PORTLAND, Maine — The three favorites to win the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy were announced Saturday as finalists for the award presented annually to the top senior player-sportsman in Maine high school football.
Will Bessey of Brunswick, Joe Esposito of Portland and Austin McCrum of Thornton Academy in Saco were selected by vote from among 12 semifinalists announced earlier this month.
The winner of the 45th annual award will be announced during a banquet in January.
Esposito, a running back and linebacker, already has been named the 2015 Gatorade Maine Player of the Year after rushing for 1,795 yards and 26 touchdowns on 256 carries in 11 games this fall to lead Portland High School to the Class A state final. The Class A North Player of the Year also had a conference-leading 124 tackles.
Bessey, the Class B North Player of the Year, led Brunswick to the Class B state championship game for the second straight season. He had 1,722 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns on offense as a running back and also starred defensively at linebacker.
McCrum quarterbacked Thornton Academy to its second straight Class A state title, completing 87 of 144 passes for 1,706 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for 245 yards and two scores.
Other semifinalists were Connor Aube of Falmouth, Jack Bernatchez of Messalonskee of Oakland, Levi Craig of Leavitt of Turner Center, Mahlon Glidden of Scarborough, Sam Peck of Greely of Cumberland Center, Nate Pratt-Holt of Mt. Blue of Farmington, Riley Robinson of Dirigo of Dixfield, Reid Shostak of Cony of Augusta and Dalton Therrien of Oak Hill of Wales.
