Team West Wins Field Goal Filled East-West Shrine Game

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The 98th East-West Shrine Bowl was a low-scoring match-up. Team West prevailed over team East, 12-3, Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

There were no touchdowns scored in the game for the first time ever while Michigan kicker Jake Moody was 4 for 4, two of them being 51 yards and two tries from 35 yards out on his way to earning Offensive MVP honors.

A week-long all-star event during draft and combine season is NFL draft prospects showcasing their talents for teams. This year was a chance of a lifetime with both teams being coached by the staff members of the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. The West team’s head coach was Patriots wide receivers/kickoff returners coach Troy Brown. The East team was led by the Falcons’ special teams coordinator Marquice Williams.

One improvement they have made was the shrine bowl committee partnership with Draft HBCU to help give players more exposure. The players are wide receiver Jadakis Bonds from Hampton University, receiver Dallas Daniels, a graduate transfer from Jackson State University, receiver Shaquan Davis from South Carolina State, and Offensive linemen Mark Evan II from Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Overall these HBCU players accepted the bowl game invite and caught the attention of scouts.

Davis is coming off of an impressive year with two 100+ yard games and a pair of games with multiple touchdowns. With just 29 receptions on the season, for him to have 650+ yards is quite an accomplishment. Daniels only had one season at JSU under former head coach Deion Sanders but the numbers from his performance were about the same. His receptions almost doubled Davis’ but the yards are very similar (692) showing his productivity. His biggest game was a five reception, 95 yards, and a three-touchdown game against JSU to help secure a championship for his team.

Someone who really showed their ability to be a number one receiver was Jadakis Bonds. The Hampton wideout season stats were 49 receptions, 855 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. He had six games with 90+ yards and three games with two touchdowns. All of these players have enormous potential. These stats show the capability of FCS players without a plethora of power five talent surrounding them. The East-West Shrine Bowl should continue to find these undervalued players and give them the opportunity to show their worth on a bigger stage.