Hilton Head High star Cole DeMarzo earned a spot on the South Carolina roster for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas by virtue of his football talents. He learned during his week in Spartanburg that the event is about much more than the all-star game.
DeMarzo helped the Sandlappers beat their Tarheel counterparts for the first time since 2014, making four tackles in South Carolina’s 28-17 win over North Carolina on Saturday at Gibbs Stadium.
“The Shrine Bowl was really a great experience,” said DeMarzo, who signed Wednesday to play at Michigan State. “We got a chance to play at a very high level and make new friends and memories along the way.”
They also had the chance to make an impact off the field. Unfortunately, that was the only way Hilton Head High defensive back Christian Miller was able to contribute, as the uncommitted cornerback suffered an injury in practice early in the week and elected not to play Saturday for precautionary measures.
“We learned this week that the Shrine Bowl wasn’t just about football,” DeMarzo said. “We visited the Shriners Hospital on Thursday and we got to see many kids who had certain conditions where they were struggling. After this week, we realized that the Shrine Bowl was much bigger than just football. We do it to raise money and awareness to help these kids at the hospital out to have a better life.”
