Thomas Horton and Max Clark are going to get a useful tune-up on Saturday.
Horton and Clark will likely be opponents for the ultimate time within the thirty first annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Traditional soccer recreation at Don Roux Subject in Lewiston on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Afterward, each will likely be persevering with their soccer careers within the Bangor space. Former Bonny Eagle Excessive of Standish two-way lineman Horton will go well with up for the Division I College of Maine, and Bangor quarterback Clark will play for his father, Nat, who’s head coach at Division III Husson College.
They may report back to their faculty groups shortly after the Lobster Bowl recreation, which pits final season’s seniors from the West towards the East. The West holds a 20-10 benefit.
The groups have been training this week at Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft.
“It’s good to get again within the swing of issues. It’s an actual good starter for what we’ve got developing,” stated Horton, who gained the celebrated Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Award that’s given to the state’s prime senior offensive and defensive linemen.
Horton gained it for his play on the offensive facet of the road.
He’s projected to be a defensive lineman at UMaine.
“It’s going to be an excellent problem. I’ll be going up towards some actual huge guys on the offensive line,” stated Horton, who’s 265 kilos however will likely be taking snaps towards offensive lineman within the 280- to 310-pound vary.
“I’m beginning on the backside however I’m hoping that with onerous work and attending to study from one of the best, I’ll be capable to enhance rather a lot and hopefully work my manner up finally,” Horton added.
Clark is happy to play for his dad.
“I’ve been across the program ever since he was there. It’s cool to develop up round Husson soccer and now be capable to placed on the Husson uniform,” Clark stated.
His father was a long-time assistant beneath Gabby Value earlier than succeeding Value as the pinnacle coach in 2019.
Horton and Clark have performed towards one another earlier than, and Clark acquired the higher hand this previous season when he tossed a 5-yard landing go to Ryan Howard with 49.5 seconds left to beat Horton and his Scots 37-30.
The 2 have super respect for each other.
“Max is a good participant. They performed an superior recreation that evening,” Horton stated.
“[Horton] is a man you must recreation plan for. It’s a must to be sure you have two guys close to him. He works onerous and he’s a competitor. You don’t wish to be close to him when he’s going,” Clark stated.
They are going to be following one another’s careers since Horton’s brother, Will, is an offensive lineman at Husson.
For now, the 2 are trying ahead to the Lobster Bowl.
“It’s going to be enjoyable to play in a recreation everybody needs to expertise,” Clark stated. “I’m blessed to have the ability to play within the recreation and to signify the East.”
Horton and Clark have loved attending to know former rivals, a lot of whom are actually teammates, in addition to gamers from different lessons.
“It has been fairly simple to get to know everyone,” stated Clark, who led the Rams to a 7-3 season and their first Class A house playoff berth since 2014.
The sport has raised greater than $750,000 for the Shriners Hospitals for Kids over time.
“It’s nice simply to play for [this cause],” Clark stated.
