Hutchinson High School’s Jackson Anderson and Hutchinson Trinity’s Drew Dechant were members of the West Team at the 53rd annual Kansas Shrine Bowl football game Saturday at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium.
The East Team defeated the West Team 14-7. Wellsville head coach Mike Berg was the East Team head coach.
The West still leads the series 32-19-2.
Anderson played linebacker and Dechant played defensive back for the West squad. Anderson will play football at Friends University in Wichita and Dechant will play baseball at Hutchinson Community College.
Other area standouts on the West Team were Sterling running back Zane Farney, Andale defensive back Sam Harp, Cheney defensive lineman Nolan Durr, Hesston offensive lineman Ethan Coutre, Southeast of Saline defensive lineman Brody Chambers, Pratt offensive lineman Josiah Schmidt, Great Bend quarterback Daxton Minton and Great Bend linebacker Trenton Kern.
Farney was the Sports in Kansas Class 1A Player of the Year and a member of the SIK Top 11 in Class 1A. He helped the Black Bears win state titles in football and basketball and was a state track hurdles champs this spring.
HutchCC football signees from the West team include Derby defensive lineman Houston Bowlin, Wichita Northwest defensive lineman Bishop Smith and Manhattan defensive lineman Garrison Vikander.
HutchCC football signees from the East Shrine Bowl team are Atchison offensive lineman Brody Barnes, Leavenworth defensive back DyVair McCray and Washington quarterback Savion Stone.
Stone threw a touchdown pass to Kansas State signee Blake Jay of Mill Valley just before halftime for the game-deciding score. Neither team scored in the second half.
The East Team took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a TD pass from Shawnee Heights’ Aiden Scott to Alec Jett of Lenexa-St. James Academy.
The West Team took a 7-6 lead when Great Bend’s Trenton Kern and Andale’s Sam Harp forced a fumble in the end zone and future Blue Dragon Houston Bowlin recovered for a touchdown. The extra point kick gave the West squad the lead.
The West team head coach was Mulvane’s Daniel Myears. His assistants included Great Bend’s Erin Beck and Sterling’s Brent Schneider.
Junction City head coach Randall Zimmerman, a West assistant coach, made a record ninth Shrine Bowl appearance on a coaching staff.
Junction City standout Jackson Hollie, a member of the West squad (Kansas State football signee), was named the recipient of the 2026 Mike Bell Most Inspirational Award.
Zimmerman has served as an assistant coach in 1988, 1995, 2009, 2015 and 2021 and was the West head coach in 1996, 2010 and 2016.
The West Team training camp took place last week at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium. The East Team trained at Ottawa University’s AdventHealth Field.
The 2027 and 2028 Kansas East-West Shrine Bowl football games also will be played at Welch Stadium in Emporia. The 2025 game was played at Dodge City.
Net proceeds benefit Shriners Children’s. The Kansas Shrine Bowl has sent $3.36 million to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The Kansas Shrine Bowl football game game has been played since 1974. Host cities have included Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, Topeka, Hays, Emporia, Pittsburg, Dodge City and Hutchinson.
