July 21 – Chargers’ Hunley, Lopez wrap up prep careers with Shrine Bowl appearance
David Vantress
Former Carroll kicker Sebastian Lopez follows the action during the first half of the IFCA Murat Shrine Bowl on July 14 at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis.
David Vantress
Former Carroll offensive lineman Aiden Hunley gets into his pass blocking stance during the first half of the IFCA Murat Shrine Bowl on July 14 at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS — A select few high school football players get to take their talents to the college level.
And an even smaller group get to don their high school uniforms one last time just before heading off to college.
A pair of former Carroll Chargers did just that lJuly 14 when they played in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Murat Shrine Bowl at Decatur Central High School.
Offensive lineman Aiden Hunley and kicker Sebastian Lopez were named to the North squad in the spring. They both suited up in the dark blue jerseys of the North side, donning their familiar silver Carroll helmets one last time.
The game was won by the South squad, 21-2. It was stopped with about four minutes left by the officials due to sportsmanship issues — none of which involved the two former Charger standouts or several other Northeast Indiana players on the North team.
Hunley is headed to the University of Saint Francis in the fall, with Lopez already getting settled at Indiana State in Terre Haute.
Hunley said he enjoyed the entire week of Shrine Bowl activities, not just the football. The players stay in dorms at the University of Indianapolis, and are paired with someone they don’t know for rooming purposes.
Hunley especially liked that part of the week in Indy.
“It was an amazing experience,” Hunley said. “I met a lot of new people, and it’s something I’ll always remember.”
Lopez, meanwhile, had the chance to hone his kicking skills while also making some new friends. He’s already at Indiana State getting acclimated to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level and was set to return to southwest Indiana early this week.
A nice group of Carroll fans including Charger coach Doug Dinan made the trip to cheer for Hunley and Lopez.
Lopez said the first few days of Shrine Bowl Week are a challenge as players get re-acquainted with the contact and grueling conditioning elite-level football demands.
“But at the end of the week, everyone came together,” Lopez said.
For Lopez, the best part of the week was the opportunity to make new friends on top of getting one more chance to play prep football.
“Watching the team come together, none of us knew each other,” Lopez said.
Lopez said he and his Sycamore teammates have a few more weeks of offseason conditioning and workouts before fall camp officially kicks off Aug. 1.