The former Lewiston football coach helped start the annual Lobster Bowl Classic.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE – On the football field, there is no mistaking Matt Capone. The graduated Edward Little running back and defensive end is visible from afar thanks to his long brown hair that escapes from underneath his helmet.

Called away from practice for an interview, Capone seemed distracted. The play was going on behind him and he wasn’t in it. He kept glancing over his shoulder as the thundering feet from the rest of the team.

“Now?” Capone asked director Jason Fuller. “But we’re practicing.”

His enthusiasm to compete and his will to win are qualities that Matt inherited from a familiar name to Maine high school football. In his senior season, Matt is playing in the Lobster Bowl, an all-star showcase that was started 14 years ago by his father, former Lewiston High School head coach and current Bates assistant Skip Capone.

“We’ve been talking about it a bit, what this game means,” said Matt. “I remember them when he used to coach at Lewiston, and I know that he’s excited for me.”

Skip admitted to being excited for his son as well, but for a different reason.

“He started making trips to the hospital with me when I was coaching when he was around 10,” said Skip. “It impacted him and for that reason I think he’s very mature about it and he realizes that this all means more than just football.”

The reason the game came about in the first place, Skip recalled, was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

“The right people had the same goal in mind at the right time,” said Skip. “The planning stage was almost two years, and I was fortunate enough to know certain people within the Shriners organization, and we got the ball rolling. Never did I think that we’d be so successful in drawing so many people to the game.”

According to Capone, the money raised for the Shriner’s Hospital is near $200,000, and the average yearly attendance is between eight and 10 thousand.

“It kind of brings a tear to my eye to see my son out there, to see all of these extraordinary athletes out there that have all this talent,” said Capone. “It’s moments like that that make you realize how lucky we are, how blessed we are to be able to play and coach in this game.”