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Senior Bowl a family tradition for two Red Deer football players

The old phrase “like father, like son” is true when it comes to a pair of Red Deer football players.
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Lukas Lynch (56) was one of three players representing Red Deer in Football Alberta’s 2022 Senior Bowl at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe Monday. (Photo by Sean McIntosh)

The old phrase “like father, like son” is true when it comes to a pair of Red Deer football players.

John Samson and Lukas Lynch, students at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, played in Football Alberta’s Senior Bowl at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe Monday afternoon.

Their fathers, Jason Samson and Kerry Lynch, played in the Senior Bowl when they were high school football players in the 1990s.

It was a dramatic win for John and Lukas, who were playing for Team North. Trailing by six points with just a minute left, the North tied the game with a touchdown in the final minute. But a missed extra point sent the game into overtime. Team North went on to win 16-13 with a field goal in the second overtime.

Jason and Kerry were on the sidelines to watch their sons win the all-star game.

“Seeing the boys finish off a great football career, depending on whether they move on or not. I know John has been playing for 11 years. To end it off by coming back in the second overtime and winning it — it’s emotional,” Jason said.

Jason played in the very first Senior Bowl in 1990.

“I remember the camaraderie, working as a team, knowing you were part of something special,” he said.

“We lost that year I played, but my boy won.”

Kerry said he has fond memories of playing in the 1995 Senior Bowl.

“I think about the lifelong friends I made from this. You wouldn’t trade that in for anything,” Kerry said.

Lacombe’s Gabe Hiebert and Rocky Mountain House’s Spencer Juricic, who played on the Lindsay Thurber Raiders with John and Lukas, were also on Team North.

Prior to the game, which features the best senior high school football players in the province, John recalled the advice his father gave him: “Go out there, play your game. Don’t worry about who’s across from you.”

Lukas received similar advice from his father, with the addition of “don’t get hurt.” Unfortunately for him, he strained a hamstring during the game. Despite that, Lukas said getting to play on the same field with two of his Lindsay Thurber teammates in a game of this caliber was a great experience.

“Having three players from our team on (Team North) is crazy to think about,” said Lukas.

John added, “I never thought that there’d only be three of us from Red Deer with all of us being from one school. It’s pretty sick. We’re dogs down at Thurber.”



sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com

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Lukas Lynch (56) trucks through a block during Football Alberta’s 2022 Senior Bowl at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe Monday. (Photo by Sean McIntosh)
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John Samson (15) was one of three players representing Red Deer in Football Alberta’s 2022 Senior Bowl at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe Monday. (Photo by Sean McIntosh)
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John Samson (15) was one of three players representing Red Deer in Football Alberta’s 2022 Senior Bowl at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe Monday. (Photo by Sean McIntosh)


Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
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