BIDDEFORD — Tradition continues today as the 21st Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic kicks off at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford.

The game pits the best high school football players in the state, and is split between players from schools in Western Maine and Eastern Maine, coming from Classes A, B and C.

The game has been a staple in York County for 19 of the 20 previous contests. This will mark the 18th consecutive year the game has been hosted at Waterhouse Field. The very first contest was played at Hill Stadium in Saco in 1990. The lone non-York County Lobster Bowl game was played at Alumni Field in Orono, the home of the University of Maine football team.

While the West squad has a substantial lead in the series with a 15-5 record, the East has split the past 10 games, and has won three out of the last five contests, including a thrilling 17-16 win last year, when Edward Little quarterback Cody Goddard hooked up with teammate Sean Daigle for an eight-yard touchdown pass with seconds remaining to win the game.

The East’s recent success is not lost on the current West players.

“We’re definitely taking the game seriously,” Callanan said. “When you have athletes like this who take the game of football seriously, everyone wants to win.”

“We definitely want to win,” Grose added. “We want to put a lot of points on the board, put on a good show. But we want to come out with a win. We don’t want to lose.”

Eight area players will suit up for the West team today. Thornton Academy will have three representatives in quarterback Steve Trask, wide receiver Tim Grose and offensive lineman Sam Lalezari.

Joining alongside the trio will be Biddeford defensive back Travis Vigneault, Massabesic offensive lineman Gregg Callanan, Sanford offensive lineman Gage Lebeuf, Kennebunk defensive lineman Will Foley and Wells offensive lineman Alec Gatzogiannis.

While it’s a competitive football game between the best players in the state, the most important stat of the contest is the 100 percent net proceeds from the game that go towards the Shriners Children’s Hospital and the Shriners Burn Institute. There are currently 125,000 patients under the care of the hospital system, with around 1,500 patients residing in Maine.

Kickoff for the Lobster Bowl is scheduled for 4 p.m.. The gates at Waterhouse Field will open to the public at 1 p.m. Tickets for the game are $10 for reserved seats, and $8 for general admission seats.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 318.