Megan Taylor knows all about the football tradition at Foxcroft Academy.

Her dad played for the Ponies back in the mid-1970s, and her older brother wore the school’s maroon and white more recently.

But now Taylor, as well as up to 30 other girls in the school’s junior and senior classes, will get their chance to experience “Friday Night Lights” for the first time Friday night as they don the pads for a full game of American tackle football.

Foxcroft’s first “powder puff” football game, matching members of the senior class against the juniors, is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Oakes Field in Dover-Foxcroft, with proceeds to benefit publication of the school’s yearbook.

“I never really thought about playing football before, but I always joked about kicking extra points because I play on the soccer team,” said Taylor, a junior. “We talked about doing something like this as a fundraiser last year, and I think it’s awesome that we’ve finally got it in the works.”

This will not be just a pickup game, as the fledgling footballers have been practicing fundamentals of the sport during organized practices this week with the help of members of Foxcroft’s boys varsity squad, the reigning Class C state champion.

The girls practiced offense on Monday and defense on Tuesday and were set to go through their first full-pads, full-contact practice Wednesday.

“It’s been a lot of fun so far,” said Taylor. “I didn’t know football was such an [intricate] sport, with so many things to recognize to know the plays.”

Football honors announced

Fourteen senior high school football players, including reigning Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Jack Hersom of Lawrence of Fairfield, have been selected to receive the 21st annual scholar-athlete awards from the State of Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame Inc.

One prep school player and one college player from the state also will be recognized during a banquet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Thorne Hall on the campus of Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Tickets for the banquet are $30, and the general public is invited to attend. For more ticket information, contact chapter president Howard Vandersea at 729-4210.

Others who will receive scholar-athlete awards are Nick Bourassa of Jay, Shawn Champagne of Lawrence, Vincent Ciampi and Shane Keith of Cheverus of Portland, Matt Colby of Messalonskee of Oakland, Jeffrey Elliot and Tyler Martin of Massabesic of Waterboro, Evan Nash of Gorham, Jeff Newton of Leavitt of Turner, John Onesti and Matt Spearin of Bonny Eagle of Standish, Jason Scott of Thornton Academy of Saco and Andrew Weiss of Rockland.

The prep honoree is James Burrell of Bridgton Academy, and the college recipient is David Philbrook of Bates College of Lewiston.

In addition, the selection committee has chosen to honor four individuals for their lifetime service to football in Maine: Dr. Douglas Brown, Distinguished American Award; Harold “Tank” Violette, Contribution to Amateur Football Award; Kevin Cooper of Bonny Eagle, High School Football Coach of the Year Award; and Erwin Clements, Football Official Recognition Award.

Hathaway in dual role at Leavitt

Mike Hathaway, who already serves as head football coach at Leavitt of Turner, also will coach the boys varsity basketball team this winter.

Hathaway, 33, recently was approved for the basketball coach by the SAD 52 board of directors and replaces Christian Gurney, who resigned after the Hornets finished the 2008 season with a 1-17 record in Eastern Maine Class A.

Leavitt will compete in Class A next season, then it’s expected to drop to Class B beginning with the 2009-2010 season by enrollment.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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