Area All-Stars to compete in Shrine Bowl

Matt Donahue and Derrick McKenzie have found themselves doing double duty in preparation for today's Shrine Bowl in Lincoln.

Not only have the two former Fremont High School standouts been practicing diligently for the North, they have been tutoring their teammates on the finer points of FHS coach Kevin Meyer's offense.

"We've gone over the routes with the receivers, but I did most of the talking because Matt doesn't know what he's talking about," McKenzie said with a laugh. "We've been trying to help everyone out."

Donahue, who will be a freshman receiver at Ohio University this fall, said the two didn't mind helping their fellow all-stars learn the offense.

"The quicker everyone learned it, the better off (the team) would be," he said. "Picking up the offense quickly should give us an extra boost. With our offense, it should be a fun Shrine Bowl."

Donahue and McKenzie are just two of the area standouts playing for the North. While both FHS graduates are expected to play receiver, Arlington's Thomas Grove could see action at running back and linebacker. Taylor Escamilla of Fremont Bergan might play on both the offensive and defensive lines while Casey Beck of Scribner-Snyder has been working at tight end/slot receiver and linebacker.

McKenzie said the Shrine experience has given him the rare opportunity to have players like Jake Gdowski of Grand Island and Brinson Steinhauser of Lincoln Northeast as teammates.

"It is kind of different because you've been rivals with them, but now you are on the same side," McKenzie said. "We just are working together trying to win the game."

The Shrine Bowl isn't totally foreign to Donahue. The son of FHS defensive coordinator Jerry Donahue got to see firsthand what the game was about when Meyer served as a North assistant in 2001.

"I grew up around it and got to help when Coach Meyer was here (six years ago)," he said. "I know it is a fun experience."

Grove agrees with that assessment. The 6-1, 195-pounder, who will join the University of Nebraska program as a walk-on athlete, said it is a privilege to participate in the event.

"This is very, very special to be part of the whole Shrine experience," he said. "It is great to be around kids who know how to step it up a level. Being around the upper echelon of talent in the state is fun."

Grove said laziness is a trait that can't be found in the North camp.

"Everyone here works hard," he said. "That makes it easier because I think everyone, myself included, can build off of that."

Grove, who rushed for about 1,300 yards while leading the Eagles to a state playoff berth last fall, has been impressed with the North's interior linemen.

"We have some very big boys who can move some bodies around," he said. "I'm pretty confident in those guys."

One of those players is Escamilla. The 6-1, 275-pound Class C-2 all-stater, said he is proud to play in a game that benefits children in Shrine hospitals. The North visited the Chicago Shriners Hospital on Wednesday.

"It is terrible to see what those kids go through, but it is great to see the help they get from the Shriners," he said. "We've learned a lot about what they do for kids. It is really nice to be a part of that."

Escamilla, who will walk on to the Nebraska football team, said the Shrine Bowl will give him a taste of what he can expect with the Huskers.

"I'm facing some 300-pound linemen here as opposed to what I saw in high school where everyone was pretty light," he said. "I think that will help me some for the future."

Escamilla will also be honored tonight in Columbus by the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association. Although he will be unable to attend the NSWCA's Hall of Fame Banquet, he will receive the Guy Mytty Memorial Award for Class D.

Escamilla was a two-time state wrestling champ, but will devote his energy to football at Nebraska.

"I'll probably miss it when winter rolls around," Escamilla said. "But I have football to worry about and that is truly what I love doing."

Beck also excelled in two sports. He was a Fremont Tribune All-Area selection in basketball and football, but elected to play the latter sport at UNO.

"It was a tough decision for me, but I like football more and I decided what I was going to do pretty early in my senior (year)," he said.

Beck has been impressed with the overall talent the North squad possesses.

"You don't have to worry about someone messing up because everyone here is good," he said. "Everyone here is an excellent player. They are fast, strong and they block."

The South also isn't devoid of talent. Coached by Brandon Cool of Kearney, the South roster includes Lincoln Southwest standouts Austin Cassidy and Ollie Sloup, Ohio University recruit Noah Keller of Kearney and Lincoln East Super State quarterback Jim Ebke.

McKenzie and his teammates, however, believe the North has a cohesive group that will ultimately prevail.

"We are a better team," he said. "They might have more studs on their team, but we have a bunch of tough guys on our roster."