Football players will take part in Junior Shrine Bowl

Reagan McCranie, no. 74 for the Rutherfordton Raiders (representing Chase High School) and Anthony "Boo" Smith, no. 26 for the Rutherfordton Raiders (representing RS Central High School) have been selected to take part in this years Junior Shrine Bowl Battle Of The Borders championship game. McCranie and Smith are rising sixth graders, and were among hundreds of applicants who applied to take part in the game.

To be selected for a team one must submit film, maintain a C average, have a letter of recommendation from a coach, teacher and a letter from themselves stating why they should be selected for this event.

The game, which includes 35 other students to make up the North Carolina team, will be played Dec. 17 at Wofford College, just before the 80th Annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. In addition, they will tour Shriners Hospital of Greenville, which serves pediatric orthopedic patients.

Both boys are raising funds to support Shriners Hospitals. Checks may be made out to Junior Shrine Bowl; to make a donation, call Billy Smith at 828-289-5692 or Kim McCranie at 828-429-0397.

McCranie is the son of Jeff McCranie and Kim Bumgardner McCranie, who at age 15 underwent scoliosis surgery at Shriners Hospital of Greenville. He is the grandson of Shriner Wayne Bumgardner and Sandra Bumgardner of Rutherfordton.

Smith is the son of Billy and Mandy Smith of Forest City.