HEBRON — Christopher Spaulding found out in March that he’d play in the 25th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl. Clint Spaulding was invited just before it was time to report to camp at Hebron Academy.
“I was psyched, because I get to play with my brother one last time,” Clint said. “I get to play with the best of the best.”
Additional Images
Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl
• When: 6 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Waterhouse Field, Biddeford
• Series: West leads, 17-7
• Last year: East 25, West 13
According to Jason Fuller, the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl athletic director, the Spaulding twins are the first brothers to play together in the game’s history. The brothers graduated from Mt. View High School in June. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Christopher will play offensive guard for the East, while the 6-3, 260-pound Clint will play defensive tackle. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. Proceeds from the game benefit Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.
The Spaulding brothers have played football together for a decade. It’s been a competitive 10 years.
“It gets bad. We just go at it all the time. Most of the time when we’re across from each other, we just make each other better,” Christopher said. “I school him a couple times, then he gets me. That’s how it is.”
Clint played defensive tackle for the Mustangs, with Christopher behind him at linebacker. On the offensive line, the Spauldings lined up next to each other, Christopher at right guard and Clint at right tackle.
“We felt pretty secure that we’d get some positive yards running behind those guys,” Mt. View head coach Haggie Pratt said.
After Tuesday morning’s Lobster Bowl practice, Christopher raised his right arm to show off a deep purple bruise just below his armpit. The mark was courtesy of his brother.
“I’ve got a bruise underneath my arm from where he slammed me,” Christopher said. “He’s just aggressive. He always keeps people up. He’s mean. I wouldn’t want to be the kid across from him on Saturday.”
Clint was equally complimentary of his brother’s play.
“He’s definitely better than me. He keeps you going, motivated. He’s fast, quick and physical, and he’s the first one right to a hit,” Clint said.
While some players get to the Lobster Bowl and must learn a new position, Pratt thinks the Spauldings are each right where they should be.
“Chris is a really good pulling blocker. He’s just a good leader,” Pratt said. “Clint’s very good at scrapping down the line. He’s fast for a big guy.”
Pratt said the brothers would push each other to be better players.
“They constantly challenge each other,” Pratt said. “If something went wrong on that side of the line, they’d get at each other about it.”
Both Spauldings earned all-academic honors from the Little Ten Conference in each of the last two seasons. Playing with the best football players in the state has given the brothers a chance to learn new things about their positions. Christopher, for instance, is playing offensive line in a spread offense that’s much different than the run-heavy system used by the Mustangs.
“I like it. It’s a little more variety than what we’ve had, a little more passing. It’s cool,” Christopher said. “You learn a bunch of new stuff. You take what we were used to, and you take what they’re doing, and you’re at another level. There’s no more, the kid across from you might not be the best on his team. The kid across from you now is the best. It’s an elite squad.”
On the defensive line, Clint is enjoying every minute.
“The defense is all fired up. I’m pumped up. It’s all of us,” Clint said.
Because he was named to the team so late, Clint was given extra time to raise the $400 each player and cheerleader is asked to raise for the Shriner’s hospitals.
“I’ve had some friends help me out here and there, but whatever I don’t make up by game day, I’m paying out of my own pocket. It’s for a good cause,” Clint said.
Knowing this is the last time they’ll play football together, Clint and Christopher Spaulding say they’ll leave Waterhouse Field with no regrets.
“It’s going to be all out,” Christopher said.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.