BIDDEFORD – Robie Leighton’s wrists were taped up long before the start of Friday’s Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic at Waterhouse Field, but as he demonstrated three times during the game, the tape wasn’t there because anything was injured.
Leighton picked off three passes Friday, including one that he ran back 85 yards for a touchdown, and won the MVP award for the East squad.
“I never would have guessed three picks coming in,” said Leighton. “One would have been a stretch.”
The taped wrists? Laden with two sets of initials, they were there to honor his two grandmothers, who both passed away prior to his senior season at Edward Little High School.
“They both passed away within eight months of each other,” said Leighton. “This is for them.”
Leighton is also the first Shriner to participate in the Lobster Bowl, making his MVP honor that much more poignant.
“It’s all kind of melding together right now,” said Leighton. “I think it’ll hit me when I’m sitting in bed tonight. This means a lot. This is special.”
After the game, Leighton took pictures with other members of the Kora Shrine Temple of Lewiston, and with senior Shrine officials, knowing he may someday be handing the same award to another deserving football player.
What he did to earn the award was also special.
Leighton picked off West quarterback Matt O’Donnell in the end zone to thwart an attempt to extend the lead in the first half. He returned that pick 24 yards.
“I knew they had some good quarterbacks,” said Leighton. “I knew they were going to try and throw, but nothing like they did tonight, especially with the weather.”
In the second half, the East needed something big. Leighton delivered again, this time with two more interceptions. The first yielded nothing but perhaps a slight shift in momentum midway through the third quarter, but in the fourth, with his team trailing 23-6, Leighton single-handedly revived his sideline.
“He had thrown the ball on a slant the last time we were down here,” said Leighton. “I thought they were going to do it again, so I played the slant. I got the ball and looked up and saw no one in front of me, so I just took off.”
Leighton plans to keep running, too. He will attend Maine Maritime Academy in the fall and play football for the Castine school.
“I’ll remember this for a while,” said Leighton.
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