PORTLAND — It wasn’t a surprise to many in attendance, but it was to Donald Goodrich of Cheverus, who won the 42nd James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy Sunday at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

Goodrich said he was “extremely surprised. The other two guys up there are extreme athletes, and extreme people, so I was very surprised that they didn’t win it, actually.”

Goodrich, a running back and defensive end for the Stags, beat out Chandler Shostak of Cony and Sanford’s Alex Shain.

“Donald deserved it. He had a great career,” said Shain.

Goodrich lost only one game in his two-year Cheverus career, after transferring from York before his junior season. The lone loss was to Thornton Academy in the regional final this past fall.

Along the way, Goodrich ran past would-be tacklers, and sometimes over them, to the tune of 1,722 rushing yards this past season. He was also a standout defensive end, making the all-state team as a junior.

“It means everything,” Goodrich said of winning the “Fitzy.” “Like I’ve said before, it’s for my team, though.”

While Goodrich was left in disbelief, Shain was left to ponder about the award he dreamt of winning.

“I wish I won, but it’s incredible to get this far,” said Shain. “I’m proud of myself. Just the opportunity to have the chance to win it is incredible.”

Each finalist had to give a speech before the winner was announced, and each player’s head coach gave a speech to introduce their finalist. Sanford coach Mike Fallon’s speech left many with tears in their eyes, including Shain.

Fallon first commented on Shain the athlete, saying he’s “as good as he’s seen in 24 years of coaching.” Fallon also said that coaching and watching Shain has “been nothing short of amazing.”

Shain racked up 1,400 yards rushing, 28 total touchdowns and was an active linebacker with 43 solo tackles.

But it wasn’t Fallon talking about what Shain did on the field that brought out tears, but what Shain had to endure off the field.

Fallon spoke about Shain finding out the week before Sanford’s quarterfinal matchup against Scarborough that his mother had cancer, something she had already beaten once, before Alex was born. Shain fought through the emotional pain in that playoff game, and then in the second half through the physical pain of a leg injury, in a heart-breaking defeat. Shain, just a shell of himself, battled for every yard, and even caught a long pass in the second half.

“It meant a lot,” Shain said about Fallon’s speech. “It was tough, especially with everything going on with my mom.

“It was tough for me to give a speech (afterward). I started tearing up a little bit. But if she can be strong, I can be strong, too.”