By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- Former Rossville football star Corey Catron was a late addition to the East roster for Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Pittsburg State University, getting the call earlier this month.
But it only took the two-time Class 2A state champion a matter of seconds to jump at the chance.
Former Rossville star Corey Catron takes a quick water break during Sunday night's East practice for Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I wouldn't miss this for anything,'' Catron said during Sunday evening's East practice session at Ottawa University. "This is great.
"I get to wear the Rossville helmet one more time and I wouldn't miss that chance for anything, honestly.''
A big bonus for the 5-foot-8, 166-pound Catron, who will play a slotback posision for the East, is that he gets to play one last time with former teammate and close friend Torrey Horak and his coach at Rossville, Derick Hammes, who is an assistant coach for the East.
"That's also going to be real fun, hanging out with those two one last time this week,'' Catron said.
Catron, who rushed for 1,315 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior, is counting on this week's East training camp to help get him ready to report to Bethel College in Newton, Kansas later this summer.
"Especially with these two and three-a-days it will help getting in shape because I haven't ran as much as I should have,'' Catron said with a smile. "It will help a lot, definitely, especially with the heat this week.''
Catron feels like Bethel, a member of the KCAC, will be a good fit for him.
"Hanging out with some of the players that were down there when I showed up was kind of cool, and just being at a smaller college, not a real big D-II or anything, just felt right for me,'' Catron said.
But before launching his college career, Catron is eager to add his name to Rossville's Shrine Bowl legacy.
"Having your name up there with all the great Rossville guys, that's awesome because there's been a lot of people who have gone through Rossville that's done a great job,'' said Catron, who was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Male Athlete earler this summer. "I'm real excited.''
Catron is one of four Shawnee Country products who will play for the East in Saturday night's game, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Horak is playing quarterback for the East while Seaman grad Casen Stallbaumer is playing linebacker and Shawnee Heights grad Orrin Busenitz offensive center.
Horak will play his college football at Central Missouri while Stallbaumer is headed to Emporia State and Busenitz to Washburn.
Topeka High lineman Danny Saili was also selected to play in the game, but was a late withdrawal.
