June 21 – GRAND FORKS – Grand Forks Central’s Jack Simmers always wanted to play Division I football.
His plan was to stay at UND, but when he realized the roster would likely be full before fall camp, leaving no room for him, Simmers reopened his recruitment. He looked at schools like Minnesota State Moorhead and Mayville State, who initially showed interest in him.
“Mayville offered me a really good opportunity here,” he said. “They seemed excited to ask me to play, so that’s the main reason I chose to go there.”
He’ll get his first taste of the game at Jerome Berg Field on Saturday when Simmers and Central teammates Leo Strandell, Tyler Whalen and Tray Kuntz play in the 50th North Dakota Shrine Bowl.
Grand Forks Red River seniors Zach Oehlke and Lawson Lotysz will also participate in the 11-man game at 7 p.m. Saturday. 9-player game starts at 4 p.m.
“Maybe only 35, 40 guys get picked to play, so it’s pretty special,” Simmers said. “Shriners, everything they do for kids and how they impact our nation is really important, so I feel like this is really special and that’s why I’m excited to be here playing.
“Everyone is going their separate ways this year. That’s also a reason why it’s going to be a fun time. Being able to play one more game with these guys, enjoy the memories, just have fun.”
The East team is coached by Jake Schauer, who led the Knights to the state championship game in his second season at Central.
“Coaching four more of my players once again is a big deal for me,” he said. “It’s always an honor to be invited to coach an all-star game with the best of the best. It’s one of those things that’s been around since I played, my dad played and my grandfather played. So to be a part of that again is really cool.”
In the two years Schauer coached Simmers at Central, Simmers played three positions on offense, taking over as the starting quarterback as a senior.
Schauer plans to give Simmers, who was named to the National Football Foundation Team of Distinction on Tuesday, a chance to play multiple positions again on Saturday.
“Jack is really unique,” Schauer said. “A kid like that… Do you let him play quarterback a little bit, like you did last year? Do you put him at running back, where he’s perhaps the most natural? , put him in the middle and let him be Jack. It will be fun to see what our offensive coaches do with him.”
And Mayville State could do the same in the future as well.
Simmers is rostered as a receiver now, but the Comets and coach Rocky Larson “might put me at running back and maybe even safety at some point,” Simmers said.
“(Mayville State) let him know how valuable they think he is and how important they think he is,” Schauer said. “Very good recruiting job by his coaches, and it will be fun to see Jack at the next level.”
