It wasn’t the final team result they were looking for, but what a week for Liberal’s Brooks Kappelmann and Hugoton’s Isaac Martin who competed for the West in the Kansas Shrine Bowl football game Saturday night at Welch Stadium in Emporia. The East won the game 36-25 over the West. Kappelmann played quarterback for the West and was 29-51 for 235 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He carried one time for six yards. Kappelmann was named Most Inspirational Player for the West at a ceremony on Friday night. Martin rotated in regularly at linebacker for the West. The two arrived in Hays Sunday June 23 and participated in West camp at Hays before departing for Emporia on Thursday. The game was played before a nearly capacity crowd Saturday night.
Kappelmann became the first Liberal player since Trenton Hammond in 2014 to make it on the Shrine Bowl roster. He is the first Liberal quarterback since Trace Haskell in 1998 to make the Shrine Bowl.
Brooks helped the Redskins to an 8-2 season and their best season in 20 years. He was 142-232 for 2,356 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. He rushed 121 times for 749 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kappelmann is the 42nd Redskin to make the Shrine Bowl.
Martin led the Hugoton Eagles to a 6-3 season and led the defense playing linebacker. He registered 61 tackles including eight tackles for loss. He had six batted passes and two interceptions including one for a 42 yard touchdown. Martin is the first Hugoton player to make the Shrine Bowl roster since Colton Lissolo in 2012. Martin is the 7th Hugoton Eagle to make the Shrine Bowl.
Martin is going on to play football at Butler while Kappelmann will play baseball at Seward.
Four members of “That Liberal Band” played in the game.
