SHELBYVILLE, Mo. (KHQA) — With North and South Shelby each advancing to state final four football games on Saturday, November 30, it has created quite a unique situation for the Bowen family.
Gabe and Gannon Bowen have each played key roles in their teams' deep playoff runs this season. But for the family, the playoff success means not being able to see each game for each son.
Gannon Bowen lives with his mother in Shelbyville and Gabe Bowen lives with his father in Shelbina following a divorce years ago. As the boys attend different schools, that can mean different games, in different places, at the same time.
"There's always going to be a crowd from both sides. I know in the past I've had my dad's family at games, my mom's family, it's just, they make what they can make," Gannon Bowen said.
However, the stakes may have never been higher in the "different places, same time" scenario. Both North and South Shelby play their games on Saturday at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. on their respective campuses. The boys' father Curt Bowen is well aware of the conundrum.
"From my position it's tough, it's very tough. You know they both have great support and, I think that they look at that, but they know in the great scheme of things that this is just kind of how it has to be, or this is the way it's going to be," Curt Bowen said.
Curt has even had instances of watching one son's game in person while following the other on his phone in the past.
"I didn't have a brother that played football. I don't know what that's like, but I can sit back and watch it, and man it is cool, really cool," Curt Bowen said.
North Shelby Head Football Coach David Stuckey was aware of the rarity of the situation as well.
"31 years of coaching, you see these split family situations off and on, but very rarely is it a situation where both of them are staring at exactly the same time or, especially different teams," Stuckey said.
While on Saturday they will be on different fields playing for different teams, the bond between the Bowen brothers is strong.
"We've always dreamed of playing in the state championship, and we've always dreamed about playing together, but both of us just having the chance to go, and both of our schools, I mean that's just so neat to see him make it far as well," Gabe Bowen said.
Gabe and Gannon Bowen have each played key roles in their teams' deep playoff runs this season. But for the family, the playoff success means not being able to see each game for each son.
Gannon Bowen lives with his mother in Shelbyville and Gabe Bowen lives with his father in Shelbina following a divorce years ago. As the boys attend different schools, that can mean different games, in different places, at the same time.
"There's always going to be a crowd from both sides. I know in the past I've had my dad's family at games, my mom's family, it's just, they make what they can make," Gannon Bowen said.
However, the stakes may have never been higher in the "different places, same time" scenario. Both North and South Shelby play their games on Saturday at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. on their respective campuses. The boys' father Curt Bowen is well aware of the conundrum.
"From my position it's tough, it's very tough. You know they both have great support and, I think that they look at that, but they know in the great scheme of things that this is just kind of how it has to be, or this is the way it's going to be," Curt Bowen said.
Curt has even had instances of watching one son's game in person while following the other on his phone in the past.
"I didn't have a brother that played football. I don't know what that's like, but I can sit back and watch it, and man it is cool, really cool," Curt Bowen said.
North Shelby Head Football Coach David Stuckey was aware of the rarity of the situation as well.
"31 years of coaching, you see these split family situations off and on, but very rarely is it a situation where both of them are staring at exactly the same time or, especially different teams," Stuckey said.
While on Saturday they will be on different fields playing for different teams, the bond between the Bowen brothers is strong.
"We've always dreamed of playing in the state championship, and we've always dreamed about playing together, but both of us just having the chance to go, and both of our schools, I mean that's just so neat to see him make it far as well," Gabe Bowen said.
