No matter how hard they tried, Western Athletic Conference football opponents couldn’t stop Great Bend High School linebacker Hunter Harrison from making a tackle.
Harrison was everywhere last fall for the Panthers, anticipating and hunting down opposing ball-carriers at a feverish rate. He led the Panthers and the WAC with 133 tackles in nine total games.
“I just love everything about it,” said Harrison, who will be a starting outside linebacker for the West squad as they prepare to take on the East in the 40th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7 at Yager Stadium on the Washburn University campus in Topeka.
Harrison's penchant for making the big hit placed him No. 2 in the GBHS school record books behind Matt Pantzer’s top mark of 148, which he set in 13 games during the 2006 season. Harrison owns the top tackles-per-game average in school history with 14.7 during his senior season in 2012.
“(Great Bend) Coach (Bo) Black has been a role model to me and he’s an awesome head coach who definitely teaches all of the right things,” Harrison said. “I’m honored to be here playing and representing him and the Great Bend program.
“I know a lot of the (Shrine Bowl) coaches know Coach Black and it’s an honor to be able to represent Great Bend, Coach Black and the rest of the players.”

• Teams arrive in Topeka
The West squad arrived from Salina, and the East arrived from Emporia on Thursday for Hospital Visitation Day at the Memorial Union on the Washburn campus from 1 to 5 p.m. … Proceeds from the prestigious all-star game go to the Shriners Hospital for Children, based in St. Louis, Mo.

• Roster change
Topeka High’s Raymond Solis replaces Aaron Ramsey of Blue Valley Southwest on the East roster.

• Annual Shrine Bowl Parade
The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, traveling through downtown Topeka. It starts at 10th and Jackson, traveling north to 6th St., where it heads east on 6th to Topeka Blvd. and then south to 13th St.