BIDDEFORD — It wasn’t the way either Steve Trask of Thornton Academy or Travis Vigneault of Biddeford wanted to go out, walking off the football field for the last time the recipients of a loss.

However, both players turned in memorable performances, as the East defeated the West 40-35 in the 21st Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic at Waterhouse Field.

“It’s bittersweet,” Trask said. “It was great meeting a bunch of new guys. It sucks that we lost, though. We practiced all week and wanted to come out here and win. You don’t have three-a-days to come out and lose. We kind of became of a family, even though it was only a week. It was a good experience.”

For Vigneault, the game was one more experience to play on home turf.

“It was powerful,” Vigneault said. “I saw the lights [of the stadium] and it just reminded of Friday night lights here at Waterhouse, and there’s no other feeling like it.”

Trask, switching on and off at quarterback with Jackson Taylor of Windham, led the West squad in rushing with 74 yards on 10 carries, and scored on a 29-yard run in the second quarter.

Vigneault, the former Tigers quarterback who suited up as a defensive back for the game, came away from his final home game with an interception of an Eric Theiss pass in the endzone at the beginning of the second quarter.

“I was playing cover three, and he just basically threw it right to me,” Vigneault said. “My goal was to just hold onto the ball and let the offense go down and score.”

Trask, running the show out of his normal spread option offense, faked a handoff before running up the left sideline uncontested for the score. After the touchdown and an Eddie Warren extra point, the West enjoyed a comfortable 22-6 lead.

“It felt good,” Trask said. “I haven’t played football in a while, so it felt good to break one. I wouldn’t of had it without the blocking, we had good blocking on that play.”

However, the East showcased an air show all day on the West defense. Both Theiss and Ron Turner combined for 365 passing yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Almost half of those yards went to wide receiver Nolan Turner, who caught seven passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.

Later in the second quarter, Ron Turner hooked up on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Richard Orio to bring the score to 22-14 at halftime.

“After halftime, we had breakdowns on special teams, and that kind of cost us,” Trask said.

The East again scored midway through the third quarter, when Theiss connected with Nolan Turner for a 73-yard touchdown pass. After a failed two-point conversion, the West held onto a 22-20 lead.

The West extended the lead with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Jacob Alexander in the corner of the endzone to make the score 28-20. After Alexander dunked the ball over the crossbar, the West was tacked with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, setting up the most heart-warming moment of the ballgame.

Warren, a Sacopee Valley graduate and former Shriners Hospital patient who lost both legs at an early age, kicked a 40-yard extra point to make the score 29-20. After making the kick, the crowd erupted, prompting chants of “Eddie, Eddie” until he kicked off to the East moments later. Warren was perfect on all extra-points in the game, and also induced a touchback on a kickoff.

The news wouldn’t be so sweet for the rest of the West squad, as the East tacked on two more touchdown passes, a 25-yard touchdown from Theiss to Rashon Edgerton and a 15-yard pass from Ron Turner to Will Weatherbee to take a 33-29 lead.

Vigneault said he was shocked by the amount of passing the East displayed.

“All week we just heard about their running game and their huge line,” Vigneault said. “Then they came out with playaction passes and caught us by surprise. I think the coaches had us prepared for it, though.”

The East sealed the game with over two minutes left when Bangor running back Lonnie Hackett took an option handoff up the middle of the field for a 34-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the East led 40-29.

The West would score one more time, on an Ryan Curit 3-yard run, but it wouldn’t be enough, as the East held onto the 40-35 win.

Quick Slants”¦

While the West still holds the overall series record at 15-6, the East has the recent success, winning four of the past five games.

All of the York County players got a chance to play in the game. Thornton Academy wide receiver Tim Grose had one catch for nine yards. Massabesic offensive lineman Gregg Callanan and Wells offensive lineman Alec Gatzogiannis started on the line for the West, with Sanford lineman Gage Lebeuf rotating in. Because of lack of depth at the center position, Callanan had to perform the duties throughout most of the game. Kennebunk defensive lineman Will Foley was credited with a solo tackle.

Hackett, who rushed for 150 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns, was given the East MVP award. Tom Foden of Cape Elizabeth, who had 44 yards rushing on eight carries, was named the West MVP.

Biddeford cheerleader Alycia Gelinas was presented with the Spirit Award during the post game ceremonies.

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