June 23, 2025
Shaw Local
Illinois High School Football NewsPhoto GalleriesSubscribeAnalysisFeaturesPodcastNewsletterPhoto Store
Alden-Hebron Giants Amboy Clippers Antioch Sequoits Ashton-Franklin Center Raiders Barrington Broncos Batavia Bulldogs Bartlett Hawks Benet Academy Redwings Bishop McNamara Fightin' Irish Bolingbrook Raiders Bradley-Bourbonnais Boilermakers Brother Rice Crusaders Buffalo Grove Bison Bureau Valley Storm Burlington Central Rockets Carmel Corsairs Cary Grove Trojans Clifton Central Comets Coal City Coalers Conant Cougars Crystal Lake Central Tigers Crystal Lake South Gators DeKalb Barbs Dixon Dukes Downers Grove North Trojans Downers Grove South Mustangs Dundee-Crown Chargers Dwight Trojans East St. Louis Flyers Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz Elk Grove Grenadiers Elgin Maroons Erie-Prophetstown Panthers Fenwick Friars Fieldcrest Knights Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland Forreston Cardinals Fremd Vikings Fulton Steamers Geneva Vikings Genoa-Kingston Cogs Glenbard East Rams Glenbard North Panthers Glenbard South Raiders Glenbard West Hitters Grant Bulldogs Grayslake Central Rams Grayslake North Knights Hall Red Devils Hampshire Whip-Purs Harvard Hornets Hersey Huskies Herscher Tigers Hiawatha Hawks Highland Park Giants Hinsdale Central Red Devils Hinsdale South Hornets Hoffman Estates Hawks Homewood Flossmoor Vikings Huntley Red Raiders IC Catholic Prep Knights Iroquois West Chargers Jacobs Golden Eagles Joliet Catholic Hilltoppers Joliet Central Steelmen Joliet West Tigers Johnsburg Skyhawks Kaneland Knights Kankakee Kays Lake Forest Scouts Lake Zurich Bears Lakes Eagles Larkin Royals LaSalle-Peru Cavaliers Lemont football Libertyville Wildcats Lincoln Way Central Knights Lincoln Way East Griffins Lincoln Way West Warriors Lockport Porters Loyola Academy Ramblers Lyons Township Lions Maine East Blue Demons Maine South Hawks Maine West Warriors Marengo Indians Marian Catholic Spartans Marian Central Catholic Hurricanes Marist RedHawks Marmion Academy Cadets Marquette Crusaders McHenry Warriors Metea Valley Mustangs Mendota Trojans Milford Bearcats Milledgeville Missiles Minooka Indians Momence Montini Broncos Morris Morrison Mustangs Morton Mustangs Mount Carmel Caravan Mundelein Mustangs Naperville Central Redhawks Naperville North Huskies Nazareth Academy Roadrunners Neuqua Valley Wildcats New Trier Trevians Newman Central Catholic Comets Niles Notre Dame Dons Oak Park River Forest Huskies Oregon Hawks Oswego Panthers Oswego East Wolves Ottawa Pirates Palatine Pirates Peotone Blue Devils Phillips Wildcats Plainfield Central Wildcats Plainfield East Bengals Plainfield North Tigers Plainfield South Cougars Plano Reapers Polo Marcos Prairie Ridge Wolves Princeton Tigers Prospect Knights Providence Catholic Celtics Reed-Custer Comets Richmond Burton Rockets Riverside Brookfield Bulldogs Rock Falls Rockets Rolling Meadows Mustangs Romeoville Spartans Round Lake Panthers Sandwich Indians Schaumburg Saxons Seneca Fighting Irish Simeon Wolverines St Anne Cardinals St Bede Bruins St Charles East Saints St Charles North North Stars St Edward Green Wave St Francis Spartans St Patrick Shamrocks St Rita Mustangs St Viator Lions Sterling Golden Warriors Stevenson Patriots Streator Bulldogs Sycamore Spartans Vernon Hills Cougars Warren Township Blue Devils Waubonsie Valley Warriors Wauconda Bulldogs West Aurora Blackhawks Westmont Sentinels Wheaton North Falcons Wheaton Academy Wheeling Wildcats Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers Willowbrook Warriors Wilmington Wildcats Woodstock Blue Streaks Woodstock North Thunder York Dukes Yorkville Foxes

