Local players chosen for the Iowa Shrine Bowl

     Beau Burns, the BGM Quarterback, listens to advice from his dad and head football coach, Jerod Burns during a game against Madrid on Sept. 12. Burns, who amassed 2,181 yards and 36 touchdowns during the season, has been selected to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

By J.O. Parker
            
         Two senior high school football players with Poweshiek County ties have been selected to participate in the 2026 Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Game this summer.
       Beau Burns, a quarterback at BGM, along with Jack Gallagher, an outside linebacker with the Grinnell Tigers, will represent the south team in the game.
         The Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Classic game is an annual football game played each July featuring 92 of the best football players in the state of Iowa. The game pits the best players from the south against the best players from the north.
        More than 5,000 players, cheerleaders and coaches have participated in the Iowa Shrine Bowl since its founding in 1972.
         “This event has brought together exceptional athletes who not only achieved great accomplishments on the field, but were also excellent students and continue to be team leaders and pillars in their community,” noted information on the game. “We are excited to re-connect and re-engage nearly a half-century of players, cheerleaders, and coaches that have made the Iowa Shrine Bowl, the #1 Shrine Bowl in the United States.”
To date, the Iowa Shrine Bowl has raised nearly $4 million for Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Following is an overview of the two players
 
Beau Burns – BGM High School
         Beau Burns quarterbacked the Bears to a 7-3 season in Class A 11-man football and a second round playoff finish.
         Burns finished the season with 36 touchdowns, including an 84-yard bomb. He had 229 carries and 2,181 total yards.
            When asked about the opportunity to play in the Shrine Bowl, Burns said it’s a great honor and that he is extremely thankful and grateful to be selected.
            “I am very excited to make an impact on the Shriner’s Hospital children,” noted Burns.
            Throughout his prep career, Burns has been under the guidance of his dad, long-time BGM Coach Jerod Burns.
            When asked what it was like playing for his dad, Burns said he was grateful and that he wasn’t too hard him.
            In addition to football, Burns plays basketball, golf and baseball. 
           As for the future, Burns plans to attend either Cornell or Central where he plans to study education and kinesiology (strength and conditioning training).
 
Jack Gallagher, Grinnell High School
        Jack Gallagher graduates this spring after a stellar prep football career on the defensive line as an outside linebacker for the Grinnell Tigers.
When asked about being selected to the Shrine Bowl, Gallagher said it’s a great honor to be asked to play in the game.
          He finished the regular season with a 4-5 record and individually garnered 42.5 tackles, including 30 solo tackles, five tackles for losses and one sack.
          When Gallagher suits for the Shrine Bowl, he will playing for his late mom, Jodie, who passed away in 2020 from cancer. He will also be playing for his family, who has helped him get through it all.
          “She passed away when I was in sixth grade,” said Gallagher. “I’ve learned to accept it. It has been tough. We have a lot of family to lean on.”
           Gallagher said earlier this year he and a few other players went to the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in Altoona to meet the 2025 Shrine Bowl Queen from last year.
           “It was interesting to hear her story and what adversities she has overcome,” said Gallagher.
          “I’ve played football all my life,” he added. “It is a team sport. You are always playing with the guy next to you. It has been a passion of mine all my life.”
           It’s a great honor to be asked to play in the game, he went on to say.
          “I’m just excited for the opportunity,” noted Gallagher.
          In addition to football, Gallagher played basketball and ran track at Grinnell.
        As for the future, Gallagher will suit up in the fall for the Simpson College Storm. He’s not sure if he will be redshirted or not, but either way, he’s excited about this next step in his football career. His plans are to study elementary education and physiology.
Shrine Bowl Game Info
         The 54th playing of Iowa Shrine Bowl will occur on July 25, 2026 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Players and cheerleaders from across the state of Iowa will attend camp in the days leading up to the game. During camp week, the players and cheerleaders prepare for the game, build lasting friendships, and have opportunities to learn about the impact they can have on less fortunate children. The highlight of Shrine Bowl week is the Shriners’ Children Mini-Camp. Hospital patients from across the Midwest join the players on the UNI Dome field and interact, play games, and share stories. On the eve of the Shrine Bowl game, the Shriners celebrate all of the game participants and their families at an Honors Banquet.
         Other activities include a Bowling Extravaganza, a trip to Lost Island Park followed by a picnic, a hog roast at Reinbeck VFW and a host of other events.
           On the day of the game, a parade featuring the 2026 Iowa Shrine Bowl King & Queen, the 2026 Shrine Bowl players, cheerleaders and coaches, joined by Shriners from across Iowa, will be held. The game gets underway at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Doors open at 2 p.m.

        Grinnell Tigers outside linebacker Jack Gallagher will participate in the 2026 Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25. “I’m just excited for the opportunity,” noted Gallagher.