CHARLOTTE — North Stanly High’s Wes Herlocker played quarterback, kicked and punted during his prep career but debuted as a wide receiver in the Shrine Bowl.

Herlocker looks like a prototype quarterback at 6-2, 195 pounds, but has the blazing speed of a wideout. (He was part of a 2A state champion sprint relay team for the Comets last spring.) Catching footballs, not throwing them, is the way in which East Carolina, Herlocker’s college choice, plans to use his talents.

Herlocker caught just one pass Saturday — a 13-yard slant from old foe Mario Sturdivant of North Rowan — but still enjoyed his first day at receiver.

“I thought it was a lot more fun than quarterback,” he said. “Less pressure and less thinking. You just play the game and let your speed take over and try to out-athlete people.”

One scouting service ranks Herlocker as the No. 18 player in the state.

“We were treated like kings,” said Herlocker.

“All we did all week was practice, sleep and eat,” added East Rowan lineman Danny Misenheimer. “Practice, I’m not sure about, but those other two things I really enjoy.”

Sturdivant also enjoyed the Shrine life, even though he missed out on the fun when his teammates beat up Kannapolis in basketball on Monday night.

“They put us up in a motel and fed us every 35 minutes,” he said. “I don’t want to ever leave these people or this place.”

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ROUGHDAY: Sturdivant threw three interceptions, but did complete 11 of 23 passes for 123 yards. He guided the Tar Heel team to a field goal on its first possession and moved his team down to the South Carolina 4-yard line on their first possession of the second half.

South Carolina played us tough,” said Sturdivant. “They played five yards back on our receivers and made it tough to throw long. And their defensive line put on a lot of pressure. I was scrambling and throwing off my back foot all game. It hurt that we didn’t have a whole lot of plays. In a week of practice, you can only put in so much stuff.”

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DANNY’SDECISION: Misenheimer, who did well on special teams, said that he will make a college choice soon. He listed Appalachian, Wofford and Western Carolina as his three most likely destinations. He played center, an unfamiliar position on Saturday, but like Herlocker, he was stationed in what should be his future college position.

“I’ll probably play center,” said Misenheimer, “although some schools are talking to me about being a nose on defense. Today I got a look at what college will be like. Everyone was big and fast. This was the elite of the elite.”

Misenheimer, who was the first Tar Heel to take off his uniform after the game, revealed a severely ripped T-shirt (his “war shirt”)underneath.

Misenheimer didn’t get to snap to Sturdivant. He was the center whenever Riverside’s Aaron Austin was at quarterback.

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PROUDPA: There were plenty of proud parents at Memorial Stadium, but none more pleased than Danny’s father, Darrell, a Shrine Bowler himself 25 years ago.