The annual Kansas Shrine Bowl will be played in El Dorado at 7:00 PM on Sat., July 29. Dawson Hammes will be one of the East players, and his father, RHS football coach Derick Hammes, will be the coach for the team.
From the Capital Journal:
The last four seasons for Rossville football have been something special as the program captured not only its first state title, but three consecutive.
The stretch had extra meaning for Bulldawg coach Derick Hammes, who was able to share the experience with his son, Dawson — a standout linebacker and running back for all three title teams.
Their time together as coach and player seemingly came to an end when Rossville scored in overtime to beat Hesston 48-42 in Hutchinson in late November. Instead, the two will get one more chance to take the field together in Saturday’s Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Derick Hammes is the head coach for the East, while Dawson will start at linebacker in the 7 p.m. game in El Dorado.
“You wrap all of it together, it’s been pretty neat,” Derick Hammes said. “The last three years what we were able to do as a team, and now this is just the icing on the cake. It’s pretty special. We both realize we’ve been very, very fortunate and we’re going to go out and do it one more time.”
When he accepted the nomination to be the East head coach, Hammes knew there would be a chance he’d get to coach Dawson in the game. But at the same time, Rossville had other worthy candidates, including All-State quarterback Jacob Bradshaw.
Dawson was selected, however, and now follows in his father’s footsteps. Derick played for the East squad in the 1989 Shrine Bowl and the two are rare father-son combos whom have had the chance to each play in the game.
“I never even thought about it like that,” Derick said. “Not a lot of kids get this opportunity and for both of us to experience it, it’s something special. What you learn is it’s a very special cause and being able to help in some way, these kids, is very special and you don’t realize the importance until you play in the game.”
Not only will Dawson follow his father’s path in the Shrine game, but will for his collegiate career as well. After wrapping up his high school career with 338 tackles, Dawson signed with Emporia State.
Derick played for the Hornets from 1989-92.
“It’s pretty crazy,” Dawson said. “He played in (the Shrine Bowl) 20-some years ago and now I am. And I’m going to Emporia State too, following in his footsteps.”
Dawson said signing with Emporia State wasn’t a foregone conclusion when making his college decision. At the same time, however, the program has held a place in his heart for some time.
“For the most part, I was wide open,” he said. “But since he did go to Emporia, it was someplace I wanted to go. It was a pretty easy choice.”
Dawson said playing for his father throughout his career has had its pluses and minuses.
“It’s always tough when your dad’s the coach because it seems he’s harder on you than the other players,” Dawson said. “He expects more out of you because he knows you better. But at the same time, it’s nice. I’ve grown up watching film with him and I’ve learned so much from him, especially defensively. I’ve tried to pick up whatever I can from him.”
While there could be a certain level of expectations placed on Dawson being the son of a former Hornet standout (Derick was third-team All-MIAA in 1991), Dawson said he’ll start his college career the same way he would if his father hadn’t played at ESU.
“I don’t think there’s pressure,” he said. “I’m just going to go up and do my thing and try to earn a spot.”
Both are relishing the chance to have one more game together this weekend.
“It’s just cool and you can’t script stuff like this,” Derick said. “We’ve been lucky — three state championships, you get to do the Shrine Bowl and he gets to go to Emporia State. In my wildest dreams I couldn’t have wrote it out like that. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s amazing that it’s worked out like that.”
