By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

Participation in the 52nd annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football game exposed Pembroke's James Gignac to some new things.

Gignac's challenges included familiarizing himself with a new group of teammates, becoming familiar with a new role on defense and playing by a different set of rules.

Pembroke's James Gignac, a recent graduate of Bishop Brady in Concord, helped Team New Hampshire to a 24-6 victory against Vermont in the 52nd annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl at Dartmouth College on Saturday, Aug. 6. The local football star is set to attend St. Anselm College this fall, where he'll play football. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

This year's contest took place on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Dartmouth College's Memorial Field. The game benefitted Shriners Hospitals in Boston, Springfield, Mass., and Montreal.

The hospitals are privately funded and provide free medical care to children who have disorders of the limbs, spine and bones.

For more than 50 years, the Shrine game, has matched a team of high school gridiron all-stars from New Hampshire against a team of Vermont's best.

New Hampshire won this year, 24-6.

On the roster at Bishop Brady of Concord, where Gignac just completed his senior year, the local standout was listed as a defensive back, even though he played more of an outside linebacker's role.

According to Gignac, NHIAA Division V teams didn't pass the ball too often. As a result, Gignac played closer to the line of scrimmage to help stop the run.

But when an opposing offense showed pass, Gignac dropped back and covered a receiver.

In the Shrine game, the BB alumnus was strictly a DB. "There were 11 kids starting on each side of the ball," Gignac said. "That way, as many of them could start as possible.

Although he was also a running back for BB, Gignac said he gladly accepted playing on one side of the ball.

Playing defensive back in the game wasn't that difficult, Gignac added, even though the athletes were notably faster.

Using the same defensive techniques that made him successful at Brady, Gignac just had to assess the situation quicker.

Playing under different rules also presented a challenge for Gignac and his teammates.

For instance, neither team could use defensive formations that involved blitz packages.

"You don't want the quarterback getting killed by a big linebacker in a charity game," said Gignac, adding the rules of the game were similar to the NCAA's East-West all-star contest. "You keep it safe and fun."

Gignac said it was awkward at first to play on a squad with a new set of athletes. Still, the players quickly adjusted to each other.

Of course, preparation for the game began well before the start of training camp at Plymouth State University on July 27.

Each player had to report to camp in shape and ready for double-session practices. To meet that goal, Gignac didn't deviate from the training regimen he was already doing for his freshman season at Saint Anselm College - where he'll be a defensive back.

The soon-to-be Hawk did sprinting workouts, ran between one and two miles per day, jumped rope and performed some defensive footwork drills. He also made sure to maintain a nutritious diet.

Gignac was a team captain this past season for BB. He was nominated for first-team all-state as a running back and second team as a defensive back.