Sunday's Fitzpatrick Trophy luncheon in Portland gave us a chance to reflect on the last high school football season. Bonny Eagle quarterback/defensive back Nate Doehler was a deserving winner, and semifinalists Billy Clark of Skowhegan and Justin Staires of Mountain Valley were worthy candidates, too.

We'll get a final chance to see these three, and many of the other outstanding seniors in the Class of 2009, represent their schools in the Lobster Bowl all star game this summer.

The Fitzpatrick Trophy presentation is a good time to look at the state of high school football in Maine. I'm happy to say the sport is in great shape.

Three new teams will begin play next fall. Camden Hills will join the Pine Tree Conference's Class B division after playing exhibition games against the league's members in 2008. Freeport and Sacopee Valley will join the Campbell Conference Class C, making a mega-league of 14 teams.

Add those to the recent addition of teams at Nokomis, Mt. View and Calais, and you have one of the fastest growing sports in Maine.