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BY BILL STEWART Staff Writer 07/25/2008

HEBRON -- Butch Arthers looks down the East and West rosters for the 19th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl and sees talent at every position on both squads.

But the East head coach also sees something else that has him concerned heading into the all-star showdown at 7:30 tonight at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford.

"The West is very large, and we're not a very big team," said Arthers, who recently retired as Belfast Area High School head coach. "We're fairly quick, but this will be a classic matchup of speed versus size. They'll have an advantage up front. It will just be a matter if we can control things up there."

The West, which leads the series 14-4 but has lost two straight and three of the last five, boasts eight offensive linemen who check in at 6 feet, 2 inches or taller, led by 6-8 Kyle Wedge of Bonny Eagle.

By contrast, the East has just one defensive lineman -- former Winslow tackle Don Clark (6-6) listed at taller than 6-2.

"Whatever happens there may dictate the game," Arthers said. "But our skilled folks have been a pleasant surprise."

The East, which features Mike Siviski (Winslow), Mike Marston (Skowhegan), Wes Littlefield (Messalonskee) and John Hersom (Lawrence) on the coaching staff, will bring seven quarterbacks and plenty of backfield speed to Biddeford.

Of course, Arthers can't play seven signal callers, so he shifted some to other skill positions, including Mt. Blue's Joe Gilbert and Winslow's James Woods. Gilbert will play wide receiver while Woods will see action at cornerback.

Arthers will split the quarterbacking duties between Dan Hussey of Waterville Senior High and Jack Hersom of Lawrence.

"Jack and Dan have done excellent jobs this week," Arthers said. "They have met all of our expectations."

Added Hussey: I'm looking forward to it. We have a great variety in our offense. We're working on traps, double wings, empty set backfield, and five shotgun formations. We have over 100 plays."

The offense presents a few wrinkles to Hersom, the reigning Fitzpatrick Trophy winner.

"There's a bunch of different stuff," he said. "Going out of the shotgun, we never did that at Lawrence. It's a little different."

Fellow Lawrence teammate Shawn Champagne, whose brother Aaron played in last year's Lobster Bowl, will split time at fullback with Kyle Vanidestine of Bangor. Rockland quarterback Andrew Weiss will team up with Morse lightning bolt Darrus Grate at tailback.

Gilbert slides over to wide receiver. Mt. View's Ed Rodrigues, the school's first Lobster Bowl participant, will also split out wide.

Tthe East players this week sounded determined to keep alive the modest two-game winning streak.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Cony graduate John Carll, who will play tackle and possibly some center. "We're playing with and against the best players in the state. To not give your best would be cheating everyone around you."

Added fellow Cony teammate and defensive end Cam O'Brien: "You have to be a smart football player to be here. You don't want to be the guy behind. We're ready."

O'Brien worked with defensive ends coach Siviski this week and said the preparation and excess knowledge gleaned has him eager for tonight.

"His coaching, he's unbelievable," O'Brien said. "He's teaching me so much technique that I wish had another season left, but all I have is one game."

The West, which Wells High's Tim Roche will coach, is led by quarterbacks Jeffrey Elliott of Massabesic and Kevin Gats of Livermore Falls. The offensive line will also feature Madison's Nicholas Ellis and Winthrop's Brandon Kenney.

"It's been way too long since I've put on a football helmet," said East lineman Justin Grant of Messalonskee. "I love it. I love being out here. I love football so much, and I'm ready for my very last game."

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