith Center (1988) – Barta, now the head coach at Holton, became an all-conference linebacker at Kansas State.

MIKE BELL, Wichita Carroll (1975) – Bell starred at Colorado State and was a standout defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs for many seasons.

LAMAR CHAPMAN, Liberal (1995) – Chapman led Liberal to a state championship as a quarterback/defensive back and has gone on to establish himself as one of the nation’s premier defensive backs at Kansas State.

TONY CHERICO, S. M. Northwest (1983) – Cherico went on to star at Arkansas as an offensive lineman.

PAUL COFFMAN, Chase (1974) – Coffman starred at tiny Chase before going on to a standout career at K-State and a long career in the NFL with Green Bay and the Chiefs.

MICHAEL COSEY, Lawrence (1992) – One of the top running backs in state history, Cosey was a part of three class 6A championship teams at Lawrence. He went on to be a standout at Fort Scott Community College and Southwest Missouri State.

KEITH DeLONG, Lawrence (1985) – After graduating from Lawrence, DeLong went on to become an All-American at Tennessee and was a first round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers.

TOM DINKEL, Shawnee Heights (1974) – Dinkel was a standout linebacker at Kansas and went on to play in the Super Bowl for the Cincinnati Bengals.

ROY FOSTER, S. M. West (1978) – Agile enough to play fullback at S.M. West, Foster went on to star at USC and was an all-Pro guard for the Miami Dolphins.

MATT GEE, Arkansas City (1988) – After leaving Ark City, Gee, also a state champion in track, went on to a productive career as a linebacker at USC.

CURTIS HUGHES, KC-Wyandotte (1983) – The trio of Hughes, Less Miller and Grady Newton combined for one of the Shrine Bowl’s all-time great defensive games in ’83. Hughes went on to play for a time at K-State and later became a professional wrestler.

GREG KOLENDA, KC-Ward (1976) – The star lineman went on to become an All-American offensive lineman at Arkansas.

KYLE McNORTON, Seaman (1978) – McNorton went on to be a standout linebacker at KU and played briefly for the Chiefs.

LES MILLER – Arkansas City (1983) – Miller had an outstanding Shrine game in ’83 and played collegially at K-State and Fort Hays State before embarking on a still-active NFL career as a defensive lineman.

JIM MOORE, Garden City (1992) – A two-time All-State pick at Garden City, Moore was a multi-year starter at tight end for KU. Moore has had NFL looks with the Tennessee Oilers and Chiefs.

GRADY NEWTON, Bonner Springs (1983) – After starring in the ’83 game, Newton went on to a productive career at K-State.

PAUL OSWALD, Hayden (1982) – Oswald went on to become a solid offensive lineman at KU and had a short career with the Pittsburg Steelers.

MIKE RINGGENBERG, Manhattan (1988) – After starring at Manhattan, Ringgenberg was a solid performer at linebacker for Missouri.

BARRY SANDERS, Wichita North (1986) – Without a doubt the top performer in the history of the Shrine game. Sanders set a single-game Shrine Bowl rushing record, won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State and is now on his way to the NFL Hall of Fame as a running back for Detroit Lions.

BRIAN SHAY, Paola (1995) – Since leading Paola to a Class 4A championship, Shay has gone on to become a record-setting All-American running back at Emporia State.

MARK SIMONEAU, Smith Center (1995) – After starring at Smith Center as both a running back and linebacker, Simoneau has become one of the Big 12’s premier linebackers at K-State.

JEFF SMITH, Wichita Southeast (1980) – Smith became a star I-back at Nebraska and had a short NFL career.

GARY SPANI, Manhattan (1974) – Spani was a standout linebacker at K-State and then played nine seasons, eight as a starter, for the Chiefs.

KENDALL TRAINOR, Fredonia (1985) – The Fredonia star went on to become an All-American kicker at Arkansas.

NYLE WIREN, Wichita Northwest (1992) – Wiren was a virtual unknown when he played in the Shrine Bowl, but had a good game and went on to become an all-conference defensive lineman at K-State.

Head will be spending a better portion of this month absorbing what he learned with the Blue Dragons, along with getting ready to play in the 37th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star football game, which is set for Saturday, July 31, at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg.

Head, along with other members of the West squad will report to Salina on July 23 to begin practicing for the prestigious annual game featuring some of the state’s top graduated high school seniors. The East squad will gather on the same day in Emporia.

During training camp, the teams will fly to St. Louis, Mo., to visit youths in Shrine Hospital burn units.

