... about several of the semifinalists for the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, given annually to the state's top senior high school football player:

Massabesic quarterback Jeff Elliott is a musician and a breeder of tropical birds, while Cheverus running back/defensive back Topher Pochebit participates in mock trial and is a science camp counselor.

And this year's winner, Lawrence quarterback Jack Hersom? Hersom became a quarterback because it meant he wouldn't get tackled by his older brothers during pickup games.

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James J. Fitzpatrick is immortalized not only as an athletic achievement award but also in "The Iron Major," a 1943 motion picture that chronicled Frank Cavanaugh, Fitzpatrick's football coach at Boston College and a World War I veteran. In the movie, Fitzpatrick drop-kicked a field goal to give Boston College a 5-3 win over Yale in 1919.

A little more than a week remains in the UPS Delivery Intercept Challenge, an online voting contest in which football fans can view and vote for the best interception play in youth and high school football in 2007, via viral video. (Think YouTube.)

There you have it, the three finalists for the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy – Gorham running back Justin Villacci, Gardiner quarterback/defensive back Kyle Stilphen and Lawrence quarterback Jack Hersom.

Villacci is Gorham's first finalist for the award, while Hersom is Lawrence's second finalist in as many years, joining Aaron Champagne, who was a finalist last year. Lawrence's only Fitzpatrick Trophy winner is Kirk Mathieu (1987). Gardiner's only Fitzpatrick winner was Nate Sergent (1997).

Boothbay Region is one of a handful of high schools in Maine to use the double-wing offense.

While some accounts date the double wing offense back to the early 1900s, Don Markham is considered the “godfather” of the modern offensive scheme in football.

Saturday at Waterhouse Field, Biddeford quarterback Justin Gelinas made his first pass of the game a memorable one. Gelinas' pass went wide of the intended receiver and past the Marshwood sideline, then through the white latticework fence that surrounds the field, leaving a football-shaped hole.

Taking a look at possible candidates for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, given annually to the state's top senior in high school football.

Three to watch:

Jon Hussey, Marshwood: Hussey has steamrolled through opposing defenses in four of the Hawks' first six games. In a 42-21 win at Scarborough, Hussey scored four touchdowns, two on interception returns.

Darrus Grate, Morse: Grate, a tailback, missed the Shipbuilders' first two games with a broken right hand but returned to become one of the Pine Tree Conference's top rushers. In last week's 33-6 win over Leavitt, Grate ran for 298 yards and five touchdowns.

Jim Bump, Cape Elizabeth: In 2006 the quarterback helped Cape to its most successful season (in the program's third year) and has continued to guide the Capers' offense. Bump threw for two touchdowns in a 25-14 win over Wells.

Tom Chard caught up with former Marshwood coach Rod Wotton for a story in today's paper. Wotton is on the verge of becoming New England's all-time winningest football coach.

According the National Federation of State High School Associations, the nation's winningest football coach is John McKissick of Summerville, S.C., who won 531 games from 1952-2005.