Gardiner Area High School quarterback/linebacker Kyle Stilphen and Lawrence High School quarterback Jack Hersom were both named finalists Friday for the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy given annually to the top senior football player in the state.

Hersom led Lawrence to the Class A state championship game for the second year in a row, passing for 1,427 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 505 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Luckily, with the assistant coaches I had this year, they all felt that it would be a strength of our offense to get Jack involved as much as possible,” said Jack's father and head coach John Hersom. “They sold me on it.”
Stilphen, meanwhile, led Gardiner to the Class B state title, passing for 458 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for six touchdowns. He also had 87 tackles, six interceptions, kicked 33 extra points and punted for an average of 33.6 yards in the regular season. And he returned two punts for touchdowns.
"It's a big accomplishment, not too many people in Gardiner have gotten it," Stilphen said. "It's exciting."
Justin Villaci of Gorham High School was the third finalist.
The winner will be announced at the annual banquet on Jan. 20.