Fitzy list includes Prentiss, Arthers Davis, Withee also among semifinalists

Nick Arthers of Belfast High School, Trevor Davis of Rockland, Mike Prentiss of Bangor High, and Josh Withee of Foxcroft Academy have been named semifinalists for the 33rd annual Fitzpatrick Trophy.

There are 15 semifinalists for the award, which goes to the top senior football player in the state regardless of classification.

The three Fitzpatrick finalists will be announced next month, and the winner will be revealed at a banquet Jan. 19.

Arthers, the Belfast quarterback, led all players in that position in the Pine Tree Conference Class B in rushing with a 7.8 yards-per-carry average. He also served as the Lions’ punter and was a linebacker and special teams player. Belfast won the PTC Class B title last weekend and will play in the state final today.

Davis, a tailback-fullback for the Tigers, led the LTC Class C with 1,237 rushing yards on 201 carries to go with 91 points. As a linebacker he had 49 solo tackles, 54 assists, and six sacks.

Bangor tailback Prentiss went over the 2,000-yard mark during the playoffs with at least 235 carries, 25 touchdowns, and an average of 190.3 rushing yards per game. He returned 14 punts for an 18.4 average and one touchdown. On defense he had 28 solo tackles, 12 assists, and four interceptions.

Withee completed 42 of his 83 passes as the Ponies’ quarterback. He passed for 1,015 yards and 14 touchdowns with only one interception. Withee also rushed 40 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, the safety had 49 tackles.

The rest of the Fitzpatrick semifinalists are Nathan Bolduc of Mt. Blue in Farmington, Biddeford’s Phillippe Bourassa, Cheverus of Portland’s Kyle Bourgoin, Westbrook’s Orry Cummings, Michael Grimaldi of Portland, Scott Guillerault of South Portland, Deering of Portland’s Joseph Marsh, Gardiner’s Nathaniel Munzing, Luke Sibley of Wells, Jared Walker of Skowhegan, and Brunswick’s Philip Warren.

Criteria for the annual award include performance on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

Each football-playing school gets one nomination. From there, the list is narrowed down by a committee of former college and high school football coaches, high school administrators, and media representatives.

The award is named for James J. Fitzpatrick, a former longtime Portland High School football coach.