3 EM players on Fitzy semifinal list

Three Eastern Maine players are among the 11 semifinalists for the 2008 James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy symbolic of the state’s top high school senior football player.

Billy Clark of Skowhegan, Shawn Smith of Hampden Academy and Nate Warren of Bucksport are among contenders for the award, which will be presented during a banquet scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

Clark, a running back and safety, rushed for 2,188 yards and scored 28 touchdowns in leading Skowhegan to its first Eastern Maine Class A championship since 1989 and a berth in the state final.

Smith, a quarterback and safety, rushed for 508 yards and passed for 967 in helping the Broncos earn a berth in the Pine Tree Conference Class B playoffs. Smith also is one of the state’s top punters.

Warren, a running back and linebacker, led Bucksport to an undefeated regular season and a trip to the Eastern Maine Class C championship game. He finished the season with 2,420 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

Eight Western Maine football standouts round out the semifinalists, a group led by quarterback-safety Nate Doehler of Bonny Eagle of Standish. Doehler rushed for more than 1,300 yards and passed for more than 1,900 yards while leading the Fighting Scots to their second straight Class A state championship and fourth in five years.

Other finalists are running backs Jack Heary of Deering of Portland, Joey Eon of Massabesic of Waterboro and Justin Staires of Mountain Valley of Rumford; linemen John Gilboy of Thornton Academy of Saco, Nate LaVallee of Cape Elizabeth, and Robert Nelson of Portland and Jake Watson, a lineman and linebacker from Cheverus of Portland.