The annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic is contested by high school football stars from Eastern Maine and Western Maine, to raise funds for Shriners Children’s Hospitals and give the 90-plus recent graduates one final chance to represent their hometown schools.
The 34th rendition of the exhibition game will take place at Don Roux Field in Lewiston, at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
Despite trailing the West 21-11 in the win-loss column (the 2021 7-on-7 game didn’t count toward the record books), the East is the reigning champion, having won 28-23 last July with the help of a 41-yard fourth quarter touchdown catch-and-run by Foxcroft Academy’s Caden Crocker with 2:29 remaining.
Helping the East defend its title this weekend will be three Glenburn natives: Bangor High School quarterback Jack Schuck, Orono High School center Ashton Duran and John Bapst running back Logun McMahon. Prior to training camp in Dover-Foxcroft this week, they had never played together as a trio, but are taking advantage of the opportunity to reconnect and represent their community of 4,600 people.
Alongside their 44 other teammates from Windham to Waterville to Millinocket, the trio have six days to learn a new playbook, assume new roles, mesh with their rivals-turned-teammates and get ready to face off against Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Noah Carpenter of Leavitt and the West.
“You’re meeting new guys and getting to know how the receivers want to be thrown to — it’s a fun dynamic,” Schuck said. “I’m excited to be with [Ashton and Logun] again. I’ve known them for a while and consider them my childhood friends.”
McMahon echoed his friend’s sentiment.
“We’re from a small town, but we’ve all worked hard to get here. It wasn’t by chance,” McMahon said. “It’s really great to get back together — we’re flowing really smoothly. Waking up at 7 in the summer is difficult, but the transition wasn’t that hard after the first day.”
The trio played various sports with each other at Glenburn Elementary School, and the latter two also played on the same Orono middle school team. Flash forward to the end of their high school careers, and Schuck is committed to play at Worcester Polytechnic in Massachusetts, Duran at Plymouth State in New Hampshire and McMahon at the University of Maine.
By virtue of their college plans, they are fortunate to be in shape to play against top competition in the Lobster Bowl — eight months since the end of the high school season.
For the 5-foot-7, 220-pound Duran, he will also be making the transition back to 11-player football after leading Orono to the 8-player small school state championship this November.
“11-man is pretty similar as an interior offensive lineman. I’m not intimidated by it,” Duran said. “I’m going to have to go up against some big boys, but football’s football. It’s about the size of the fight in the dog.”
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound McMahon also happens to be making a switch this week, from his usual running back position to tight end.
East head coach Dan O’Connell of John Bapst is familiar with McMahon’s blocking and receiving abilities, and the position change will afford the UMaine walk-on more playing time on Saturday.
“I’m more than comfortable playing tight end,” McMahon said. “I’m excited about getting one last win with coach O’Connell.”
For Schuck, the Lobster Bowl is an opportunity to sharpen his quarterbacking skills before making the transition to the college game.
“You’re getting immersed into a new team, and have to gain trust in new people,” Schuck said. “I got the playbook four months ago, and I’ve been throwing the ball a lot more. I’m excited to be back in the pads again and to leave on a good note.”
