An unrelenting sun beat down on players in Casper on Saturday for the 49th edition of the Wyoming Shrine Bowl, battling temperatures in the 90s throughout.

Despite the blistering temperatures, a dominant performance by the North team helped three Powell High School seniors walk away with one final, dominant 37-3 victory.

In the Shrine Bowl, the best senior talent from around the state comes together for a week of festivities and practice for one final high school game before heading to college.

“Even though we are best friends, we came out here and made so many other new friends,” Toran Graham said. “It was cool to be surrounded by people you like and grew to love.”

Leading the way for the recent graduates of PHS were three defensive players who all started in their original defensive positions, with Lane Shramek starting at defensive tackle, Graham at linebacker and Zach Ratcliff in the secondary.

Despite the North’s offense being stopped at the 1 yard line on its opening drive, Graham, Shramek and Ratcliff helped force a quick three and out to give the North offense another opportunity to score.

From that point forward, the North offense scored on three straight offensive possessions and the South was unable to get past a stingy North defense that held the South well below 100 yards of offense in the first half.

“It was amazing, once you beat a team like that and you feel them start to ease up, you start to think this is a steamroll,” Shramek said.

Continuing to make plays in the second half, the Panthers pushed the initiative.

Big hits, tipped passes and sacks helped the North team keep the game a shutout until a late field goal by the South in the third quarter made it 27-3.

With the game in hand, the North walked away with a 37-3 victory, extending its series-leading record to 26-19-3 with the 50th edition of the Shrine Bowl next year on June 10.

The 3A teams came and put on a performance, as Sadler Smith from Jackson was named the offensive MVP and Daniel Gorman of Cody was named the defensive MVP.

Coming out with a strong victory in the game was a special moment to send off the PHS seniors, but that was not the only important aspect of the week.

During the week the Panthers had the opportunity to visit the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

This gives athletes the opportunity to visit with staff, patients and see what the Shrine Bowl raises money for throughout the week.

“The hospital was super cool, you get to meet all those kids and see what they are going through, and be grateful for what you have,” Ratcliff said.

According to the Shrine Bowl website, $30,000 was raised from the annual event and donated to the hospital in Salt Lake City.

Following the festivities and one final game, the three are excited for the next chapter in their lives.

Ratcliff said he is planning to attend the University of Wyoming in the fall for academics. Shramek intends to take a year off to work before going to college and Graham will attend UW for academics but is unsure of athletics at this time.