Bebout to play in Iowa Shrine Bowl

Here’s a little local football news amid the high school baseball and softball action and soon-to-be racing at Iowa Speedway.

Newton High 2019 graduate Ike Bebout was honored to be placed on the South Squad for the 2019 Iowa Shrine Bowl football all-star game. He joins Baxter’s Will Clapper and Prairie City-Monroe’s Wes Cummings representing the Jasper County area.

The Iowa Class 3A all-state offensive tackle signed a national letter of intent to play NCAA Division II football at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. When he made his commitment official in February, he talked about his love of football.

“I wasn’t the biggest kid when I was little. I was told I would never play a down of varsity high school football,” Bebout said. “I was determined to prove those people wrong. I love playing football.”

Bebout is one of those good guys with a passion to play tough on the football field — for love of the game. To me, the 6-foot-4-inch, 280-pound lineman is a perfect fit for what the Shrine Bowl is about — “Strong legs run that weak legs may walk.”

The game brings honor and recognition to the players, their schools and their communities. It has also been an effective tool in raising money for The Shriner’s Hospital For Children.

To date, the Iowa Shrine Bowl has raised more than $2,600,000 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.

I covered many high school football players in Kansas who participated in that state’s annual Shrine Bowl. All of them said the players’ visit to a Shriner Children’s Hospital to see patients was the most memorable part of the entire experience.

Practices for the 47th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl begin on July 14 in Cedar Falls. There are several team activities scheduled throughout the week The week concludes with a hog roast on July 18, a mini camp with the Shriner Children’s Hospital patients and an honor banquet on July 19.

The Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic between the South and North football squads kicks off at 4 p.m. on July 20 at the Uni-Dome on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

Bebout as a three-year starter for Newton’s Cardinals as with any offensive lineman doesn’t have individual statistics. But in the trenches for the Cardinal football team he made his mark, which is why he is on his way to playing offensive line for Wayne State.

Bebout does have statistics to point to — second-leading rushing team in Class 4A in 2017 and top rushing team (3,105 yards) in 3A in 2018. He was a major cog up front to allow Newton’s football team to accomplish the top ground game the past two seasons.

Bebout plans to become a teacher — middle school history — and coach. He will pursue an secondary education degree at Wayne State. He is the son of Dan and Jen Bebout of Kellogg.

The Shrine Bowl South Squad will have Bebout and Clapper, who is 6-foot-4 and 290 and walking on at Iowa State University, to help on the offensive line. Cummings, 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, is slotted to be in the backfield after leading the PCM Mustangs to the 2019 Class 2A state championship.

Back to summer — I have a busy weekend. Friday has a eight of our 10 baseball and softball teams playing. Saturday I will be covering the annual Newton High Cardinal baseball tournaments at Woodland Park.

The junior varsity tournament begins at 10 a.m. with Carlisle playing Davenport West and Newton taking on Pleasantville. At noon, the losing teams of the early games play in the consolation game and the winners in the championship game.

The varsity baseball tournament is slated to start at 3 p.m. with Carlisle playing Davenport West on Holland-Patterson Field and Newton faces Gilbert on Eversman Field. The varsity championship and consolation games are scheduled for 5 p.m.

Then on Sunday — Father’s Day — I’m at Iowa Speedway for the 2019 opening weekend. I’ll cover the NASCAR Xfinity Series CircuitCity.com 250, which has a 4:30 p.m. start time.

Contac Jocelyn Sheets
at jsheets@newtondailynews.com