LEWISTON -- If the 2008 Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl football players, cheerleaders and their families hadn't figured out the importance of the annual all-star football game, Timmy Kelley did one final thing to convince them.

"Thanks to the Shriners, I'm up here this morning," Kelly, 13, said. "Thanks to them, I can do this."

Kelly then ran across the stage towards his father, Tim.

The 19th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl will be played July 25 at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. The annual all-star football game benefits Shrine Hospitals for Children.

According to the Lewiston Kora Shriners Web page, more than $340,000 has been raised through the Lobster Bowl for the hospitals. Sunday was the first team meeting for players, cheerleaders, coaches and parents.

Kelly was born prematurely as lost his sight soon after birth. When he was 15 months old, Kelly was diagnosed with cerebella palsy. The Huntington Valley, Pa., native was treated at a Shriner's Hospital, and has already become an accomplished singer.

Kelly has sung the national anthem at a Philadelphia Eagles game, and he has performed at the inauguration of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and the White House.

After viewing a short film on Kelly, the Lobster Bowl participants were serenaded by Kelly, who stepped on stage and sang three songs, "What a Wonderful World," popularized by Louis Armstrong, "Bad Day" by Daniel Pouter and "Crazy," by Gnarls Barkley.

"He can sing," Lawrence defensive lineman Isaiah Underwood said.

Kelly's story served as inspiration for the athletes.

"I didn't expect that at all. It was really moving," Mt. Blue's Joe Gilbert said. "When they show the film, then they bring him out on stage, it was definitely something."

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Lawrence quarterback Jack Hersom won the Fitzpatrick Trophy as the top senior football player in the state after throwing for 1,427 yards and 17 touchdowns last fall. Next year, Hersom will be playing his football at Husson College in Bangor.

"I liked the location and the coaching staff," Hersom said.

Hersom will be joined at Husson by his Lawrence and Lobster Bowl teammate Underwood. Shawn Champagne, Lawrence's third Lobster Bowl participant, is heading to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. One of RPI's rivals in the Liberty League is Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where Champagne's older brother, Aaron, is a running back.

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Hersom and Waterville's Dan Hussey are listed as the quarterbacks for the East squad, but the team has a number of players capable of stepping under center if needed.

Nine players selected to play for the East were either a starting quarterback or saw significant time at the position in the 2007 season. Along with Hersom and Hussey, there's Mt. Blue's Joe Gilbert, Gardiner's Kyle Stilphen, Leavitt's Evan Barker, Rockland's Andrew Weiss, Mt. Ararat's Josh DiBattista, Belfast's Jake Arthers and Winslow's James Wood.

Stilphen was a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, won by Hersom. Gilbert, Barker, DiBattista and Weiss were among the dozen semifinalists for the award.

Gilbert is set to play receiver in the Lobster Bowl. Learning a new position won't be a big deal, he said.

"It's still football," said Gilbert, who will head to Husson in the fall. "Freshman year, I played wide receiver, so it's still the same sport."

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The East won last season's game 47-27. While the West leads the series 14-4, the East has won the last two games for its only win streak of the series.

Butch Arthers, who recently retired as head coach at Belfast Area High School, will be the head coach for the East. Tim Roche of Wells will coach the West.

Players will open training camp on July 20 at Hebron Academy. Cheerleaders will start camp the same day at Central Maine Community College in Auburn.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com