PORTLAND, Maine — Brewer’s Trey Wood and Orono’s Keenan Collett are among 11 semifinalists for the 2016 James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, presented to the state’s top senior high school football player-sportsman.
Finalists for the award will be announced in December with the winner named during a banquet in mid-January.
Wood, a halfback and linebacker, rushed for 2,014 yards with an average of 6.5 yards per carry and scored 27 touchdowns and eight two-point conversions in helping Brewer advance to the Class B North championship game for the second straight year. The team captain also made 83 tackles (25 solos) with a pass interception and three fumble recoveries for coach Nick Arthers’ club.
Wood carries a 3.0 grade point average, competes on the school’s ice hockey and track teams, and volunteers for fundraisers, youth sports and other outdoor projects.
Collett, a fullback and linebacker, rushed for 23 touchdowns and 1,009 yards with a 7.5 yards per carry average for Orono, which advanced to the Class D North semifinals. The versatile team captain also caught 35 passes for 723 yards and nine more touchdowns for coach Bob Sinclair’s Red Riots.
He made 97 tackles, with 67 solos. Collett, who also competes in basketball and track at Orono, has a 93.3 GPA and represented his school at Dirigo Boys State.
Other North division semifinalists for the Fitzpatrick Trophy are quarterback-defensive back Francis Garrett McSweeney of Skowhegan (2,433 passing yards, 26 TD passes, 457 rushing yards, six TDs); tailback-cornerback Makao Thompson of Mt. Blue of Farmington (780 rushing yards, seven TDs, 116 receiving yards, one TD); running back-safety Dylan Bolduc of Portland (1,257 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs, 400 receiving yards, two receiving TDs, 106 tackles, five interceptions), and fullback-linebacker Jesse Devereaux of Class B state champion Brunswick (790 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, two TD passes, 72 tackles, four QB sacks, more than 20 plays behind the line of scrimmage, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries).
South division semifinalists are quarterback-safety Joseph Curit of Biddeford, quarterback-safety Cameron Day of Class A state champion Bonny Eagle of Standish, running back-cornerback Riley Dempsey of Class C state champion Wells, wide receiver-safety Ben Ekedahl of Cape Elizabeth, and quarterback-safety Michael Laverriere of Thornton Academy in Saco.