“It’s an honor to be able to support the Shrine Bowl and help out the kids at the Shriners Hospital,” said Head, who moved atop the career DCHS football receiving charts in both receptions (124) and yards (1,723) this past fall, helping lead the Demons to an 8-3 record, including a berth in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

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Click to watch Landon Head’s 2008 Season highlight video

On Monday evening, the USD 443 Board of Education approved a contract for Foster after an extensive screening process of over 60 candidates that were narrowed to three finalists. Following interviews with several groups, Foster was selected as the top candidate. He and his wife Summer, along with their three children will join the Dodge City community before the new school year.

Foster is a Kansas native from Beloit.  He was a collegiate football player at Fort Hays State University, where he graduated cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree. He completed his master’s degree at Emporia State University. Foster is noted as one of only eleven Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star participants to have returned to coach in the Shrine Bowl.

Dodge City High School is a 6A high school in southwest Kansas, home to the Red Demons. Jay Gifford, district athletic director, believes Foster is a great fit for the program and for the community. “Coach Foster exemplifies the leadership we look for in our coaches, for our kids, and for our teams. His vision for the program, our student-athletes, and as a coach is right in line with our successful athletic programs. His winning record and the relationships he has forged with former coaches and players are key indicators he will do well in our community. Dodge City High School is excited to attract such experienced talent to our teaching staff and to our athletic department.”

In the coming weeks, Foster plans to meet with players and their families, other coaches, and department staff to begin his new role with the Dodge City Public Schools and Red Demon Football.

For more information contact:

Jay Gifford
Dodge City Public Schools
Athletic Director
gifford.jay@usd443.org
(620) 227-1777

This is a free service provided to both Red Demon and Cardinal fans.

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Dodge City (7-2) took care of business Friday night, holding off a second-half push by bitter rival Garden City for a hard-fought 14-6 road victory.

It is the second straight win for Dodge over its longtime Western Athletic Conference counterpart after losing 13 straight to the Buffaloes.

Dodge City, the Class 6A District 8 champions, used some big defensive plays to stem Garden’s second-half comeback bid. The Demons will host a first-round state playoff game next Friday night at Memorial Stadium against either Derby or Topeka High.

Garden City ends its season at 4-5, losing all three of its district games.

“Our defense did a whale of a job,” Dodge City coach Justin Burke said. “I was real pleased with the defense and how they played.”

Clinging to a 14-6 lead, the Red Demons snuffed out Garden’s final chance on defensive back Zach Harvey’s interception of quarterback Cody Bernbeck’s pass with 2:51 remaining near midfield.

The Demons then were able to run out the clock, with standout tailback Jace Banner gaining two yards on his final run to push his total to 195 yards on 30 carries on the night.

Banner then had to be helped off the field by his teammates as the final minutes melted off the clock.

No worries, according to Burke.

“He was just cramping up,” Burke said.

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The Demons will return on November 6th to Dodge City’s Memorial Stadium to host a first round Regional Playoff game versus an opponent to be determined after the end of District play on Friday Night.

Game Night Details
Location: Memorial Stadium – Garden City
Game Time: 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $5 Adults, $3 Students [Staff passes will be accepted]

Series History
Friday night will mark the 107th time these teams have met in this storied rivalry. The Red Demons have faced the Buffaloes (106) times, dating back to the 1903 season. The series is led by the Demons (68-34-4). The Demons wrestled the “Hatchet” away from the Buffaloes last season ending the Buffs long winning streak in the rivalry. Watch video of the 2008 Hatchet Game.

In 1938 the series was livened by the addition of the hatchet. The winner takes the hatchet as evidence of supremacy on the field of play. Dodge City leads in Hatchet games 45-25-1.

Team Info

Dodge City		Garden City
Mascot:  		Red Demons  		Buffaloes
Classification:		6A			6A
2009 Record:		6-2			4-4
Conference Record:	1-2			2-1
District Record:	2-0			0-2
Website: 		dchssports.org  	gckschools.com

Give the football to Banner, and it’s gravy.

Banner, a senior tailback, had another huge game Friday night, leading the Red Demons to a 35-14 victory over Maize in Class 6A District 8 action.

“Our main goal is to win football games,” said Banner, whose rushing total grew to 1,119 yards on the season. “But the line and myself before every game, we have a goal of getting 200 yards and if we get that, then we met our goal.”

Banner and Co. barely missed their rushing goal, yet they were dominating nonetheless.

“That’s the main thing, getting physical and playing smash-mouth football. That’s what it’s about, getting in there and making yourself known.”

With the convincing victory, the Demons (6-2 overall) have assured themselves a state playoff berth. Dodge City, the only team still undefeated in its four-team district at 2-0, now has the maximum +26 in the points system.

Maize, 2-6, including 1-1 in district play, sits at minus-9 in the points system. Goddard, which beat Garden City 21-14 Friday night, moves to 1-1 in the district and sits at minus-6 in the points system. Garden (0-2) now sits at minus-11.

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