Collins-Maxwell/Baxter senior Blake Coughenour wasn’t good enough to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl when the rosters were announced earlier this year.
A few months later, Coughenour is headed to Cedar Falls to take part in the week-long event after all.
Coughenour was one of the late additions to the annual event after a handful of future Division FCS athletes had to pull out at the request of their future collegiate schools.
Coughenour made his mark the most as a running back at the high school level, but the Raider senior will play one final prep football game as a linebacker for the South all-star team. He replaces future Iowa State Cyclone Jacob Hummel of Dowling Catholic.
“This is a great opportunity, a great experience for Blake,” CMB coach Rob Luther said.
“There are a lot of quality kids that aren’t selected for this game. There is a lot of character involved. These kids represent their school, and that is important, too.”
The rosters for this year’s game include several familiar names.
Joining Coughenour on the South squad from the area are Newton’s Caden Manning and Prairie City-Monroe’s Luke Greiner.
Other players on the South team include Pella Christian’s David Kacmarynski, Pella’s Nick Finney, BGM’s Jayce Knight, Norwalk’s Brady Brandsfield, Creston’s Chase Schiltz, Montezuma’s Logan Price, Pleasantville’s Will Anthony and Belle Plaine’s Chance Baburek.
The North all-stars feature future Cyclones Devon Moore of Waterloo West and O’Rein Vance of Cedar Rapids Washington as well as Dike-New Hartford’s Ben Latusek and Roland-Story’s Calvin Bright.
Coughenour will represent CMB one last time. He is Luther’s seventh Raider athlete to play in the game. And the final one.
“It’s bittersweet,” Luther said. “We knew Blake had a gift. I hope this is a culmination of people knowing how good he is.”
Coughenour earned Iowa Newspaper Association all-state honors last year after rushing for 1,204 yards, collecting 408 receiving yards and scoring 18 touchdowns despite being less than one year removed from an ACL injury.
He had 26.5 tackles on defense, playing in a limited role.
“That knee injury set him back,” Luther said. “He always found a way to bounce back though. It was never poor me. It was an emotional year as a whole, and he played well all year long.”
The six previous Raiders to get selected for the game under Luther were Bryce Kemp in 2015, Zach Samson in 2014, Danny Samson in 2009, Clint Huntrods in 2004 and Chase Conover in 2002.
Kemp did not actually take part in the event at the request of Eastern Michigan football, where Kemp now plays tight end.
Coughenour will be busy all week. Players report to camp July 23.
There is a player pizza party and rock climbing July 24, a movie night July 25, a day at Lost Island Water Park on July 26 and a hog roast on July 27.
On July 28, there will be a football and cheerleading mini-camp, a BBQ and a visit from the patients at the Minneapolis Shriner’s Hospital. The night will include an honors banquet at 6:15 p.m.
The Iowa Shrine Bowl parade begins at 9 a.m on July 29.
The 45th annual football game is later that day at 4 p.m.
“This week has three parts to it,” Luther said.
“The most noticeable part on the surface is the game itself. There also is the part of making friends that will last forever and the part about giving back. This event raises a bunch of money every year for a good cause.”
To date, the Iowa Shrine Bowl has raised over $2,358,000 for The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.
Funds for The Shriner’s Hospitals For Children are developed by ticket sales, advertising in the Shrine Bowl program, merchandise sales, contributions and sponsorships.
Contact Troy Hyde
at thyde@newtondailynews.com