Rams' Connally selected to Shrine Bowl

By STEVE WILLIAMS
Special to the Review
John Connally has one more game to play and several more tackles to make in his high school football career.
The four-year Reidsville High School defensive superstar was named to the 71st annual Shrine Bowl Friday and will be part of the North Carolina team that battles a squad from South Carolina this Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be played at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.
Connally got on the team as a replacement for a linebacker from West Charlotte who was injured in the playoffs.
"We recommended him early on," Reidsville coach Jimmy Teague said. "They kept saying they liked him but they weren't sure about his size."
Connally checks in at 230 pounds but he's a shade under 6-feet tall. "When the initial team came out, I really wasn't surprised they didn't take him because they kept talking about his size. We thought all along he was deserving. They are going to be pleased with him."
Connally was the defensive ring-leader for the Reidsville defense that was crucial in the Rams' 16-0 season that ended Saturday with a 28-20 victory over Shelby in the 2-AA state championship game.
He had 15 tackles in the game, pushing his season total to 162 and his career total to 523. He ended the year with 3.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Connally had 14.5 sacks for his career to go with 51 tackles for loss, 15 fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
"He had the best nose for the football for anybody we've ever had at least since I've been here," said Teague, who just wrapped up his 16th season at RHS. "It a natural, God-given ability to have instincts for where the ball is going to be. He was excellent in covering underneath routes in the pass game too.
"He's just a great kid overall. He works hard and he's an intelligent young man."
Connally was named defensive MVP of the state championship game for Reidsville. He's also been named defensive player of the year in the North State 2-A Conference for the second straight year and was named all-conference for the third straight year.
Connally is destined to play college football and he's getting plenty of offers, mostly from smaller schools.
"He's getting a lot of attention, but again his height is keeping the Division I folks away. He's a good student and he'll get an opportunity, I feel certain. I'm not exactly sure where right now."
Any colleges that need verification of Connally's prowess can ask anybody from Shelby. He also left an impression on the Golden Lions as a sophomore in the 2005 state championship game with 14 tackles and two sacks.
And if they want an additional look at a linebacker who makes tackles all over the field, they can watch this Saturday's Shrine Bowl.

RHS Shrine Bowl Selections
Player Year
John Connally 2006
Jerome Simpson 2003
Justin Bridges 2002
Rashad Slade 1996
Randolph Galloway 1995
Na Brown 1994
Ronald Wilson 1993
Pete Glidewell 1963
Ted Lamb 1959
Don Coker 1955
Pete Chaney 1949
Bobby Peters 1948
Arlon Brande 1945
Bill Perry 1945
Tom Fetzer 1943
Charles Nichols 1943
Burnelle Cook 1938
Claude Reynolds 1938
Coaches Year
Jimmy Teague 2002
George Wingfield 1953