DOVER-FOXCROFT — Noah Nelson is proud he never missed a football game in three years as the Falmouth High starting quarterback.
That’s despite playing his entire senior season with two bone fragments from the tip of his left femur floating around his knee. Nelson decided to forestall surgery. He wore a brace that limited his mobility and he was acutely aware one wrong step or one sudden shock could end his season.
READY FOR FOOTBALL?
WHAT: Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Waterhouse Field, Biddeford
“Coming into senior season, I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play,” Nelson said. “I was told that if I get one bad hit to the knee I was done for the season because the bone fragment could move. It was definitely humbling to kind of see what your limitations are.”
Two surgeries – one shortly after Falmouth was beaten by York 32-19 in the Western Class B semifinal, the other two months later – removed the fragments and strengthened the knee.
Saturday night, Nelson gets one more high school game to show he’s back to full speed before heading to Bowdoin College, where he hopes to compete for the starting job right away.
Nelson will share quarterback duties with Zach Dubiel of Bonny Eagle for the West in the 26th annual Maine Shriners’ Lobster Bowl at Biddeford’s Waterhouse Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“I have been lifting for (college), getting ready and throwing a lot … but this is really the first time I’ve ever really done everything,” Nelson said. “It feels really good.”
The game brings together the top graduated seniors in the state. Proceeds benefit Shriners’ Hospitals, specifically the hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts.
It’s also an annual chance for players from smaller schools to prove they belong with the Class A athletes.
“I feel like it’s a great challenge,” Nelson said. “Class B doesn’t really get all the hype that Class A does and I think there’s some good people there. Class A brings a lot of talent and some big athleticism, so it’s fun to play against these guys and to play with these guys, too.”
Nelson has also had a week of preparation to meet another challenge of directing a spread offense and taking all the snaps from the shotgun formation.
Falmouth, which went 8-2 in 2014, ran a hybrid of a spread and wing-T offense with Nelson under center “60 percent of the time, probably,” he said.
“Zach (Dubiel) is more familiar with the offense,” said Mike Hathaway, head coach of Leavitt High and the West squad. “Bonny Eagle runs a very similar offense. It’s been a little different for Noah, but he’s adapted very quickly.”
The Lobster Bowl preparation also has given Nelson a head start on his college adjustment.
First-year Bowdoin coach JB Wells (formerly at Endicott College) intends to have the Polar Bears running the spread offense, Nelson said. Last season, Bowdoin went 2-6 and completed one touchdown pass. Starting quarterback Mac Caputi has graduated.
“The new coaching staff loves the spread offense,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he chose Bowdoin over NESCAC rival Wesleyan because of the proximity to his home, making it easier for his grandmother, Mary Nelson of Portland, to attend his games.
“She’s never missed a home game, ever, and she’ll be traveling with my parents to road games, which is awesome,” Nelson said.
Dubiel’s appearance is actually delaying his transition to college football.
Dubiel led Bonny Eagle to the 2013 Class A title and again quarterbacked the Scots as a senior, but it was his closing speed and tackling as a defensive back that attracted college coaches.
“I’m fine playing quarterback. I love it,” Dubiel said. “I love to compete and I love to lead teams, also. If you’re going to be a quarterback you have to be that kind of leader and that’s fine with me.”
Dubiel chose Springfield College over Norwich because he felt Springfield could better prepare him to meet his goal of being an English teacher.
Hathaway indicated he’ll use his quarterbacks with different personnel packages to highlight their strengths. In simplest terms, Nelson is the better passer and Dubiel the better runner.
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