For Josh Lenz, the easy part in getting ready for the Iowa Shrine Bowl this weekend was finding housing. Lenz, the former Dubuque Hempstead star, has been in Ames since early June anyway, working out with his new Iowa State teammates.
The hard part: his workload has essentially doubled during the last week.
"Me and a couple of other (Iowa State freshmen) doing the Shrine Bowl, our legs are getting a little tired on us," Lenz said Thursday.
The good news is the Cyclones get a week-and-a-half break after this weekend, so once Saturday night's Shrine Bowl is over, Lenz can take a little breather before fall training camp and his college football career kick into high gear.
In the meantime, Lenz said he will enjoy the final moment of his decorated prep career. Dubuque Wahlert linebacker Kramer Uhlik and Western Dubuque lineman Sam Ross will also compete in the Shrine Bowl at Jack Trice Stadium.
"It's one last experience playing high-school ball," Lenz said. "I'm just going to go out there and have a good time."
Lenz,
iowa shrine bowl When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames TV: (Tape delay) Sunday, 4 p.m., on Mediacom Connections 22 Who: Local players competing are Josh Lenz (Dubuque Hempstead), Kramer Uhlik (Dubuque Wahlert), and Sam Ross (Western Dubuque) area wisconsin football all-stars shine The annual Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star game has been split into large- and small-school contests. The WFCA All-Star Games were last weekend in Oshkosh, Wis. All of the TH-area participants played for the small-school South team, which beat the North, 14-7, when Fennimore's Ben Hertrampf scored on a 36-yard run with just 22 seconds left. That run helped Hertrampf finish with a team-high 58 rushing yards in the game. Iowa-Grant's Sam Livingston caught four passes for 29 yards, and Platteville's Casey Goffinet and Prairie du Chien's Tyler O'Kane also got offensive touches. Fennimore's Nate Keeney recovered a fumble. Other local all-stars were: Ryan VanDeHey and Bryan Peake (Lancaster), Noah Gibson (Potosi), Matt Kingeter (Platteville), Brad Olson (Fennimore), and Jordan Tibbits and Mike McKinley (Mineral Point). |
They started with Lenz at running back. They moved him to defensive back, mistakenly thinking Iowa State had recruited him as such. When they discovered ISU recruited Lenz as a wide receiver, they moved him there.
"I've been shuffling around a little," Lenz said.
Uhlik will play linebacker for the North, and Ross is playing offensive line.
"It's great just being here with these guys, having fun," said Uhlik, who said he will play football this fall at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. "It's an experience I'll never forget."
Another thing the North team won't forget is the fact the South has won three straight Shrine Bowls, all by lopsided margins. The North's coaching staff has made sure of that.
"The coaches are really pulling that out," Lenz said. "The coaches really want to win this game, and the players do, too."
The South has won the last three games by scores of 41-0, 24-7 and 20-0.
"We gotta pull one out here," said Ross, who is headed to Loras and plans to play football for the Duhawks.
For many players, Saturday night will be the last time they throw in a helmet and pads. That's not the case for Lenz, Uhlik or Ross, but they're soaking in the experience nonetheless.
If nothing else, Ross said, "It's just nice to get back on the football field."
