Fun, friendship and some football

Jered Richter, Josh Wagg step up and play strong in the Les Schwab Bowl

By Dan Brood

The Sherwood Gazette, Jul 1, 2010

CLOSE COVERAGE — North linebacker Josh Wagg (right) of Sherwood keeps a close eye on South receiver Jacob Ziegler during Saturday’s Les Schwab Bowl.

DAN BROOD / The Times

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HILLSBORO — For Josh Wagg, it was a perfect way to start getting prepared for college football.

For Jered Richter, it was a great way to end his scholastic football career.

And neither one seemingly couldn’t be any happier about it.

Wagg, a 2010 Sherwood High School graduate, and Richter, a 2010 Tualatin High School grad, each played their very last high school football game Saturday night when they competed in the 63rd annual Les Schwab Bowl, which was held at Hillsboro Stadium.

“This was awesome,” Richter said as he celebrated with friends and family on the field at Hillsboro Stadium after the game. “The whole week was awesome.”

Richter had plenty of reason to celebrate as he started at left guard for the South team that rolled to a 35-13 win over the North squad, which had Wagg starting at linebacker.

Despite the loss, Wagg, like Richter, couldn’t stop smiling after the contest.

“Of course, you always want to win, but this was an awesome experience,” Wagg said. “It was absolutely special. It was a great way to go out.”

For Richter, that especially seems to be true. As a Tualatin High School senior, Richter was a first-team All-Pacific Conference pick on offense and on defense while also being tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

He’s going to attend the University of Oregon in the fall, but he doesn’t plan on walking on with the Ducks.

“I’m done with football,” he said after the Les Schwab Bowl. “But it was really good to go out with a win.”

Richter, starting at left guard for the South, helped the victors roll to 452 yards of total offense in the win.

“To start in an all-star game like this really meant a lot to me,” Richter said.

Among Richter’s teammates on the South squad were three of his league rivals from Canby — Cody Smith, Caleb Coon and Josh Yoder — as well four players from Sheldon.

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