Football: Topeka-area helps East secure first Kansas Shrine Bowl victory in 6 years

EMPORIA — It’s been years since Hayden’s Carter Charvat played the center position.

He’s a linebacker that recently graduated and is headed to Benedictine College to play on the defensive side of the ball.

Charvat didn’t mind his cameo on the offensive line. He played nearly every snap in Saturday’s 51st Kansas Shrine Bowl game inside Emporia State’s Welch Stadium.

The Wildcat alum was on the winning side helping the East team claim a 36-23  victory over the West. This was the first win for the East since 2018.

“They told me on the first day, ‘center’ and I said, ‘fair enough,’” Charvat laughed. “It was fun playing alongside the best in the state, it was a lot of fun. Even through I am not playing offensive line, I learned a lot.”

Carter Charvat (54) hikes the ball during the Kansas Shrine Bowl Saturday June 29, 2024 at Emporia State University.

The future college football player described playing center as “scary.” Charvat shared that it was hard to fire off the line of scrimmage especially when he’s the one snapping the ball. He did incredibly well as Charvat did not have a single bad snap in Saturday’s game.

“Surprisingly,” he grinned.

Charvat was one of six players from the Topeka-area to play in the bowl game.

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Seaman’s Callen Barta expected to play wide receiver. Earlier in the week, the coaching staff — which consisted of Shawnee Heights’ Jason Swift and Washburn Rural’s Steve Buhler — came to Barta and asked him to switch to corner.

Barta cheerfully obliged.

“We were a little short on corners,” Barta said. “I am happy wherever I play.”

Called Barta (19) reacts after a loose ball during the Kansas Shrine Bowl Saturday June 29, 2024 at Emporia State University.

The Seaman alum has been…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/football-topeka-area-helps-east-115702897.html

Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal

Publish date : 2024-06-30 11:57:02

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