Vance competes for Kansas in all-star game

Anders Vance (52) jumps out of his stance as he prepares to block a Missouri defender Thursday during the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Kansas vs. Missouri All-Star Game at Blue Springs (Mo.) High School.

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Anders Vance traded in his purple and white jersey of Louisburg for one of the red and white variety.

No, it wasn’t a Pittsburg State one – at least not yet anyway.

Vance donned the Kansas all-star uniform for the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Kansas vs. Missouri All-Star game on Thursday at Blue Springs (Mo.) High School. He wore his usual No. 52 as Vance took the field with Team Kansas in hopes of snapping a Missouri winning streak.

Kansas nearly stopped Missouri’s winning ways, but came up short in a 28-24 loss. Vance still enjoyed his team practicing and playing with his new teammates.

“I really had a good time,” Vance said. “I had a chance to see a lot of great players from around the metro and I got to meet some cool coaches. It was a lot of fun and I got to learn some new stuff.”

The game featured some of the best players from the Kansas City area and Vance saw a lot time on the offensive line. He played several snaps at right guard, while also seeing time on special teams for punts and extra points.

Anders Vance listens to the Kansas coaches during a timeout Thursday.

Kansas took a 15-14 lead at halftime and held a 24-21 advantage in the fourth quarter before Missouri scored a touchdown with five minutes left in the contest to all but seal the win for the sixth consecutive time.

“It’s always disappointing to lose, but it is a different feeling because you are wanting to beat another state instead of a school and there isn’t that family aspect there so it is a lot different,” Vance said.

“They moved me to guard the day before the game,” said Vance, who usually plays center. “It was a little different for me, but I think I did alright.”

Vance spent the last two weeks before the game practicing with his Kansas teammates in the evenings at Mill Valley High School and had a chance to work with some different coaches.

He also saw several familiar faces as he teamed up with four other Frontier League players. Paola’s Nate Staats and Alex Wilson, along with Baldwin’s Jake and Joel Katzer, also participated in the game

The contest was a culmination of what was a great high school season for Vance. He earned a lot of recognition in the offseason as he was selected to the Class 4A all-state first team by the Kansas Football Coaches Association, Topeka Capital-Journal and Wichita Eagle. He was also an honorable mention selection to the all-metro team by the Kansas City Star.

Vance, who has signed to play football at Pittsburg State this fall, has one more high school game left to play. He will represent the East quad in the Kansas Shrine Bowl on July 30 at Emporia State University.

Louisburg High School graduate Anders Vance takes on a Missouri lineman Thursday in Blue Springs.

“I am excited for that one,” he said. “It is going to be fun and a little more intense I think.”