BIDDEFORD – It was a battle between two teams that couldn’t stop each other’s maine offensive weapon, so it figured that the team in possession of the ball last would win.

The East mounted a strong passing attack that looked like an aerial circus and the West countered with a deliberate, but equally unwavering ground attack resembling the U.S. Army’s Desert Storm campaign.

Ground beat air as the West hung on for a thrilling 17-16 victory in the annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic at Waterhouse Field Friannual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic at Waterhouse Field Friday night before a crowd of 6,500 Friday night.

It was the West’s eighth victory in eight bowl games and officially marked the end of Lawrence of Fairfield coach Earle “Pete” Cooper’s storied high school coaching career. He was the East’s head coach.

The West took their first and only lead of the game with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter and never relinquished it.

With the East leading 16-10, Leavitt of Turner’s James Ray capped a 10-play scoring drive that opened the second half with a 41-yard touchdown run off right tackle and down the right sideline that tied the game. Hometown favorite Chulho Choi of Biddeford kicked the extra point through the upriwinning margin.

The play seemed like it would be the first of many second-half scoring plays as the two teams traded deep drives into enemy territory, but the defenses always stiffened to force punts or came away with timely turnovers to thwart further scoring.

The East had plenty of prime scoring opportunities, but could never cash in on them.

“We had our chances,” said a visibly disappointed Cooper. “We had one field goal blocked and ran out of time on another.”

The East drove 66 yards in seven plays over 1:25 just before the first half expired, but was unable to kick a field goal before time ran off the clock.

After Winslow quarterback and eventual East MVP Rueben Lemelin called timeout with 25 seconds left, the West threw the East’s time management plan into chaos by sacking Lemelin for a four-yard loss. More importantly, the play ran 20 seconds off the clock. The ball was hiked for the field goal kick about two seconds after the clock ran out.

Disaster again struck the East kicking game with 6:30 left i Disaster again struck the East kicking game with 6:30 left in the third quarter as the kick by Foxcroft Academy’s Charlie Fearon from the West 10-yard line was blocked by Kennebunk’s Casey Legg.

The East again appeared poised for a dramatic win late in the fourth quarter as it mounted a six-play drive from its own 11 into Westquarter as it mounted a six-play drive from its own 11 into West territory with 4:55 left to play.

After a roughing-the-passer penalty gave the East a first down at the West 43 with 2:35 left, Lemelin hit Bangor’s Jason St. Pierre with a seven-yard out pattern.

St. Pierre caught the ball at the W36 before Portland defensive back Don Gillies nailed him point blank and jarred the ball loose. Jeff Justice of Cheverus was there to recover the ball and the West ran out the clock with six plays.

The East went up 7-0 after their second possession of the game. Lawrence’s Ryan Bolduc capped a six-play drive from the West 43 with a five-yard TD run.

The West tied it on a 66-yard pass play from quarterback Zach Matthews to wideout Pat Toulouse, who hooked up for many others last season as Sanford teammates.

After taking back the lead with a 37-yard field goal by Fearon early in the second quarter, Bolduc found the end zone again on a two-yard ruwith 10:39 left in the first half. Fearon’s PAT kick was wide lewith 10:39 left in the first half. Fearon’s PAT kick was wide left.

Ray won West MVP honors after rushing for 75 yards on nine carries. South Portland running back Tim Lawson showed why he was a Fitzpatrick Award finalist with 100 yards on 14 carries.

“We all just seemed to be in synch,” said Orono quarterback Robey Rhoads, who threw for 179 yards and completed 10 of 16 passes.

East 7 9 0 0 – 16

West 7 3 7 0 – 17

E – Bolduc 5 run (Fearon kick)

W – Toulouse 66 pass from Matthews (Choi kick)

E – Fearon 37 field goal

E – Bolduc 2 run (kick failed)

W – Choi 26 field goal

W – Ray 41 run (Choi kick)

East West

First downs 14 14 Rushing att. – yds 36-73 48-255 Passing cmp. – att. 15-24 3-8 Yards passing 274 80 Total yards 347 345 Intercepted by 0 0 Punts – avg. 5-32.2 6-22.5 Fumbles – lost 2-1 1-1 Penalties – yds 4-25 4-19

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – East: Bolduc 12-38, Hodgdon 4-11, Decker 7-9, Alley 2-6, Coffin 2-3, Rhoads 2-3, Piepkorn 1-2, Nicholson 2-1, Lemelin 4-0; West: Lawson 14-100, Ray 9-75, Girard 8-29, Foley 9-23, Orlando 4-21, Matthews 4-7

PASSING – East: Rhoads 10-16-0-179, Lemelin 5-8-0-95; West: Matthews 2-4-0-74; Orlando 1-4-0-6

RECEIVING – East: Tyler 4-90, Hayes 3-77, Gonzalez 2-50, St. Pierre 4-42, Bolduc 1-9, Annis 1-6; West: Toulouse 2-72, Choi 1-8