LHHS' Ricky Zorn, #5 wearing LH helmet, played quarterback in the Texas-Oklahoma high school all-star game

LH’s Ricky Zorn played quarterback in the 73rd annual Oil Bowl Classic Saturday night in Wichita Falls, leading his State of Texas team to a 14-13 win. The Texas vs. Oklahoma all-star game features top recent graduates and raises funds for the Shriners.

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

Ricky had a large cheering section at the game, with all his mom’s relatives (she’s from Wichita Falls) and a few LH students and neighborhood fans. Ricky’s LHHS quarterback coach, Lonnie Jordan, brought his wife and four children, and his basketball coach, Rod Beasley, came with his wife, Jennifer.

As you can see in these video links, Ricky proved he can still pass and run with the best of ‘em, and he threw a great block to make room for the runner in another play. In typical Ricky-style, he was the team’s leading rusher in the first half, and he traded QB duties all night with two other boys who’d earned spots on the team excelling in their hometowns.

Ricky traveled to Wichita Falls a week in advance to work out with the team, and they were treated to a parade on game day – complete with the candidates for Oil Bowl Queen –  and a banquet at Maskat Shrine.

The Oil Bowl has a storied history dating back to 1938, when game was a simple summertime diversion of West Texas vs. East Texas players. Today, it’s the longest running high school all-star football game in the world, raising thousands of dollars for charities in both states. OU running back Steve Owens went on to win the Heisman after playing in the Oil Bowl, and Jack Mildren, JC Watts and Steve Largent made names for themselves in football and in politics after their Oil Bowl appearances. Coaching legends Grant Teaff of Baylor and Dutch Meyer of TCU coached in the game and Hayden Fry participated as a player.

Ricky had a great time working with the coaches and meeting the guys, he said. He’ll play for Harvard University in the fall.

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.