IWCC-bound senior is first ever selection in brief history since Danes-Vikings combination
By Drew Herron - AJ Sports Editor / March 13, 2014
ELK HORN - The meaning or honor of playing in the Iowa Shrine Bowl holds varying weight for different players.
For one of this year's participants on the South roster, it most certainly brings with it a great deal of pride.
Exira-EHK senior linebacker Nick Peppers was announced recently as one of Iowa's 46 best football players selected for the all-star game, a remarkable recognition of his talent and achievements while competing in the 8-Man game.
"It's an honor to say the very least," Peppers said this week. "It's something I wanted pretty badly since my freshman year. And when we switched to 8-Man, I thought it might not be possible. But this is something I've wanted for a long time. It's definitely been a goal."
Last season Peppers was a First Team All-State selection by most every publication to release a list, but there is always the underlying gap that exists in Iowa between 8-Man and 11-Man. As a sophomore, Peppers played 11-Man in 2011 and he led the state (all classes) with 166 total tackles (70 solo and 16 for loss).
But, before the 2012 season, the Spartans moved from Class A to 8-Man, where numbers and stats can easily get skewed. Still, Peppers collected 165 total tackles as a junior (17 for loss), and this last year, he finished with 126 and six for loss as he sat out two games injured.
Though there are four 8-Man players on each side of the North-South game, Peppers thinks there still exists a underlying stigma against athletes from smallest class, and helps keep the chip on his shoulder.
"I hear it all the time, and you see it on Twitter," Peppers says. "I think there definitely is a knock on 8-Man (players), but if anything, it gives you a little bit of extra motivational energy."
The game is scheduled for Saturday, July 26 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Iowa Shrine Bowl Game is an All-Star Football game selected of pre-college on each side of a north-south dividing line that around here means Highway 30. The event is also a fundraising event in which proceeds through ticket sales, advertising, merchandising, sponsorship and contributions for The Shriner's Hospital for Children. Anyone interested in tickets ($10 advance/$15 at door) or sponsorship can contact Nick directly at 712-249-5945.
This year, the 42nd annual installment of the game, features 46 graduated high school seniors selected to the teams. Each fall, Iowa high school coaches are asked to recommend a defensive and offensive player whom is a worthy representative of his school and community. The teams are then selected by coaching staffs from across the state.
Spartans' head coach Tom Petersen didn't hesitate to nominate Peppers, and apparently enough of the other coaches agreed that senior from EEHK had the skill sets to compete.
"He's been the face of our program the past four years," coach Petersen says. "Nick's a special player, but more importantly a special kid and a leader."
Coach Petersen credits Peppers' unselfishness throughout his career when asked to do what's best for the team. When his offensive carries begin to slow after his sophomore year, he did not sulk, he blocked harder and spent more energy on defense. As a sophomore during 11-man player, led the state in tackles. As he progressed along, Nick Peppers carried the ball less and blocked more in accepting his specific role on a very good team.
"Nick is not a (player) you can replace with one or two people, it's going to take an entire team to make up for what he had," coach Petersen says. "He's been such a tremendous asset for us turning this program around."
Peppers plans to play next fall at Iowa Western Community College. IWCC's ability to turn out talent and serve as a spring board to the next level have got the former Spartans' standout excited about pursuing this avenue.
Peppers enters the Shrine Bowl in hopes of securing a starting position at linebacker, the position he plans to play at Iowa Western in the fall.
"This is definitely going to help keep me motivated to stay in top shape over the summer," Peppers says. "And once I get to Iowa Western, I'll be like I am a week ahead of everybody at Iowa Western. It's going to be an exciting time."
#8-Man #exira-ehk #iowaprepfootball #shrinebowl
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