Ellie Jenkins, Kellen Moore represent Forest City at 51st Shrine Bowl

The 51st edition of the Iowa Shrine Bowl football game took place on Saturday evening in Cedar Falls at the UNI-Dome. The annual game is played to celebrate the state’s best football players and cheerleaders, giving seniors a chance to represent their school one last time. While funds raised during the game benefit The Shriners Hospital for Children. 

According to Katie Reeder, Public Relations Coordinator for Mediacom, which televised the game, “specifically, funds are distributed to orthopedic hospitals and burn centers in the Midwest and each Shrine Center’s Transportation fund.”

She added, “In October 2020, the Shriners Children’s Twin Cities announced a new partnership with Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, IA, to provide specialty orthopedic care to children in Central Iowa. Physicians for this clinic will be provided by Shriners Children’s Clinics and will provide a wide range of pediatric services: care for fractures, hip dysplasia, spine conditions, cerebral palsy, and issues that arise due to gait abnormality”.

Forest City all-state football player Kellen Moore was selected for the contest, as was cheerleader Ellie Jenkins – both graduated this spring. 

Moore played for Team North, which was down 7-0 at halftime before scoring 23 unanswered points to take a 23-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Team South scored a touchdown and two-point conversion in the fourth, making the game 23-15, and were within striking distance. Though they were unable to find a second, fourth quarter TD, and Team North ended the game with a pick-six to make the final score 29-15. 

According to the University of Northern Iowa, the game has raised nearly $3 million to date, with the goal each year to raise $100,000. 

Student-athletes arrive on Sunday, six days ahead of the game, for a week’s worth of practice and activities leading up to the game that was played at 4:00 PM. Other activities include a parade, Lost Island Waterpark, picnic, hog roast, and honors banquet, and the teams participated in Shrine Hospital’s Beyond the Field Camp, which benefits the Shriners Children in Iowa who receive care there.