GRANITE QUARRY — East Rowan head football coach Kenneth McClamrock, AD Chad Mitchell and proud mom/P.E. teacher Laurie Wyrick delivered the information as a tag team  on Thursday afternoon.

“I was sitting in lunch,” East Rowan senior Seth Wyrick said. “Coach came up and asked me if my hand was all right and and he asked if I thought I could catch a few passes in the Shrine Bowl.”

Wyrick was stunned for a moment, but then it started to sink in. He’d been added to the roster for the Shrine Bowl, the prestigious North Carolina vs. South Carolina all-star game that will be played on Dec. 20 in Spartanburg, S.C.

“My first thought was, ‘How the heck did it happen?’ ” Wyrick said.  “Coach said someone dropped out, but, hey, that’s OK. I’m just thrilled to have this opportunity. After we lost to South Point in the playoffs, I thought I’d put on my East Rowan helmet and shoulder pads for the last time. It felt pretty good to pull them out again.”

Wyrick participated in a Shrine Bowl combine in Asheville on May 31, ran good 40 times, and was obviously high on the list of alternates when the initial Shrine Bowl roster was posted in October.

Wyrick proved he won’t be out of place among the state’s finest players with a tremendous senior season for the Mustangs. His 101 catches for 1,592 yards and 18 touchdowns constituted the greatest statistical season ever by a Rowan County receiver. He broke the county records in all three categories.

Wyrick’s senior season and his three-season career numbers (188 catches, 2,918 receiving yards, 35 TDs) will put him on the NCHSAA’s  list of the state’s all-time greatest receivers.

“And the thing about Seth is his biggest games came when the lights were the brightest,” McClamrock said.

There’s no question about that.  In East Rowan’s three 3A playoff game this year, Wyrick had 29 catches for 531 yards and six TDs. He had four TD receptions when the 15th-seeded Mustangs won at previously unbeaten No. 2 seed Morganton Freedom 50-49  in the first round. Against South Point, the best team the Mustangs faced, he had 14 catches for 180 yards and a score.

The North Carolina coaching staff includes Mooresville’s Hal Capp as head coach and Concord’s Glen Padgett  in the role of offensive coordinator. Also on the  staff is former East Rowan coach Tom Eanes, now at Wilmington Ashley.

“I’m sure Coach Padgett will be using Concord’s offense,” Wyrick said. “I already know the basics.”

The North Carolina offense will be even more dependent on local talent with Wyrick joining the receiving corps. Concord’s Rocky Reid will be a running back. Hickory Ridge’s Nate Mullen will be a slot receiver, and North Rowan’s versatile Jareke Chambers figures to be employed in a variety of roles — as a runner, receiver and returner. Wyrick is looking forward to being on the same team as all of those guys.

“Seth’s selection speaks well for the quality of athletes we had in Rowan County as well as in the South Piedmont Conference,” McClamrock said. “I could coach a long time and never coach another kid like him. He had an incredible season and he’ll represent our school and the SPC very well.”

While being selected as a Shrine Bowler provided an uplifting moment for Wyrick, it comes with bittersweetness. His twin brother, Samuel, had an equally fantastic senior season as the Mustangs’ record-breaking quarterback  (3,219 passing yards, 38  passing TDs, 11 rushing TDs), but he’ll be in the stands watching Seth perform in the Shrine Bowl.

“Before basketball practice today, Naquis Caldwell asked  me when was the last time I’d played in a football game without my brother,” Seth said. “I didn’t even have to think about that. I’ve never played a football game without him — not ever. He’s always been my quarterback, and obviously I couldn’t have done any of the things I’ve done without him being a great player.”

There’s a banner in the East Rowan gym with a list of the school’s Shrine Bowlers. Until now, there hasn’t been an addition since 2003.

Seth (6-foot, 178 pounds) hasn’t made a college decision yet. Catawba and Tusculum have shown the most interest and he’ll be visiting those schools in January. He’s optimistic that the Shrine Bowl game  and the week of practice leading up to it will open more doors as far as college options. He and his brother want to play  together, largely because it would make things easier for the entire family on Saturday afternoons.

The Wyricks are dinosaurs, guys who play football, basketball and baseball in season, although football is the sport where they stand out. The Shrine Bowl will take Seth away from basketball for a little while, although he said he’ll be back with the team for the Sam Moir Christmas Classic.

“I’ll miss a few days of school too,” Seth said with a laugh. “I won’t mind that as much as missing basketball.”

Seth will have one advantage over most of the athletes preparing for the Shrine Bowl.

“I’m pretty sure I can get my brother to throw me a few passes in the backyard,” he said.