March 29, 2024

Nielsen, Ricker contribute in Shrine Bowl win

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CEDAR FALLS — Creston/O-M senior Alex Nielsen and Mount Ayr senior Joe Ricker walked off the UNI-Dome field in November having been defeated in their respective state semifinal football games.

Saturday, they both walked off that same field as winners, after helping the South squad win its fifth straight Iowa Shrine Bowl Game, 37-24 over the North squad.

“I had a bad taste in my mouth from that last game here, so it was good to go out with a win here,” Nielsen said.

Ricker played defensive tackle and Nielsen played safety for the South squad in the first and third quarters, with both getting subbed in during the fourth quarter. Central Decatur’s Trenton Wells played safety in the second and fourth quarters for the South squad.

Shrine Bowl rules allow for the team trailing in the second half to receive the kickoff after scoring, which kept the South squad’s defense on the field more often in the second half. When South squad coaches were able to freely substitute with less than 7:00 remaining on the clock, both Ricker and Nielsen garnered more playing time to spell the fourth quarter players.

The South squad took a 16-3 lead into the halftime break when Carroll’s Addison Ross intercepted a pass in the end zone in the waning seconds of the first half, keeping the North squad out of the end zone.

The lead quickly ballooned in the second half, as Dowling Catholic’s Ryan Boyle, who will be joining the Iowa Hawkeyes in the fall, scored on a 3-yard touchdown run just 3 minutes into the third quarter.

Just minutes later, Boyle hit North Scott’s Ricky Grimes on a short pass route and Grimes took the ball 80 yards for a touchdown to put the South up 30-3.

“It was great to get the big win,” Ricker said. “It was a real fun game to play in. We were always up, so it was always fun. Our team, as a whole, played outstanding. I was really, really happy with our performance.”

Ricker made several tackles in the game, including a solo tackle for a loss. During play in the first and third quarters, Ricker often found himself lining up across from Woodbury Central’s Landan Paulsen, who will play on the offensive line for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“I felt like I held my own against those big D-I athletes that are getting looks,” said Ricker, who will play at Iowa Western Community College. “At first, I kind of wondered. I knew he was real big and strong from wrestling, but I felt like I held my own just fine. I did everything I wanted to do on him and I surprised myself at how well I could hold up with those big D-I linemen.”

Nielsen also recorded several tackles from his safety position and also broke up a deep pass play that likely would have gone for a North touchdown if it had been completed.

After not playing defense during his senior season while leading the Panthers as a quarterback, Nielsen said it was an adjustment getting back to defense.

“Playing defense was an adjustment for me, but I’ve played there before. I was used to it. Rusty at first, but it was fun to play with the guys,” he said. “I felt confident. I could break, make tackles, make plays. One broken coverage, I think, but other than that, we were solid on the back. It was a great game for us.”

Both Nielsen and Ricker said the weeklong experience was something that will stick with them for life.

“It’s been a great week,” Ricker said. “You get to meet a whole bunch of people. I’ve made friends with rival schools that I never would have thought I’d be friends with. Made a lot of connections that will probably last a long time.”

“It’s been the best week of my life, to be honest,” Nielsen said. “I didn’t really know what to expect going in. Just getting to know these guys. Some of them were my rivals in high school and I really didn’t like some of them coming in. Getting to know them as people, not just football players was great. I can honestly call some of these guys my best friends now.”