Cape Elizabeth senior quarterback Caden McDuffie didn’t just lead the Capers to their first state title back in November, he did it with style, with his arm, legs and brain and as a result of his excellence, McDuffie was named the 50th winner of the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, given to the state’s premier senior player, at a ceremony in Portland Sunday.
McDuffie is the first Cape Elizabeth player to be selected. Bonny Eagle lineman Thomas Horton and Windham quarterback Will Ledbetter were the other finalists.
McDuffie rushed for 1,011 yards and 19 touchdowns, set a school record for total offense (2,417 yards) and completed 68 of 123 passes for 1,406 yards with 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He ran for the winning score as time expired to beat Leavitt in the Class C South Final, then accounted for seven TDs in a state game victory over Winslow.
“I knew what the Fitzpatrick Trophy meant,” McDuffie said at the COVID-delayed banquet. “It meant you were the cream of the crop. I just wanted to bring Cape Elizabeth its first ring and whatever comes with that follows and my teammates really made it easy for me.”
McDuffie will play next year at Louisiana Christian University, an NAIA school in Pineville, Louisiana.
Press Herald staff writer Steve Craig contributed to this story.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less