Hunter Hayes (Leavitt High School) forced a fourth quarter fumble and returned it 90 yards for the game winning touchdown on Saturday afternoon, as the West outlasted the East 40-35 in the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic played at Don Roux Field in Lewiston. It was the first high school Lobster Bowl football game played since 2019.
The East had built a 29-13 first half lead behind two touchdown runs by Marcus Hampton of Skowhegan (56 yards, 1 yard). Hampton also threw a TD halfback pass for a score to Austin Dennett of Cony. Denett caught a 40 yard pass for another TD from Windham quarterback Will Ledbetter (12-19, 120 yards), and Austin Seavey from Foxcroft Academy (7-11, 75 yards) also played behind center for the East squad. The West rallied within 29-28 at halftime on a 71 yard TD pass from Keegan Andrews (Kennebunk) to Ryan Bannister (Gardiner). Andrews was at it again after an East turnover, connecting with Sam Cornett (Marshwood) on a 30 yard screen play that went for six with less than a minute left before the break.
Andrews, who played the entire game at QB for the West, came out firing in the third quarter. A 21 yard pass to Cornett and a 39 yarder to Ryan Thurber (South Portland) led to a short two yard touchdown run by Hayden Henriksen (York) for a 34-29 lead. The East took their last lead of the day 35-34 on a third rushing TD by Hampton, this time from one yard out as the game headed to the fourth quarter. Henriksen fumbled on the next offensive play for the West inside his own 20 yard line, setting up the East with a golden opportunity. Three plays later, Hayes stripped an East ball carrier at his own 10 yard line and went the other way for the game winning score. The West defense was stout the rest of the way when it mattered, stopping the East on three fourth down plays in the final period including one at the West 10 yard line with just over seven minutes left.
Andrews completed 14-21 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns for the West. Henriksen carried 18 times for 85 yards and two scores. Hampton earned the East MVP rushing for 157 yards on 37 carries with three touchdowns on the ground and one passing TD, and also caught three passes. Hayes was the MVP for the West, and was also the top money raiser for the game that benefits Shriners Hospitals with nearly $7,500 pledged. Danny White from Foxcroft Academy was the head coach for the East, and Chris Kates from Lisbon High led the West. This is the first Lobster Bowl that players from 8-man teams were on the rosters, with nearly 20 in total between the East and West. The annual Bowl was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year after a canceled 2020 tackle football season the Shriners decided to play a seven on seven exhibition instead.
