CEDAR FALLS — Saturday’s Iowa Shrine Bowl Senior All-Star Game provided several opportunities for T-R area athletes to perform one last time as high schoolers before taking the leap to the collegiate level.

Grundy Center quarterback Colin Gordon and defensive lineman Trent Cakerice were part of the North squad that exploded in the second half for a 49-28 win over the South.

The South led 21-14 at halftime but Gordon’s offensive unit scored 21 points in a row in the third quarter, including a rushing and passing touchdown for Gordon and hard running from Webster City’s Jaxon Cherry, named the North’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.

“That offensive line was just moving earth down in there and I just kinda followed up their butts,” Gordon said. “We really got going there in that third quarter. … I would hand it off to [Cherry] and just watch, I mean he’s a 250-pound running back, good luck bringing him down.”

Gordon and the North offense also pulled off a double reverse trick play for a long pass that was just off the hands of a North receiver and Gordon was stopped a yard short of a final score as time expired.

It was his first time going full-bore into competition after recovering from a hamstring injury during soccer season — Gordon had limited at-bats toward the end of baseball season for Grundy Center.

“Hammy feels good,” Gordon said. “It was really fun, great to meet all these guys, it’s crazy that we all came together this week and now we’re all going our separate ways, but it was a really fun experience just meeting new people.”

Gordon and Cakerice also got an appreciation for what the Shriners’ Hospital provides through fundraising efforts like the Shrine Bowl by meeting some of the children the hospital has helped with kids camps.

Players and cheerleaders from across Iowa attended Shrine Bowl camps throughout the week and had an opportunity to attend a mini-camp with hospital patients to interact with them, play games and share stories.

“It’s really eye opening to learn about their struggles,” Gordon said, “but it shows you what this game is all about on a deeper level and all the organizations that are involved.”

Funds raised by the Shrine Bowl game and its participants benefit Shriners’ hospitals and burn centers across the region and also help cover transportation costs to get patients to and from those hospitals and clinics.

Gordon will be moving in on campus at Morningside on Aug. 1, where the all-state football captain has signed to play football.

“I haven’t played a live game in awhile, so this was fun to get back out here and it gets me really excited for Morningside and to see the next step,” Gordon said.

Cakerice, a preferred walk-on for the University of Iowa football team, got plenty of attention from opposing offensive linemen as he jockeyed for position on the line of scrimmage.

“It was a lot of fun,” Cakerice said. “We’ve had quite a bit of success here. … It definitely shows how much I need to improve but also shows me how far I’ve come.”

Abby Tollefson, a West Marshall cheerleader who also won a state diving championship with Marshalltown swimming and diving earlier this school year, was part of the all-star cheer squad that cheered throughout the game and performed at halftime.

Tollefson will be attending Iowa State this fall where she’ll join the Cyclones’ swimming and diving team.

Gavin Bridgewater, who played football for South Tama County in the fall and was a state runner-up for the Trojans at state wrestling before transferring to Madrid, played a variety of roles for the South squad including special teams and defensive end. Bridgewater has signed to play football at Upper Iowa this fall.

Gilbert’s Nash Hanson was North’s defensive MVP; the South MVP awards went to Jackson Naeve of Iowa City Regina (offense) and Jase Wilmes of Clarinda (defense).