Zack Sullivan (22) of Kennebunk High prepares to leap for a touchdown catch off of a fade pass from quarterback Carter Edgerton of Biddeford during the second quarter of the West’s 60-14 win over the East at the 30th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic at Thornton Academy. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/Journal Tribune)

KENNEBUNK – A trio of Kennebunk football players made sure the final time they stepped onto a high school field was a memory that lasted a lifetime. 

Offensive lineman Chase Lamontagne, wide receiver Zack Sullivan and linebacker Dante DeLorenzo represented the Rams as members of the West All-Stars at the 30th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl at Thornton Academy last Saturday. The West beat the East 60-14 and all three Kennebunk players had a hand in the historic day. 

“It was awesome. I love football,” Lamontagne said. “I hope that I will be able to look back at (the Lobster Bowl) when I have kids and talk about when I played football like my dad has done throughout my high school career.”  

Lamontagne entered the annual summer sports spectacle that pits the best football players from across the state as one of just five offensive linemen on the West’s roster alongside Morgan Welch-Thompson of Wells, Aidan McGlone of Bonny Eagle and Marshwood’s Drew Gregor and Adam Doyon. 

Zachary Reed of Scarborough didn’t dress due to injury and a couple of other players weren’t able to make it to training camp at Foxcroft Academy, said West head coach Bill County of Leavitt. The West even rotated in some defensive linemen on the o-line during practice in the event of a worst-case scenario. 

Having to go through a full football game without taking a play off is difficult enough on a cool Friday night in the fall. Doing it in above 100-degree temperatures – like on Saturday – against some of the most talented defensive linemen in Maine is a whole other animal. 

Lamontagne and the rest of the West’s offensive line took the challenge head-on. 

“I was excited for the game knowing that we had a small group,” he said. “As a small group, we motivated each other to work as hard as we could, knowing that we would not have any subs. I knew that our group consisted of the best of the best in Maine. We had to train 110 percent during the week of camp because we knew we had to go in ready and conditioned to play the entire game.”

On the West’s first offensive play, running back Tyler Bridge of Wells ran through a gaping hole on the right side and scampered for a 36-yard touchdown. The winner of last season’s Fitzpatrick Trophy finished with 113 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Running back Will Whyte of Bonny Eagle found the endzone. So too did wide receivers Matt Conley of Cape Elizabeth and Caleb Treadwell of Oak Hill. 

Sullivan made the most spectacular catch of the game on an 11-yard fade in the right corner of the endzone. The tall wideout timed his jump perfectly and reached over the East defender to haul in the pass from quarterback Carter Edgerton of Biddeford. 

The play is one that Sullivan has terrorized opponents on throughout his career, and he was excited when he heard his number called during the Lobster Bowl. 

“All there is to it is staying confident and attacking the ball before the defender has a chance to make a play,” he said. “It was amazing. It felt good to end my high school career with such a great win.” 

The 60 points the West scored set a Lobster Bowl record, passing the 58 that the East set in 1996. The five offensive linemen played every snap. 

“It was really amazing that they all made it through the whole game,” said DeLorenzo. “It just shows that they really wanted it, and they definitely left everything on the field.”

While the offense was breaking a scoring record, the West’s defense set the tone on the other side of the ball. 

On the second play from scrimmage, East quarterback Marcus Christopher of Skowhegan scrambled out of the pocket and attempted to break outside. DeLorenzo came up from his linebacker position and slowed down Christopher enough for a teammate to tackle the quarterback and pop the ball free. DeLorenzo hopped back to his feet, chased the pigskin and dove on the football for a fumble recovery.  

“My teammates and I just got so excited and were just jumping all over the place… It was an exciting way to start the game,” DeLorenzo said. “(The fumble) just got everyone even more hyped up right from the beginning.” 

The East had 14 points on the scoreboard early in the second quarter and the game appeared to be headed for a shootout. DeLorenzo and the West’s defense didn’t allow another point. 

“Don’t let up,” DeLorenzo said. “After the second, we all just did our job and we didn’t let them have anything.” 

All three Rams will play football at the next level. Lamontagne joins his brother at the University of New England. DeLorenzo heads to the University of New Haven to play fullback and tight end. Sullivan takes his talents to Bridgewater State University. 

All three credit their time in high school as a reason why they’ve become who they are both on and off the field. 

“Kennebunk High School has meant everything,” Sullivan said. “The coaching staff and the community just really makes it a winning environment. Playing for Kennebunk has been one of the greatest things in my life. Coach (Joe) Rafferty has taught me so much and it’s the reason why I was able to compete at a high level.”