FA’s Clawson among 12 Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalists

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy quarterback-safety Nick Clawson is among 12 semifinalists for the 47th James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, presented annually to the state’s top high school senior football player-sportsman.

Finalists are expected to be announced later this month, with the winner named in January.

Other semifinalists are Tim Albert of Leavitt in Turner Center, Jack Bryant of Falmouth, Owen Garrard of Scarborough, Grant Hartley of Edward Little of Auburn, Cameron Houde of Thornton Academy in Saco, Colby Lee of Mount Desert Island, Nolan Potter of Wells, Jordan Roddy of Cony of Augusta, Conner Sirois of Bonny Eagle of Standish, Ryan Weare of Cape Elizabeth and Sean Whalen of Madison-Carrabec.

Clawson, the Little Ten Conference co-player of the year, both rushed and passed for more than 1,000 yards in leading Foxcroft to the Class D North championship. He also accounted for 32 touchdowns, 18 rushing and 14 passing, for the Ponies on offense and contributed 36 tackles and three pass interceptions on defense.

Clawson is the first Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalist for Foxcroft since Peter Boyer in 2014.

Albert, a team captain, passed for 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 780 yards and 11 more scores while quarterbacking Leavitt to the top seed in Class C South and a trip to the regional semifinals his fall.

Bryant quarterbacked Falmouth to the Class B South championship game, passing for 1,509 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 1,036 yard and 18 scores. He also played safety on defense for the Yachtsmen.

Garrard, a running back-linebacker, averaged 9 yards per carry while rushing for 1,119 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading Scarborough to the Class A state championship. The team captain scored five touchdowns in the state final when the Red Storm defeated Windham. He also had 68 tackles on defense this season.

Hartley’s quarterback play led Edward Little to the No. 1 seed in Class A North and a berth in the regional semifinals. The team captain passed for 999 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for six more scores, and he averaged 35.5 yards per punt for the Red Eddies.

Houde, a running back-linebacker, was particularly stout on defense where the team captain made 111 tackles, including 62 solo stops, along with three quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries in helping Thornton Academy reach the Class A South championship game.

Lee led MDI to the Class C North championship game this fall, rushing 109 times for 1,236 yards with 16 touchdowns on offense and making 27 tackles (18 solos) on defense while playing on all special teams for the Trojans.

Potter, a fullback-linebacker, led Wells to its second straight state championship, this year in Class D after earning the Class C crown in 2016. The team captain rushed for 1,390 yards and 28 touchdowns offensively while amassing more than 100 tackles and forcing four fumbles on defense.

Roddy, a wide receiver and safety, ran for two touchdowns, caught eight touchdown passes and finished the fall with 76 catches for 703 yards while helping Cony qualify for the Class B North playoffs.

Sirois amassed 1,746 total yards while quarterbacking Bonny Eagle to a Class A South semifinal appearance and passed for 22 touchdowns while adding five more scores on the ground. The team captain made 29 tackles and a pass interception as a safety on defense.

Weare, a fullback-linebacker, rushed for 1,332 yards and 16 touchdowns on 228 carries in leading Cape Elizabeth to the Class C South championship. The team captain also made 92 tackles on defense.

Whalen, a running back-linebacker, averaged more than 10 yards per carry while rushing for 1,011 yards and 18 touchdowns as Madison-Carrabec advanced to the Class D South championship game. The team captain also had four touchdown catches and 470 receiving yards on offense while contributing 47 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two pass interceptions on defense and three more scores on kick returns.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FITZPATRICK TROPHY SEMIFINALIST — Foxcroft Academy senior quarterback Nick Clawson has been selected as one of 12 semifinalists for the 47th James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, recognizing the state’s top high school senior football player-sportsman. Clawson was one of three honorees from Class D with the other nine representing Classes A, B and C.