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DOVER-FOXCROFT — Lobster Bowl week is here, and that means the best 90 senior football players from Maine have descended on Foxcroft Academy.

Monday marked the first day of practices ahead of the 36th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic on Saturday at Lewiston’s Don Roux Field. Here are five takeaways from the morning session.

A positional focus

High school football in Maine requires many star players to compete on both sides of the ball. That’s not necessarily the case at the Lobster Bowl, where everyone is a standout and all 90 players get ample playing time.

At Oak Hill, P.J. Smith starred at running back, wide receiver and defensive back. This week he’s focused on playing safety for the West, a welcome development for a player who had eight interceptions and 72 tackles last fall.

“It’s pretty nice, actually,” Smith said. “You go from the regular season and having all of that on your shoulders to this, and it’s a lot more chill. You can focus more on one thing and really zone on it as much as you need to.”

Elsewhere for the West, Damon Martin, who played quarterback and safety for Poland, has focused his time at cornerback. Mason Henderson played just about everywhere for Leavitt but is now a designated slot receiver.

“That’s where I like to be,” said Henderson, who played running back, receiver and kick returner in 2025. “That’s where I probably played the most (for Leavitt), so it’s great to be focusing on that.”

A loaded playing field

The players participating this week were among the best in the state and at their schools. That means a higher level of competition, and players have already taken notice.

“We ran (seven-on-sevens) today, and it was the most competition I’ve ever seen,” said Thornton Academy’s Connor Ayoob. “You’re going up against those great players, and you’re chirping back-and-forth, and it just makes everyone better.”

That’s saying something coming from Ayoob, the 2025 Fitzpatrick Trophy winner who faced Class A competition all season. Poland’s Martin, meanwhile, noticed a difference going up against a roster that features 12 players from Class A, 10 from Class B and seven from C. 

“In Class D, a lot of teams will have a couple really good players, and the rest of the kids are kind of mediocre,” Martin said. “It’s crazy to be around so many good players because you really have to step it up.”

A jump to 11-man

The step up in competition is a learning curve for every player. Yet it’s even more so for the Lobster Bowl’s 16 eight-man football players, who will be playing the 11-man version of the game Saturday.

Lucas Pelkey of Small School state champion Stearns, though, looks to be a big part of the game plan for the East this weekend. It’s a bit of an adjustment, he said, but football is still football, even if some are still not fully on board with the eight-man game.

“They rag on me a little bit for being eight-man, saying it’s not real football, but I say it’s the same thing,” Pelkey said. “I felt comfortable out there (playing the 11-man game); these guys are already feeling like brothers to me after one day.”

Fundraising phenoms

The football is great but the cause is what makes the Lobster Bowl special. Players and cheerleaders must raise a minimum of $500 each for the Maine Shriners Hospitals for Children — and this year a few have gone the extra mile.

As of Friday, Bucksport’s Dawson Sukeforth ($13,183) and Medomak Valley’s Logan Vigue ($12,967) had eclipsed the record of $12,322 set by Dexter’s Tyler Beem in 2018. Ellsworth cheerleader Lily Alley also passed the $10,000 mark at $10,175.

“You look at the amount of money kids have raised this year and it’s amazing,” said John Bapst coach Dan O’Connell, head coach of the East. “They represent the Shrine and the hospitals in raising money for kids who need it in a great way.”

First impressions

So where do things stand with five days to go until kickoff? Well, coaches and players are still in the getting-to-know-you phase, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have early impressions of the teams.

O’Connell admits he’s biased given that his son, Matt, is one of his players, but his initial read on the East squad is overwhelmingly positive. Martin has a similar impression of his West teammates, as does Joel Stoneton, his head coach.

“Everybody is really determined and focused,” said Stoneton, who coaches Winthrop. “It’s a group of great kids and great players, and we’re excited to see what they can do out there come Saturday.”

High school sports coverage is proudly supported by Maine State Credit Union.