Will Bessey rushed for more than 1,500 yards this fall to help Brunswick High reach a second straight Class B final, but a hamstring strain limited him to just one carry in a 21-14 loss to Marshwood in the title game.

“All the work I had put in was to get the Gold Ball for our team,” he said. “Not winning it was a huge disappointment.”

Some of the sting of that loss was eased Monday when Bessey was named one of 12 semifinalists for the 45th James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, awarded to Maine’s top senior in high school football. The main criteria are on-field performance, academics and service both at school and in the community.

The other semifinalists are Connor Aube, Falmouth; Jack Bernatchez, Messalonskee; Levi Craig, Leavitt; Joe Esposito, Portland; Mahlon Glidden, Scarborough; Austin McCrum, Thornton Academy; Sam Peck, Greely; Nate Pratt-Holt, Mt. Blue; Riley Robinson, Dirigo; Reid Shostak, Cony; and Dalton Therrien, Oak Hill.

The state’s football head coaches and media members will vote for their top three choices, with three finalists to be announced in two weeks.

The Fitzpatrick Trophy will be awarded Jan. 24 at a banquet at the Holiday Inn By The Bay in Portland.

“It means a lot to be a semifinalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy,” said Bessey, who is looking at Maine Maritime Academy, Bates or Colby for college. “It’s a dream come true, and it would be even more of a dream come true if I was fortunate to be a finalist.”

Here is a closer look at the semifinalists:

• Aube averaged 7.1 yards per carry while rushing for 1,059 yards and 17 touchdowns. He added 409 receiving yards with three touchdowns. Over the past two seasons, Aube has gained 2,396 yards and scored 53 touchdowns. He is involved with Big Buddies, Little League and youth football.

• Bernatchez rushed for 1,100 yards and scored 18 touchdowns as a fullback despite missing two games with a foot injury. He averaged 9 yards a carry. Also a linebacker, he made 81 tackles and had a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception. Bernatchez is involved in National Honor Society and Student Council. He has volunteered in homeless shelters and Alzheimer’s care units as well as coaching youth football and lacrosse.

• Bessey rushed for 1,569 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He added 171 yards receiving with three touchdowns. Bessey also passed for two touchdowns and returned an interception for a touchdown. He is vice president of the student council and volunteers for the area soup kitchen, youth sports and the Humane Society.

• Craig passed for 2,025 yards and 23 touchdowns. He added 875 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Craig plays basketball, baseball and runs track. He volunteers for Big Brothers, student tutoring and youth football.

• Esposito is the Maine Sunday Telegram’s Player of the Year. He also won the Gatorade Player of the Year and was named the Class A North Player of the Year. He played fullback/tailback and linebacker, rushing for 1,634 yards and 24 touchdowns. He caught four touchdown passes and led Class A North in tackles with 95. One of the schools Esposito is looking at is Bates College.

• Glidden played guard and defensive tackle. He made 68 tackles, 17 of which were for losses. He had five sacks. In addition to working a 20-hour a week part-time job, Glidden volunteers with Wounded Warrior and Scarborough Youth Football.

• McCrum passed for 1,956 yards and 20 touchdowns. He added 358 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns. He has volunteered with the Saco Fire Department, the Saco Food Pantry and with Saco Youth Football. McCrum will play football at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

• Peck, a running back and linebacker, gained 1,549 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He was a workhorse, carrying the ball 266 times. Peck also returned kicks and made 70 tackles on defense. He plays basketball and lacrosse. Peck is active in Greely’s Global Awareness and Science Technology programs.

• Pratt-Holt, a wide receiver, amassed 796 all-purpose yards on 17 carries and 25 receptions while scoring nine touchdowns. Defensively, he collected 84 tackles with three fumble recoveries and three interceptions as a safety. Pratt-Holt is involved in National Honor Society and volunteers with Special Olympics and summer youth track.

• Robinson, a quarterback/defensive back, scored 31 touchdowns with 19 rushing and 12 passing. He amassed 2,200 all-purpose yards and stood out on defense. Robinson also plays basketball and is active in the school’s National Honor Society, the Red Cross Blood Drive, senior citizen dinners, youth basketball and baseball programs.

• Shostak is a two-time Maine Sunday Telegram all-state selection. He gained 1,178 all-purpose yards and scored 12 touchdowns. On defense, he made 56 tackles and had two interceptions. He also plays basketball and baseball. He works with the Seeds of Peace program and is a member of the Latin Club.

• Therrien, a quarterback and cornerback, has played on three straight Class D state championship teams. He accounted for 2,624 all-purpose yards rushing and passing. He totaled 28 touchdowns. Defensively, he made 36 tackles and had one interception. Therrien serves as class president and is involved in Red Cross and youth sports.

 

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