Illinois Shrine Game: Big plays give Blue Team 29-7 win in 51st annual event

Players take field one last time while giving back to community

By Adam Tumino
Jacobs High School's Luke Gormsen

Jacobs High School's Luke Gormsen (Adam Tumino)

BLOOMINGTON – High school football standouts from across Illinois donned their schools’ helmets one last time Saturday at the 51st annual all-star Shrine Game.

Every corner of the state was represented at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Tucci Stadium, with players converging on Bloomington for the all-star festivities and charitable events that surround the Shrine Game, hosted by the Peoria chapter of Shriners International.

It was a competitive game, particularly early on, and was tied at 7 at halftime before the Blue Team pulled away from the Red Team with a pair of touchdowns and a safety in the third quarter.

Trailing 23-7 in the final minutes of the fourth, the Red Team managed to drive down to the red zone looking for a late touchdown to stay alive. But instead, it was Jacobs defensive back Luke Gormsen of the Blue Team who stepped in front of a pass and ran it back 90-plus yards for a game-sealing touchdown with 50 seconds to go, giving Blue a 29-7 win.

“When I was a junior, I returned one and got tackled at the 1, so it was good to finally finish one off with a touchdown” Gormsen said. “What a way to go out. It was a great play, a great moment.

“I’ll probably remember that for the rest of my life.”

In the early stages of Saturday’s game, it may have been difficult to imagine either team scoring 29 points. After Blue turned the ball over on downs on the first possession of the game, the next three possessions resulted in punts.

Blue got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, going up 7-0 with 10:31 to go on a 4-yard touchdown run from Moline’s Adrian Cooper. For Red, Champaign Central’s George Rouse hit Hope Academy’s Aaron Green on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds until halftime to tie it at 7.

A high snap on a Red punt sailed out of the end zone for a safety early in the third. Blue recovered the ensuing free kick at the Red 26-yard line after a nice play from Kewanee’s Alejandro Duarte to snag the low kick out of the air.

On the first play after that recovery, Robert Boyd-Meents of Paxton-Buckley-Loda had a 26-yard touchdown run to put Blue up 16-7. Blue scored again in the third when Farmington Central quarterback Lane Wheelwright threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Breese Central receiver Griffen Becker to go up 23-7.

Each team named an offensive and defensive MVP, Blue selecting Duarte on defense and LeRoy lineman Tate Sigler on offense. Red tabbed Green as its offensive MVP, while Woodstock’s Charlie Walrod was the defensive pick.

“It felt really good to put the pads back on, and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Walrod said. " I didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out great. Over the couple days we built strong relationships, friendships and bonds. We had a great time together."

Woodstock's Charlie Walrod

Woodstock's Charlie Walrod (Adam Tumino)

The players had plenty of time to bond between Tuesday’s check-in and Saturday’s game. There were four days of practices, a cookout, a banquet, a visit with young patients from Shriners Children’s Hospital of Chicago and a Central Illinois Miracle League baseball game, where the all-stars were paired off as “buddies” for the game alongside some of those kids.

While it is fun for the players to put the pads back on and for the coaches to be back on the sidelines for the Shriners Game, Glenbard East head coach John Walters, who coached the Red Team on Saturday, said the chance to give back to the community is what made the week special.

“I think this week is about all of us getting the opportunity to be service leaders,” he said. “Overall, it was great experience for us coaches, and I hope it was for the players. Most of all, I hope it was for the Shriners.”

Blue Team and Antioch head coach Brian Glashagel said everyone who participated in the Shriners Game experience can take something from it.

“What the kids did, working with the Shriners and the events with the kids that go to Shriners Hospital was outstanding,” Glashagel said. “They did such a good job planning activities for the teams to work with those kids.

“It was a very good life experience.”