LEWISTON — Award-winning players living up to their names. A defense that dominated. A big play that completely changed the game. From the predictable to the unexpected, there were plenty of storylines in the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl.

We learned a lot from the West’s 41-6 victory over the East in the 35th edition of the game on Saturday at Lewiston High School’s Don Roux Field. Here are five takeaways from the game that featured the state’s top senior football players.

WEST DEFENSE DELIVERS

Count Max Andrews among those who were frustrated. For all the hard work the West’s offense put into preparing for this game, it couldn’t seem to move the ball against the West defense during practices.

“They were unbelievable all week,” said Andrews, a tight end from Kennebunk. “We couldn’t even get a yard on them the first three days; we had to stop practicing against them because we couldn’t do anything.”

In the end, the West offense was just fine — the defense was just that good. The unit held an East offense with a strong quarterback in Louis Thurston, bruising running backs Indi Backman and Colton Carter, and a host of tall wide receivers to just 172 yards and a lone score.

“(Those struggles during the week) happened because our defense was maniacal,” said West head coach Aaron Filieo of South Portland. “It was like watching wasps and chaos every single day. They came here, and they just did what they were doing all week.”

STONE’S SCOOP-AND-SCORE FLIPS THE SCRIPT

If you just looked at the final score and assumed the West trampled the East from the opening kickoff, you’d be mistaken. In fact, the East took a 6-0 lead and was driving in West territory until that vaunted West defense made a big play.

With just over a minute left in the first quarter and the East inside the West 30, the East put the ball on the turf on a botched pitch play. Kennebunk’s Brady Stone, in perfect position, picked it up and sprinted to the end zone to tie the game.

“We talked in practice when the offense and defense started going back and forth a bit to just respond,” Filieo said. “We kind of took that attitude here. This game is always full of big plays and momentum shifts, and you just have to believe it’s going to happen and stay consistent.”

TOP PLAYERS SHINE

Both the Fitzpatrick Trophy and Gaziano Lineman Award winners were spectacular Saturday. Noble’s Jamier Rose, the Fitzy winner, and Lewiston’s Joe Dube, the Gaziano winner on defense, claimed the West and East team MVPs, respectively.

Rose had 150 rushing yards and a touchdown for the West while also completing 8 of 13 passes for two touchdowns. Dube, meanwhile, was a menace for the East’s defensive line, registering three sacks and two forced fumbles.

“I think a lot of it’s just energy,” Rose said of the strong performances by the top players on both sides. “Our big guys — our O-line and D-line especially — they came out with a lot of energy. Everyone was running and moving and doing a really good job.”

ROSE-ANDREWS CONNECTION PAYS OFF

Much of the West’s passing game went through Andrews. Four of Rose’s eight completions went to the Kennebunk tight end, who finished with 56 yards receiving and accounted for both passing touchdowns.

The first touchdown from Rose to Andrews came early in the second half when Andrews pulled down an impressive 21-yard catch through traffic to put the West up 19-6. Then, in the fourth quarter, Rose used his feet to evade a trio of blitzing East defenders just long enough to find Andrews for the final score.

“Me and Jamier go way back; we’ve been having battles in basketball since we were in third grade, and we’ve always been buddies,” Andrews said. “We spent all week working on those fades and all those different passing routes. It was fun to be on the same team this time.”

STAR-STUDDED COACHING STAFF RUBS OFF ON WEST

The coaching staffs at the Lobster Bowl are usually tops in the state. This year, though, you could almost make a Mount Rushmore of Maine high school football coaches from the West squad.

Mike Hathaway (Leavitt), Kevin Cooper (Bonny Eagle) and Skip Capone (Cheverus, formerly of Lewiston) are icons in Maine coaching. Keith Noel (Kennebunk) has a state title to his name as well, and Filieo, before succeeding at South Portland, built Cape Elizabeth from nothing into a contender.

“You surround yourself with great coaches and great men who the kids trust early on, and once that trust is solidified, it’s just about letting the coaches and players do what they do,” Filieo said. “It’s a credit to these kids, too, because they bought in. This was a phenomenally coachable team.”