DOVER-FOXCROFT — With three players on the East team for the Lobster Bowl, Windham High is well represented.
Zach Davis, Tanner Laberge and Matt Roy were key players for Windham last season as it captured the Eastern Maine Class A title.
MAINE SHRINE LOBSTER BOWL
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Waterhouse Field, Biddeford
“It’s a statement as to how far our program has come,” said Coach Matt Perkins, serving as an assistant coach for the East. “Windham has had football (only) for 15 years.”
The 26th annual Maine Shriners’ Lobster Bowl Classic will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. The game brings together the top graduated seniors in the state in an East-West format in a game that benefits Shriners’ Hospitals.
No school has more players than the Eagles on the East squad; Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield also has three.
Davis, Laberge and Roy and their coach were at the Lobster Bowl media day Tuesday at Foxcroft Academy, where the teams are practicing.
All four are looking forward to playing one final time together.
Davis, Roy and Laberge all play defense and are being coached by Perkins, the East’s defensive coordinator.
Davis and Roy are ends and Laberge is a defensive back. The players were excited that Windham’s defensive scheme will be used by the East.
“We know it like the back of our hand,” said Roy.
The game has extra meaning for Laberge. He’s heading to the University of Southern Maine, where he will play baseball.
“This is my last football game so I’m trying to take everything in,” he said. “At practice when I do a drill, I think to myself that this is the last time I’ll do that.”
Davis and Roy are heading to Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, where they will play football.
Davis said it has taken a lot of hard work for him and his teammates to reach this game.
“We dedicated ourselves to becoming better players and bringing a positive attitude to the program,” he said.
When the three were sophomores, Perkins realized their class had potential. The Eagles had won the Class A state title in 2009, beating Bangor, but graduation losses had resulted in the Eagles falling short of their goals over the next few seasons. Perkins wanted to change the attitude and enlisted the three players and the other seniors to turn things around.
“We wanted everyone to be more accountable for themselves and their teammates,” said Perkins.
Perkins said the criteria to be selected to the Lobster Bowl are character and ability, in that order.
“We want players who will be good role models for Windham. Zach, Tanner and Matt are certainly that. Their ability on the field is obvious,” he said.
A key aspect of the game that all three enjoy is that former opponents are now teammates.
“You didn’t like them when you played against them only because you didn’t know them, but now that we’re all teammates, you find out that they’re pretty good guys,” said Davis.
Asked if he’s resolved some of his feelings toward former opponents, Laberge said with a smile, “Yes, but I’m not saying who.”
Laberge made the play of the season last year when he blocked a point-after-attempt by Cheverus in overtime in the regional final to send the Eagles to the state final.
Perkins hinted he might use Laberge in the same situation if it arises on Saturday.
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