Local quarterback among state's top middle school athletes invited to compete in Idaho Bowl

A local seventh grader named Colt Baron has been selected to play as a quarterback in the upcoming Idaho Bowl, a bowl game for middle school athletes that will bring together some of the best football players in the state.

Shanae Baron, Colt’s mother, said her son is involved with several sports, including wrestling, baseball and football. She said in wrestling he has won the IDAWAY Wrestling competition.

“He’s pretty athletic in every way,” she said.

Baron said this is Colt’s fourth year playing football. He has been playing since he was in fourth grade. She said his favorite part about the sport is the intensity of it as well as the strategic part of and thinking things through.

“I think he likes the roughness of football but he is also very strategic,” she said. “He is the type to think things through.”

Baron said Colt is the type of player who isn’t afraid to make tackles while playing football.

“He plays offense and defense,” she said. “So he hardly comes off the field.”

Baron said Colt was excited when he found out he had been selected to play in the Idaho Bowl. She said he felt honored that he had been selected out of all the possible quarterbacks.

“For the quarterback spot there were a lot of kids nominated,” she said. “It was a pretty big deal for him.”

Baron said she was proud of her son when she found out he had been chosen. She said he has always dedicated himself to practicing whatever sport he’s in and he gives his all every time.

“He’s not one you have to ask more out of,” she said.

Baron said she was also excited to see his hard work pay off.

“When you see him get rewarded for his hard work, it’s exciting as a parent,” she said.

Baron said two of Colt’s teammates were also selected to play in the Idaho Bowl. She said wide receiver Lincoln Thomas and tight end and receiver Til Dance will also be playing.

“He’s super excited to play with both of his teammates,” she said. “He’s a really good quarterback, but without his team, it’s harder.”

Laif Morrison, director of the Idaho Bowl, said in a statement that Colt is an impressive quarterback who has a talent for picking apart a defense.

“At six feet, one inch tall he looks like a man amongst boys out there,” he said in the statement. “(He has) a strong arm with some zip to hit receivers on quick routes and has great touch to hit his receivers in stride on deep routes. (He is) truly one of the best seventh grade quarterbacks in the state. He is going to be fun to watch this summer.”

The Idaho Bowl will take place on Saturday, June 29 in Boise. It will be held at Albertsons Stadium. There will be three games during the day. The first is for sixth graders at 10 a.m. The second is for seventh graders at 1:30 p.m. The third is for eighth graders at 5 p.m.

Admission to the games is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring an item that can be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho. Athlete fees are $500.

More information about how the Idaho Bowl’s nomination process can be found on their website at idahobowl.com . All games will be streamed on the website.