BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HUTCHINSON — The Great Bend Panthers will be represented by No. 50 Owen Kaiser in Saturday's 7 p.m. Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City.

Panther offensive tackle Kaiser was a 2-way player who accounted for 43 tackles defensively for the Western Athletic Conference champion. He earned All-WAC honors and Sports in Kansas 5A All-State honorable mention honors.

“I'm excited to be playing in the Shrine Bowl,” Kaiser said. “It’s a special game. I’m grateful for the chance to play football one last time.

"Football practice is a grind, but the weather's been good," he said. "We go live in the morning workouts. You throw yourself into a position and get to work. We've worked through it together to get ready for Saturday." 

The 6-4, 280-pound Kaiser will share center duties with Manhattan's Troy Hoover for the West squad. Kaiser played center as a freshman at Great Bend.

The West squad will operate from a shotgun formation with a 6-yard snap to Norton's Eli Jones or Cheney's Josh Burdick.

"We can spread the offense out, or pound the ball up the middle," Kaiser said. "We'll run 1-back most of the time. Our backs are good finding open holes."

Kaiser has enjoyed meeting the West football players.

"It's been fun getting to know the players I've played football and baseball against," he said. "You put a face on  guys you've competed against."

The West leads the all-time series 31-18-2.

"You'll always come in with a mentality to win the ballgame," Kaiser said.

Pitcher/catcher Kaiser helped the Panthers finish as 5A state baseball runner-up. Kaiser delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly that qualified the Panthers for the state tournament, his favorite high school sports memory.

Kaiser has signed a baseball scholarship offer to pitch at Barton Community College.

WEST SQUAD

QB—2—Eli Jones, Norton; 13 Josh Burdick, Cheney; 15—Carter Aslin, Manhattan 

RB—28—Lucas Meyer, Wichita Heights; 32—Nash Wray, Haven

WR—6 Jayden Amaro, Dodge City; 14—Wes Rock, Abilene; 16—Brandy Stupka, Andover Central; 18—Karlan Ransom, Wichita East; 19—Drew Graham, Winfield   

OT—55—Petren Bartolome, Junction City; 57—Tristan Sprole, Wichita Collegiate; 59—Cooper Koster, Conway Springs; 68—Bodey Redenbaugh, Buhler

OG—54—Preston Grube, Mulvane; 56—Kaiden Kasselman, Garden Plain; 60—Eli Johnson, Beloit; 62—Conner Herman, Halstead; 65—Dawson Rodd, Andover Central

C—50—Owen Kaiser, Great Bend; 66—Trey Hoover, Manhattan

DL—5—Brody Weir, Wellington; 9—Jackson Rumford, Scott City; 33—Rhett Ihrig, Goodland; 52—James McKinney, Salina Central; 58—Holden Ziegler, Council Grove 

LB—4—Ace Monihan, Council Grove; 7—Goddard, Preston Hagel, Goddard; 20—Henry Hecox, Moundridge; 22—Dalton Meyers, Hays; 34—Cooper Marx, Andale; 38—Catch Delaney, McPherson; 43—Karter Gonzalez, Hesston

DB—0—Terrell King, Hutchinson; 1—Roy Bright, Plainville; 3—Owen Schmidt, Pratt; 8—Steel Schomaker, Valley Center; 10—Chris McDonald, Maize South; 11—Cooper Williams, Clearwater; 12—Jace Adler, Andover Central;  21—Quavon Harris, Wichita NW; 23—James Middlebrook, Derby; 24—Landon Harp, Andale; 25—Jaden Cohens, Goddard