Cony’s Dom Napolitano (6) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Jeff Bickford (50) against Falmouth in the first half of an Oct. 21, 2022 game in Augusta. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Dom Napolitano is eager to carry his family’s legacy into the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl.
Napolitano, a a two-way standout (quarterback, safety) on the Cony football team last fall, will look to join his father, Nick, in Lobster Bowl lore on Saturday afternoon. Nick Napolitano, a former linebacker at Portland High, earned Lobster Bowl Most Valuable Player honors for his showing in the 1992 game.
Nick Napolitano, father of Cony’s Dom Napolitano, was the MVP of the 1992 Lobster Bowl at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. Nick Napolitano, then a linebacker for Portland High School, had 15 tackles in the game. Contributed photo by Nick Napolitano
The 33rd edition of the annual senior football all-star game, which raises money for the Shriner’s Children Hospital, is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. at Roux Field in Lewiston.
Nick Napolitano, 49, said he’s excited to see his son enjoy the same experience.
“It’s crazy, it’s such a good feeling,” Nick Napolitano said. “Dom just had such a great year, and I’m just so happy he made it to, the final recognition, I guess, is what the Lobster Bowl is, in my opinion.”
Dom Napolitano was a standout quarterback and safety for the Rams this past season, amassing 2,000 all-purpose yards. He was a semifinalist for the James J. Fitzpatrick award, handed out to the state’s top senior player. He threw 11 touchdowns and rushed for 13. Napolitano had 49 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
Napolitano will be lined up as a wide receiver for the East squad on Saturday.
“I’m loving (the week) so far,” Napolitano said on Tuesday, during Lobster Bowl media day. “It’s a great cause; it’s been going on forever. My dad played in this game. So yeah, I’m super excited to play in this game.”
A linebacker for Portland High School, Nick Napolitano was among the players selected for the 1992 Lobster Bowl, just the third game in the series at the time. A member of the West squad, Napolitano had 15 tackles in an 18-7 win over the East. The only score allowed by the West was a 1-yard run by Waterville quarterback Jason Jabar in the first half. Jabar rushed for 40 yards on 13 carries.
Art Leveris of Thornton Academy, who won the Fitzpatrick Trophy that season, led the West offense with two rushing touchdowns and a 34-yard field goal.
“I snatched that MVP trophy that year away from (Leveris), brother,” said Nick Napolitano. “The only (score) he didn’t put up that game was a 2-point conversion. I still snatched (the MVP trophy). I remember there was a ton of hype (that year). The East hadn’t won it for the first two years. The East was coming in big with this Jason Jabar stud. They came down punching. On the first series, they (scored a touchdown). But we pitched a shutout after that.”
Dom Napolitano has spent the week leading up to the Lobster Bowl getting acclimated to the East squad’s offense. He has previous experience at wide receiver, which he played before taking over at quarterback last fall.
East team wide receiver Dom Napolitano of Cony poses during the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic media day on Tuesday at Foxcroft Academy. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
“It’s been a work in progress, everyone is getting in a groove,” he said. “Everyone is being selfless and helping each other out. I think we’re starting to pick it up. … With wideout, there’s less pressure and less to think about. I do have experience there, with only playing QB my senior year, so the transition isn’t super hard.”
It was Dom Napolitano’s ability to pick up the quarterback position that impressed his father the most last season.
“He did it a while back in sixth grade, he blew it up,” Nick Napolitano said. “He had like, 26 (touchdowns), running and throwing and never touched the QB position again, until his junior year… I was so proud of him that he was able to pull that off with so little reps. … I think that’s what helps Dominic, he’s smart,. That helps people succeed in sports, we all know that.”
The game will be Dom Napolitano’s last in football, at least at the moment. He was accepted into the business finance program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Dom Napolitano said he’s trying to balance enjoying the week and prepping to earn a victory Saturday.
“It’s probably 60-40 (competition to fun ratio),” he said. “We’re definitely competitive, so we want to win. But we want to enjoy it as well.”
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