Prep Bowl family bookends

Paul Beuning played in the Prep Bowl in 1982, the first year that high school championship games were played in the Metrodome. His son, Ben, will play in the Prep Bowl on Saturday, the last day of high school football in the dome.

Paul Beuning: Rushed 20 times for 79 yards for the 1982 Belgrade Redmen, which lost to Truman 16-14 on a last-second field goal in the Class C championship game. Currently a physical education teacher at New London-Spicer and a color commentator on Wildcats radio football broadcasts.

Ben Beuning: Rushed seven times for 38 yards and a touchdown and made four tackles in a 36-16 Class 3A semifinal victory over Rochester Lourdes. Leads the Wildcats in tackles with more than 100 this season. Has received interest from college football teams in the NSIC and MIAC.

Dad on son: “He’s got that same intensity that I had. He’s a lot more physical than I was. When I played, I was 185 pounds. I lifted weights a little bit. He’s been diligent in the weight room. He weighed 200 pounds when the season started.”

Son on dad: “I think it’s pretty awesome that he played in the first one and I’ll be playing in the last one at the Metrodome. Not too many people can say that.”

JIM PAULSEN