After leading his Leavitt Hornets to back-to-back perfect seasons in 2022 and 2023, Noah Carpenter added winning the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy for being this year’s top senior in Maine high school football to his extensive list of accomplishments on Sunday afternoon.
A standout quarterback, strong safety, placekicker and punter for Leavitt, Carpenter had already been named Varsity Maine Player of the Year and Maine Gatorade Football Player of the Year two consecutive times, and has committed to play for the University of Maine Black Bears next fall.
On Sunday in Portland, Carpenter beat out finalists Cohen Galley (quarterback) of Oceanside, Terrell Edward (quarterback) of Bonny Eagle and Michael McGonagle (running back) of Yarmouth to win the 52nd Fitzpatrick Trophy.
“This is different just because knowing the history, what it takes to win this award, and knowing previous guys who have won this award. It just stands above most of the individual achievements,” Carpenter told the Portland Press Herald. “But nothing could have been done and my season could never have happened without my teammates.”
In 30 games as a starter, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Carpenter led the Hornets to a 29-1 record — including two state championship victories by an average margin of 49.5 points — and accounted for 8,015 total yards, 108 touchdowns, 242 tackles, eight interceptions, six forced fumbles and 53 PATs.
Carpenter was next-level his senior year, completing 63 percent of his passes (90 of 142) for 1,801 yards and 21 touchdowns, rushing for 1,351 yards and 23 touchdowns on 121 carries, making 32 of 35 extra point kicks and scoring 15 2-point conversions.
“He’s a confident competitor that finds a way to win,” UMaine head football coach Jordan Stevens said. “He’s got a really strong arm, has the ability to extend plays with his feet, has great awareness and is a selfless teammate — we’re getting a great football player.”
