Photo by James Parrish Andrew Vinton

Photo by James Parrish Matthew Jensen

Photo by James Parrish Thatcher Vap

For the final time, the St. Pat’s trio of Matthew Jensen, Andrew Vinton and Thatcher Vap played together June 2 at the West Nebraska All-Star football game.

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Like many of the games the three played for North Platte St. Pat’s, it was a win. All three helped the East All-Stars to a 20-0 victory over the West in Scottsbluff.

Vap, who shared the tailback position at St. Pat’s with Vinton for three years, said he was glad that they got a win together, after the heartbreak of the 14-13 loss to Kearney Catholic in the state playoff semifinals.

“I thought it was all over last fall when we lost to Kearney Catholic,” said Vap. “So I was glad that all three of us got to play again.”

Vap, Jensen and Vinton said that the big difference in the game was that the East team, coached by Josh Graves of Cambridge, had more advanced chemistry.

Jensen said the other players saw the chemistry he had between Vinton and Vap and that served as an example.

“The chemistry with us St. Pat’s kids has always been good and we brought that to the kids at the all-star game,” he said.

Vinton said he had played against many of the East All-Stars throughout his career. Because of that, there was a respect because he knew what they brought to the table and vice versa.

“We played most of those guys before but I had never really met them,” said Vinton. “We had a fun team and it was great just getting to play with them.”

It wasn’t a surprise to Vap that the East team controlled the game all the way through.

“We worked great in just the short amount of time we were together,” Vap said. “We bonded and it really showed on the field.”

Of the three, Vap had the most success by scoring both of the East’s touchdowns in the game. Near the end of the first half, the 5-foot-7, 175-pound scatback scored his first touchdown on a three-yard run that made the score 10-0. Then with a little more than six minutes left in the game, Vap scored again on a one-yard run.

“It was fun,” said Vap. “Anytime you can score a touchdown in an all-star game, it’s exciting.”

Vinton was especially happy for Vap. As the two running backs for Coach Kevin Dodson’s Irish, Vinton and Vap split carries and the glory that comes with being a star in the skill positions. But Vinton said that even though he might have gained more yards in his career without Vap, he was glad to share the load with him as they helped St. Pat’s win many games.

“I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Vinton said. “If he went somewhere else, I would have had more yards but there’s no way our teams would have been as good without Thatcher.”

With the one-two punch of Vinton and Vap joining him in the backfield, it wasn’t hard playing quarterback and leading the office, said Jensen.

“They made it easy every game because if I gave them the ball, I knew they would get the job done,” he said. “It was awesome (playing with them one last time). I would have hated to go against them.”

With all three having graduated from St. Pat’s, Jensen, Vinton and Vap will go their separate ways. Vap will walk on at the University of Wyoming and hope to make the Cowboys’ roster as a safety. Vinton will also be continuing his career in football after signing with Doane College. Jensen, who quarterbacked the East All-Stars to victory, will go out with that being his last game. He will attend the University of Nebraska-Kearney but he will not play football.

Vinton said that he hopes that he along with Vap and Jensen will be remembered for the work ethic they showed.

“I just hope we’re remembered for trying our best and working hard because you can’t do anything more to be successful,” said Vinton.

This report was first pulblished June 6 in the print edition of the North Platte Bulletin.