BIDDEFORD — For not playing in a game in more than 10 months, former Thornton Academy standout Andrew Libby didn’t show much rust in Saturday’s Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl, even after having to recover from knee surgery. But while Libby was named the West’s best player, he was also responsible for one of the West’s most negative plays in a 32-13 loss.

Libby said he wasn’t nervous before the game, despite the long layoff, but did have the usual butterflies. He didn’t show the normal power and burst in the opening minutes of the game that he showed off in winning the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year award his junior year, but he did after he got a wake-up call.

“It was a good wake-up call to have; not one I wanted to have, but it happened, and it definitely turned it on for me,” Libby said of his red-zone fumble late in the first half. “That fumble definitely turned it on for me. It was unnecessary for me, to be honest with you. From then on out, I told myself I wasn’t going to do it again, and turned it on.”

Libby looked more like his regular wrecking-ball self in the second half, as he bowled over West defenders to the tune of 20 carries and 63 yards rushing. His tough running was instrumental in both of the West’s touchdown drives.

The sight of Libby in pads again ”“ and running like his old self ”“ was rewarding for longtime teammate Cody Lynn, who played on defense for the West.

“I was happy for him. Just seeing him out there running over people, and just really going 100 percent, it was good to see,” said Lynn.

After playing just one quarter of football in his senior season, Libby said he was just happy to get the chance to play with his teammates and rivals again before he moves onto the college ranks.

“It was honor to play one more time. Not just with my teammates, but with these other players out here,” said Libby. “These guys are the best in the state, and it was an honor.”

Hand-cuffed and hands full

The West defense knew it was going to have a tough time with the East aerial attack and its two-headed monster at quarterback, with Cony’s Ben Lucas and Hampden’s Matthew Martin. But what the players weren’t prepared for was having to try and stop the East offense with its hands tied.

“They have some regulations for the game; you’re not allowed to change your defensive formation,” said Wells’ Jake Moody. “We couldn’t really do much with our defense that way.”

“With the rules against the defense, it was a little bit of a struggle, but we knew they were going to throw the ball,” said Lynn. “We were set up ahead of time, and they made just a couple plays that really killed us.”

The East had a few big plays through the air, with both Lucas and Martin finding targets deep in the form of Portland’s Ronald Hargrove and Cony’s Jonathan Saban.

“They just opened it up with the run game,” said Kennebunk’s Nick Emmons, who watched from the sidelines as a West quarterback. “The deep balls were open.”

“We came into the game expecting them to go air, air, air, and just attack that way,” said Moody. “They split it up well, and (Martin) did a great job; he made the right reads and did what he needed to do.”

Rams reunited

The West offense showed flashes of positive momentum at times during the game, and oftentimes, there was a connection. When three Kennebunk teammates ”“ Emmons, running back Nicco DeLorenzo and wide receiver Larson Coppinger ”“ were on the field together, the offense began to click a little.

Emmons and Coppinger had two key hook-ups in the second half, and DeLorenzo gained some tough yards when given the ball.

“I’ve played with them since fourth grade, so they’re like my brothers,” Emmons said of the connection he has with his two teammates. “I’m going to miss it.”

DeLorenzo also put the West in good field position on kickoffs, as the East tried to keep kicks away from Libby. DeLorenzo consistently fielded kicks near the goal line and returned them out past the 20-yard line.

Success for Shriners

The Lobster Bowl is a chance to pit the best senior football players in the East against the best from the West, but more importantly, it’s a fundraiser for Shriners Hospitals. On Saturday night, the Shriners ”“ and the children they help ”“ came out on top as winners.

“Even though it was a long game, and there were a lot of penalties, it felt awesome to be out there,” said Moody. “Not only to be on this field for one last time, but we raised $80,000 both East and West for the (players) and cheerleaders, and that’s just an amazing thing.”

“I’m super proud of us. We all gave every ounce of effort. And even though it’s a losing effort, we still won as a collective unit ”“ East and West ”“ with our fundraising efforts,” said Lynn.

— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or sports@journaltribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.