Jake Doyon’s response was so out of character, Brad Bishop had to ask the Messalonskee High School senior if he was O.K.
“I went silent. Twenty seconds of complete silence,” Doyon said. “I’m not usually speechless. I’m usually a talkative kid.”
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Gaziano Lineman Award
• When: Noon, Saturday
• Where: Augusta Civic Center
• Finalists: Offense — Zach Davis (Windham), Jake Doyon (Messalonskee), Benjamin Zuke (Thornton Academy). Defense — Hunter Bowen (Windham), Zordan Holman (Cheverus), Seamus McKaig (Orono)
Bishop, Doyon’s football coach at Messalonskee, had just called with the news that Doyon, a 6-foot-2, 270 lineman, had been selected to both the first team offense and defensive lines in the Pine Tree Conference Class B’s postseason awards. Even bigger, Doyon was the PTC B Player of the Year, a rare honor for a lineman.
“I was pretty tickled,” Bishop said. “He’s coachable. He gets along with all his teammates. He works hard. He was a force.”
On Saturday, Doyon may earn the title of best offensive lineman in the state, as a finalist for the Frank J. Gaziano Award, given annually to the top offensive and defensive linemen in the Maine. Joining Doyon as offensive finalists are Zach Davis of Windham and Benjamin Zuke of Thornton Academy. The three defensive finalists are Hunter Bowen of Windham, Zordan Holman of Cheverus, and Seamus McKaig.
The Gaziano Award ceremony will be held Saturday afternoon at the Augusta Civic Center.
Doyon’s road to becoming an elite lineman was not easy. He entered Messalonskee as a 299-pound freshman. By the end of his sophomore year, Doyon weighed 330 pounds, and was seeing some varsity playing time on the defensive line.
“When I first met him going into his junior year, I told him ‘You’ve got to get into better shape so you can help us on both sides of the ball,'” Bishop said.
The summer before his junior year, Doyon made the commitment to losing some weight and increasing his strength and quickness. Taking part in the Fourth Quarter Program initiated by Bishop, the Eagles’ new head coach, Doyon estimated he ran two to three miles each night in the workout. It started with a mile run warmup. Depending on the day’s workout, Doyon would run sprints of the field, from end zone to end zone, or from sideline to sideline. He’d work out with an agility ladder or jump rope.
“It was a good amount of running,” Doyon said.
Added Bishop: “He never missed a workout in two years.”
By the time his senior season started, Doyon was a strong 275-pounds, and finally a starter on both sides of the ball. As a defensive tackle, Doyon had 84 tackles and three sacks. As an offensive tackle, Doyon led an offense that was among the top rushing teams in the state. The Eagles ran for more than 3,200 yards in 10 games, including 516 yards in a 48-28 win over Mt. Blue in the first round of the playoffs.
Messalonskee’s running game took off in the fourth week of the regular season, against Brewer. Injuries to other players meant the Eagles decided to run more behind Doyon. Junior running back Jake Bernatchez ran for 215 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries, and Messalonskee won, 40-21.
“I love defense because I love tackling, but it’s so gratifying when you can own your man up front and the running backs gets a big gain,” Doyon said.
The award Doyon may be most proud of is Messalonskee’s Eddy Lofstrom Memorial Award. Named in honor of a Messalonskee graduate who was killed in action in Vietnam, Doyon was presented the award by assistant coach Ryan Doucette, himself a Lofstrom Award winner as a Messalonskee player.
“That was such an honor,” Doyon said.
An honors student, Doyon hopes to study electrical engineering in college, and play football. He’s considering Maine Maritime, Husson, Norwich and the University of Maine.
“He’s got a future ahead of him, even if he doesn’t play football,” Bishop said.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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