The 36th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic was an incredible success on and off the field, with the game’s participants proving that the real victory is the money raised to help kids get the medical care they need. The class of 2026 athletes and cheerleaders shattered previous records by raising a monumental $317,385 for Shriners Children’s, completely surpassing their initial goals. All proceeds benefit the Shriners Children’s locations in Boston and Springfield, providing critical care for children.
According to coaches and local media outlets, this year’s Lobster Bowl game had a November playoff feel to it. It was truly an amazing game to watch. The West All-Stars won a thrilling matchup, defeating the East 28-26 with a game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes. It was a back-and-forth showdown. The first quarter had true playoff vibes with big offensive plays led by Trey Walker, QB from Falmouth. South Portland athletes also had a healthy part of the offense for the West.
Gorham’s all-star pick, Garrett Poulin, a highly accomplished student-athlete from the class of 2026, left an impressive legacy at Gorham High School before taking the field for this record-breaking charity event. Poulin was selected officially as a defensive back (DB) for the game and was on multiple special teams units for the West. He spent three years as the starting quarterback (QB) and a defensive back for the Gorham Varsity team. He graduated holding the all-time passing yards record for the Gorham High School football program; he threw for 1,552 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes. He served as a team captain and is widely credited by coaches for building a strong competitive culture within the Gorham program. This type of leadership was also complemented by his West all-star coaches, Coach Filileo (South Portland) and Coach Johnson (Westbrook). Both sides exploded in the fourth quarter.
Sports Director Jack Webb from ABC 7 and Fox 22 in Bangor emphasized on the Mannix and Mannix radio show, “When you get a close game like this it’s a good sign the two sides are fairly close now talent wise. In the past the West has typically always dominated; this is great to see the level of football across the entire state. The big winner is the amount of money raised by this 2026 class. Outstanding.” Congratulations and thank you to all who participated in this year’s Shriners Lobster Bowl Classic.