BIDDEFORD — The 26th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl was dominated by a pair of quarterbacks from the West. One shredded the East defense with his arm, while the other with his legs.

Falmouth’s Noah Nelson threw for four touchdowns, while Bonny Eagle’s Zach Dubiel ran for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead the West to a 45-21 win Saturday night at Waterhouse Field.

The West win snapped a two-year win streak by the East. The West now leads the all-time series, 18-8.

Nelson was named West Most Valuable Player. Cony wide receiver Tayler Carrier, who scored two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 101 yards, was East MVP.

The West punted just once in the game, in the final minute of the third quarter, and the East defense never had an answer when it came time to slow the West’s playmakers.

The West’s offense dominated throughout the first half. The West opened the scoring on its third play from scrimmage, a 71-yard touchdown pass from Falmouth’s Noah Nelson to Matt Vigue of Spruce Mountain, with 12 minutes left in the first quarter.

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The West pushed its lead to 14-0 when Nelson connected with Gabe Seeley, of Leavitt, on a 19-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first quarter. With 3:52 left in the first half, Oak Hill’s Alex Mace scored on a 4-yard run and the West had a 20-0 lead.

The East finally got on the board with 2:00 to play in the first half when Carrier caught a 27-yard pass from Matt Stewart, of Bucksport. Winslow’s Dylan Hapworth kicked the extra point to cut the West lead to 20-7.

The West ran a no huddle offense throughout the half and the fast pace paid off again when Nelson hit Seeley with a 9-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left, giving the West a 26-7 halftime lead.

The West struck again early in the third quarter when Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Brett Gerry, of Marshwood, scored on a 5-yard run. The East answered in the final minute of the third when Cony’s Mitchell Caron hit Steven Davis, of Belfast, for a 35-yard touchdown pass.

Dubiel scored on a 2-yard run set up by his 43-yard dash up the middle with 14:27 left in the game, pushing the West lead to 38-13. After an East turnover deep in West territory, the West scored again when Nelson hit South Portland’s Hayden Owen for a 32-yard touchdown pass.

With 4:09 to play, Carrier scored his second touchdown, this one on a 6-yard pass from Stewart.

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Oak Hill’s Kyle Flaherty ran for 40 yards on 10 carries for the West.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM


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