By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Junction City High School graduate Jackson Hollie played in the 53rd Kansas Shrine Bowl on Saturday night in Emporia. Hollie joined Junction City High School Head Football Coach Randall Zimmerman on the West sideline. In the game, Hollie tallied three tackles for the West team. The East defeated the West, 14-7.
After the game, Jackson Hollie received a special honor. Hollie was awarded the 2026 Mike Bell Most Inspirational Award. Hollie represented the Blue Jays one final time as a high school athlete. Now, he will play football this fall at K-State.
Junction City Blue Jays Head Football Coach Randall Zimmerman made a Kansas Shrine Bowl record with his ninth appearance on the sidelines on Saturday night. Zimmerman previously served as an assistant coach five times in 1988, 1995, 2009, 2015, and 2021, while also being named the West head coach on three previous occasions in 1996, 2010, and 2016.
After the game, Zimmerman spoke about being part of another Shrine Bowl week.
"This is for an incredible cause," Randall Zimmerman said. "Every one of these is a little bit different, and you remember different things, but it's just so cool to see all those kids at the hospital experience."
Before the game, Zimmerman had a chance to address the team and discussed the Shriners Hospitals and all the great work they do.
"I told them, 'If your heart wasn't softened through that experience, then you better check your pulse. I truly mean that,'" Zimmerman said. "I just love what the Shriners do, and it's such a fun event."
Zimmerman then spoke about Junction City's Jackson Hollie.
"Jackson is an unbelievably great kid, and I couldn't be more proud of that kid."
More photos from the Shrine Bowl are below.
