Trask a finalist

In what is perhaps the biggest non-surprise to fans of Southern Maine high school football, Thornton Academy quarterback Steve Trask was named a semifinalist for the Fitzpatrick Award on Tuesday.

The award is presented every year to the most outstanding high school football player in the state.

Trask, a senior, has been a proven winner during his time with the Golden Trojans. In his two years as a starter, he has led the Trojans to a 19-1 record and two playoff appearances.

Trask was even a winner before making the varsity team, leading his freshmen football squad to an undefeated record.

His statistics make him a viable contender as well. In his career at Thornton Academy, Trask has run for

1,900 yards, passed for 2,152 yards and accounted for 49 touchdowns, 17 rushing and 32 passing.

Trask had a near perfect season this year, running for 774 yards with nine touchdowns, while also throwing for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Under Trask’s command, the Thornton Academy offense averaged 39 points per game.

Trask might have also been able to add state champion onto his resume, but a concussion knocked him out early in the Western Maine Semifinal game against Cheverus on Nov. 7. The Trojans never recovered, and the Stags ended their season with a 36-7 victory.

Trojans head coach Kevin Kezal said Trask is deserving of the post-season accolades.

“I think he’s the best player in our league,” Kezal said. “Unfortunately, he’s just had some bad luck come playoff time. He got hurt, it’s just the way things happened to him. With him as our starting quarterback, we’ve been 19-1. The only game we lost was the game he played three minutes in and got hurt. With him lined up behind center, we felt very good with every one of our games.”

Kezal also praised Trask for his resiliancy, as he has fought multiple knee injuries only to come back and be successful.

“He’s probably the most resiliant kid I’ve ever coached,” Kezal said. “He was penciled in to be our starting quarterback his sophomore year, but he tore his ACL in an exhibition game and missed the season. He even tried to come back in week six, but his knee buckled and he knew he couldn’t play. But he rehabilitates, comes back, runs for 1,000 yards, passes for 1,000 yards and re-injures the same knee in the semifinals.”

Kezal said Trask’s best game might have been when the Trojans defeated Massabesic, 49-14, on Oct. 16. In that game, Trask accounted for five of the Trojans’ seven touchdowns, three through the air and two on the ground.

“I think he had like, nine carries for 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns,” Kezal said. “(He) threw for over 100 yards and a couple of scores. He was just very consistent. He didn’t play bad games. We kind of kept his carries down, to keep him fresh for the playoffs.”

The Fitzpatrick Award was first presented in 1971. It was named after James J. Fitzpatrick, a former coach and athletic director at Portland High School, who had a legendary career on the gridiron at Boston College from 1918 to 1920. Some of his exploits were recreated in the film “Iron Major,” a movie about his coach, Frank Cavanaugh, in 1943.

The first winner of the award was Ron Marchand, a wide receiver and defensive back for Biddeford High School. Fourteen Fitzy winners have come from York County high schools, with Biddeford having the overwhelming lead of seven winners in the 38 years the award has existed. Phil Bourassa, a former Biddeford quarterback, was the last York County winner in 2003.

If Trask were to win the Fitzy, he would be the third Trojan to do so, joining Bob Giroux, who won the award in 1986 and Art Leveris, who won in 1991.

Former Trojan lineman John Gilboy, who currently plays at Colby College in Waterville, was the latest semifinalist for the award a year ago, which eventually went to former Bonny Eagle quarterback Nate Doehler.

Also nominated for the this year’s award were Ryan Backus, Mt. Blue, Nic Crutchfield, Dirigo, Ryan Curit, South Portland, Thomas Foden, Cape Elizabeth, Lonnie Hackett, Bangor, Jack Mallis, Windham, Christian Powers, Lawrence, Ryan Stoud, Foxcroft, Eric Theiss, Leavitt and Bill Wetherbee, John Bapst.

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