Iowa Shrine Bowl gets Feller up to speed

Former Comet Football MVP to continue career at Drake University

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

Problem with most vintage football film footage is that it’s replayed in slow motion with much of the speed and explosiveness edited out.

The reason may have been to synch the highlights with the sonorous cadence of legendary NFL Films narrator John Facenda.

When former Charles City Comet star Shane Feller participated at the 44th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl, Saturday at the University of Northern Iowa Dome, the projector was set at higher frames per second.

“The game was a lot faster … the players were a lot faster,” Feller said. “I expected it to be that way, but it still was an experience.”

Feller played two quarters for the North squad at defensive back.

“Everyone played two quarters to give everyone an opportunity,” said Feller, who helped North break a five-game South winning streak with a shootout-like 49-35 victory.

Feller managed to tip a pass away in the end zone, and had six tackles.

“It was a challenge playing against and with the best football players around,” Feller said. “I’m now at a level where everyone is a good football player.”

Feller was a pretty good football player during his time in Charles City. More than just a triple threat, Feller was a “quintuple” threat for the Comets on offense. Last fall he was the team’s leader in rushing (373 yards, 5.5 ypc), receiving (308 yards, 18.1 ypc), kickoff returning, punt returning and scoring (54 points on 9 TDs).

He also threw for two TDs, and had an interception and fumble recovery on defense.

Feller, who also led the Comets with 541 receiving yards as a junior, was named Team MVP after his senior season. He will continue his football career at Drake University.

“Playing in a game like that can only help prepare me for college,” Feller said. “It adds to my confidence that I can play with the best.”

One of Feller’s new Bulldog teammates, TJ (John) Clark from Clarinda High School, also played in the Shrine Bowl.

“He was on the South team, and he also played defense (linebacker),” Feller said. “So we didn’t come across each other during the game.”