Cummings among three Fitzy finalists

Stearns of Millinocket football star Justin Cummings, already the recipient of the LTC Class C Player of the Year award, is one of three finalists for the Fitzpatrick Trophy.

Cummings, Massabesic of Waterboro’s Jason O’Tash and Quinton Porter of Portland, were announced as the top three vote-getters in balloting for the 30th annual award, which honors the top high school football player in the state.

The winner will be announced at a Jan. 14 banquet in Portland.

“I’m really excited,” Cummings said. “I didn’t think I was going to be a finalist. I didn’t think a Class C player would get it.”

Named for James J. Fitzpatrick, a former longtime Portland High School football coach, the award winner is narrowed down from a field of 11 semifinalists. High school football coaches and members of the media vote for the ultimate winner.

Cummings rushed for 1,976 yards and 35 touchdowns in the 2000 season.

Cummings said his older brother Travis, who was also a Stearns football standout, told Justin in his sophomore year that he had a good shot getting the award.

Making the final cut for the Fitzy became one of Cummings’ goals for this season.

“That and winning a state championship. But the other thing didn’t happen,” he said.

The Minutemen lost to Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield 22-14 in the Eastern Maine Class C final.

Cummings was a starting tailback for three years and linebacker for four years. In his career with the Minutemen he amassed 5,787 yards on 707 carries (8.2 yards per carry) and scored 87 touchdowns. Cummings is now the all-time leading rusher in the LTC.

This season he was an LTC first-teamer at both of his positions.

“It’s great. It’s a nice way for him to end his high school career,” Stearns coach Tom Bertrand said.

Cummings said he’s hoping to play football next year for either Maine or Bowdoin College in Brunswick.

Red Riots quarterback Porter, who is heading to Boston College next fall, passed for 1,261 yards and 14 touchdowns this year. He ran for 11 TDs and 247 yards.

O’Tash, also a quarterback, powered Massabesic to its first state championship and a 12-0 record. He ran and passed for more than 1,000 yards, and rushed for 18 touchdowns while throwing for another 12. He is considering a number of schools, including Maine and New Hampshire.