Valley football players compete at the Shriners North-South All-Star Game

ANCHORAGE — The glory of the gridiron only lasts so long, but Valley football players got one last shot at glory for a good cause on Saturday at the 37th annual Shriners North-South All-Star Game at The Dome in Anchorage.

“They get to see that the effort that they’re putting forth to support the Shriners hospitals while participating in this championship game does relate to kids their age kids that are younger and it’s motivational. What we try to project with Shriners hospitals is yes you have an issue, you have a problem but you’re a human and we want to treat you as a regular person. We’re trying to correct an issue that you have so that you can live a normal life and be accepted by those of your same age group,” Shriners Recorder Dale Cain said.

Shriners founded its first children’s hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922 and since then has built 22 facilities in North America.

“Shriners hospitals for children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our hospitals provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate,” reads the Shriner’s website.

While the contest itself was far from competitive with the Silver team taking the 41-0 victory over the Maroon team, gridiron grinders from Valley were able to get a few more hits in and dazzle the crowd with their abilities once more. The Valley was represented by Colony High School seniors Ridge Raval, Gunnar Atkin, Hunter Sasser, Ryan Murphy and Quinten Sereyko and Redington Jr./Sr. High School’s Javon Pau.

Pau has started for the Huskies for four years and saw the transformation of the program from the division doormat to state title contender. Before quarterback Wayde Bowman got injured, Pau flew around the field as a linebacker on defense and running back on offense. Thrust into an unforeseen opportunity, Pau led from the quarterback position for the rest of the season.

“One of the really exciting things about Javon is he brought something that our team was lacking since inception. He brought swagger and I think you can tell out here with him playing even special teams he’s knocking kids around that are all stars from bigger schools and they’re avoiding him now. It’s pretty exciting for them,” Redington coach Steve Martin said.

Martin said that Pau wanted to work to change the culture around Redington football and get more involved with the community. Not only did Pau do community service with his Redington teammates, but popped pads on Saturday one last time for the greater good.

“I feel honored for doing that. It’s an honor playing for a purpose,” Colony quarterback Ryan Murphy said.

Murphy got in the game in the second half with a handful of his Knights teammates. While the Silver All-Star team featured players from Lathrop, Soldotna and West Anchorage, Colony’s five seniors featured prominently for the Maroon team on both offense and defense. Murphy nearly recreated some of the magic that allowed the Knights to shock the world in upsetting defending state champion East Anchorage in the first round. Late in the third quarter, Murphy rolled out to his right and unleashed a tight spiral to Sasser running a fade route to the near corner of the end zone. While Sasser made a marvelous catch, he had traveled out of bounds and the Maroon team ended the game without scoring on the field. Off the field, the All-Stars attended a banquet on Thursday night presented by the Shriners to learn more about what they were playing for. Having been with the Shriners for 22 years, Cain has watched 22 north-south All-Star Games as his supplement to Sunday football.

“To see these kids perform, to see them appreciate what they’re doing for a good cause, that’s where I derive my enjoyment,” Cain said.

After losing a heartbreaking game to the Service Cougars at Service High School, many Knights players were moved to tears as their dreams of winning a state championship with their teammates were dashed.

“So much emotion, you know. Everyone like cares for each other they want to play for each other and that’s what we play for, not just for our town but it’s a brotherhood. It’s a family,” Sasser said.

The North-South All-Star Game gives the best football players in the state an opportunity to put the pads on one last time and end up a winner no matter how the game goes.

“It’s hard for a lot of the seniors hanging up their pads for the last time. This gives them another opportunity to play. I know it was tough for us when they lost last Friday night against Service, it just gives them another opportunity to play with the best of the best in the state,” Colony football coach Ryan Murphy said.

After his last game playing alongside teammates that he’s spent nearly a decade with, Colony quarterback Ryan Murphy had final thoughts on his career that he directed to his coaches, teammates, fans, and Knight football supporters.

“Thanks for the support. Thank you for everything. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for the best four years of our lives, it went by too fast,” Murphy said.