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Updated: January 14, 2025 @ 10:41 am
Fort Madison senior Henry Graham had a key punt to pin Mount Pleasant deep late in this season’s game at Richmond Stadium.
Fort Madison football coach Derek Doherty hugs Henry Graham following the Bloodhounds’ 50-7 loss to Solon in a Class 3A first-round playoff game at Spartan Stadium in Solon.
Henry Graham is congratulated by his Fort Madison teammates after scoring a goal to tie a Southeast Conference soccer match with Fairfield.
Fort Madison’s Henry Graham scored three goals in the Bloodhounds’ 3-0 win last season at Fairfield.
Fort Madison senior Henry Graham had a key punt to pin Mount Pleasant deep late in this season’s game at Richmond Stadium.
Fort Madison football coach Derek Doherty hugs Henry Graham following the Bloodhounds’ 50-7 loss to Solon in a Class 3A first-round playoff game at Spartan Stadium in Solon.
Henry Graham is congratulated by his Fort Madison teammates after scoring a goal to tie a Southeast Conference soccer match with Fairfield.
Fort Madison’s Henry Graham scored three goals in the Bloodhounds’ 3-0 win last season at Fairfield.
Henry Graham didn’t have the kind of senior season he had hoped for as a kicker on the Fort Madison High School football team.
Graham didn’t attempt a single field goal last season and was 0-for-1 in the last two years on field-goal tries.
But that didn’t stop opposing coaches from noticing the talent in Graham’s right leg.
Graham was selected to participate in the 2025 Iowa Shrine Bowl, scheduled for July 19 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. He will be a member of the South Team.
Graham becomes just the ninth Fort Madison player in the 53-year history of the Iowa Shrine Bowl to be selected.
Graham joins Ron Helling (1974), Gary Helt (1980), Lance Carl (1983), John Herrin (1989), Craig Burch (1993), Scott Herrin (1998), Tanner Settles (2022) and Mateo Lozano (2022) as Fort Madison players selected to the prestigious event.
Fort Madison head coach Derek Doherty was selected as a coach in 2022.
“It’s a big honor to be selected. I’m happy to make a positive reflection of our football program at Fort Madison and our coaches. I’m just honored,” Graham said. “I knew about it for awhile. When I heard I was being selected I was very excited. I know that it’s an event used to raise money for Shriner’s hospital. I’m happy to do that. It’s an honor to do that. I’m glad I get to help out with their program. It’s a great thing they do.”
Graham earned first team all-district honors as a kicker, making 8-of-9 PATs. After averaging 51.2 yards per kickoff as a junior, Graham improved to a whopping 57.4 yards per kickoff this past season on 24 attempts. He also had 10 touchbacks.
In his two seasons as varsity kicker, Graham converted 21-of-23 PATs.
In addition, Graham averaged 33.6 yards on 33 punts.
Graham credits the coaches at Fort Madison, as well as the Athletic Enhancement program, for helping him receive a Shrine Bowl invitation.
“Our head coach, Derek Doherty, he has a work-driven culture here. I think that has helped me a lot, keeping me locked in, focusing on my goals. There’s a lot of explosive work and there is a lot of that involved in kicking,” Graham said of the AE program. “It’s been a pleasure. This year was pretty difficult, being my senior year, record-wise. I really enjoyed my time playing football at Fort Madison.”
Graham has aspirations of playing at the college level. He is looking forward to seeing some of the top senior players in the state in his last official high school football game.
“It will be a great experience just to see the talent that is going to be there,” Graham said. “I’d like to continue kicking at the college level. I’ve been to kicking camps at the Division I level, so I’ve been around a lot of talent and I know what it takes to get to the next level. I’d love to walk on to the University of Iowa. I have that in my sights. I’m also getting some attention from Simpson College and UNI.”
Graham was selected as a first team all-conference soccer player last season after scoring 15 goals. He plans to have an even better senior season this spring.
“I’m doing a lot of practicing for soccer with my teammates,” Graham said. “I’m also mixing in some kicking whenever the weather allows me to.”
Graham is looking forward to what could be a life-changing experience at the Shrine Bowl.
“It will be an emotional event for sure,” Graham said. “It will also be humbling realizing how much God has given me and how blessed I am to be in this position. There have been a lot of people around me to help me with my selection to the Shrine Bowl.”
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Plenty of sunshine. High around 15F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
Clear skies. Low around 5F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunshine. High 26F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
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