By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Haas had an outstanding senior football season for Washburn Rural, earning All-Centennial League, All-Shawnee County and All-Class 6A recognition from the Kansas Football Coaches Association.
Brody Haas, Washburn Rural
Haas registered 114 total tackles with 80 solo stops for the 6-4 Junior Blues, recording 14 tackles for loss with a sack and two pass interceptions (one for a touchdown) while recovering two fumbles.
Despite those lofty laurels the former Junior Blues linebacker still wasn't banking on getting the opportunity to play in the prestigious Kansas Shrine Bowl, but was one of Shawnee County's six original picks for the East roster
"I actually was pretty surprised,'' Haas said. "A funny story, my mom was watching (the selection show) and she said that I didn't make it. I was like, 'Oh alright,' and then I got a bunch of texts from everybody else and there were like, 'You made the Shrine Bowl.'
"I was really grateful and I'm excited to be here.''
Haas will play strong safety and maybe some linebacker for the East in Saturday's 7 p.m. Shrine game at Emporia State's Welch Stadium.
"I think (practice) is preparing us really well, and with it being a lot cooler, everyone's not over-exhausted,'' Haas said earlier the week at the East's Ottawa University training camp. "Everyone's in really good spirits, we're all having a pretty good time learning and adjusting to the playbook and everything that's being taught.''
Following the Shrine Bowl Haas will head up to Benedictine College to play his college football.
"Benedictine kind of was the only school that really gave me a shot,'' Haas said. "And after going up there and meeting all their coaches, I started to really like the program and what they were trying to teach us and all of that, so I bought in pretty quick to it.''
Haas is one of seven county products on the East roster, along with AJ Gallegos and Aiden Scott of Shawnee Heights, Rossville's Conner Bush and Andre Johnson, Seaman's Cameron Brian and Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson.
Rossville's Derick Hammes is serving as an assistant coach for the East.
The West holds a 32-18-2 edge in the Shrine Bowl series, including a 26-8 win in Dodge City in 2025.
The East won the most recent game in Emporia, taking a 36-25 decision in 2024.
