Emporia witnessed the end of a five-game losing streak for the East team in the Kansas Shrine Bowl, as they emerged victorious over the West with a score of 36-25 at Welch Stadium on Saturday night. Dylan Dunn, the quarterback from Blue Valley Southwest, made history by setting new Shrine Bowl records for pass completions (25), passing yards (307), and touchdowns (4), contributing significantly to the East’s first win since 2018.
The West initially took the lead with a 42-yard field goal by Blaise Hoover from McPherson, but the East quickly turned the game around by scoring 20 unanswered points, leading 20-3 at halftime. Despite a strong effort from McPherson’s Teegan Haines, who blocked a punt and set up a touchdown for the West, the East responded with a long touchdown pass to maintain a comfortable lead of 28-10.
In the fourth quarter, Brooks Kappelmann from Liberal connected with Haines for a 15-yard touchdown pass, bringing the West closer at 36-23. Although the West managed to force a safety for the final score, the East held on to secure the victory. The MVP awards were presented to Brody Hayes from Clay Center for the West, receiving the Paul Coffman Award, and Dylan Dunn, who was named the East MVP and received the Gary Spani Award.
