The Fitzpatrick Trophy is going to be handed out for the 37th time in two months, and there is a 30 percent chance the trophy will be in a car on Route 4 next January.

Evan Barker of Leavitt, Nick Bourassa of Jay and Joe Gilbert of Mt. Blue are among the 10 players nominated for the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, given annually to the top senior high school football player in the state.

The other seven nominees are: Cape Elizabeth quarterback Jim Bump, Massabesic QB/RB Jeff Elliott, Lawrence QB/S John (Jack) Hersom, Marshwood FB/S John Hussey, Bonny Eagle RB/WR/LB John Onesti, Cheverus RB Topher Pochebit, Gardiner QB/Rover Kyle Stilphen, Gorham RB/DB Justin Villacci and Rockland QB/LB Andrew Weiss.

“It feels pretty good being mentioned with some of the names there, like Stilphen and Hussey and Villacci and people like that that you see in the news and in the paper about all the stats they’re putting up,” Barker said.

“It’s a great honor,” Bourassa said. “A lot of people have talked to me about it and I said just to be mentioned and be among the nominees would be a great honor.”

“Going into this year, I didn’t expect (to be nominated) at all,” said Gilbert. “It’s real nice to be put in with that company.”

Every high school coach in the state is allowed to nominate one player for the award, and a review panel made up of members of the State of Maine chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and media representatives narrows the list down to 10. Coaches and members of the media are sent a ballot with the nominees and asked to vote for their winner and second and third-place choices. The names of the three finalists will be announced on Dec. 23. The winner is announced at the annual Fitzpatrick Trophy Award Banquet, which is open to the public, on Sunday, Jan. 20 in Portland.

Barker completed a Pine Tree Conference-best 66 percent of his passes for 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran for 850 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Off the field, he has an 80 average at school, is active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and serves as a youth volunteer.

“When he was a junior, we had to rely on him a lot more. This year, his stats weren’t necessarily as good, but I think he distributed the ball to the guys around him a little bit better than he did last year,” said Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway. “With (Tyler) Green coming back a year bigger and stronger and (Jeff) Newton having as big of a year as he had, I thought that took a little bit of pressure off Evan, but I think he was still one of the better double-threats in the state.”

Barker, a two-year starter, said he enjoyed working in the Hornets’ spread offense, where he could showcase his athleticism and his arm.

“It’s kind of fun to get to run the ball, too, not just pass it,” said Barker, who is Hathaway’s cousin. “It’s been a lot of fun working with him. It hurt after we lost to Waterville (in the Pine Tree Conference playoffs) knowing that I would never get to play for him again.”

Bourassa was one of the top triple-threats in Maine this year, tallying 2,051 yards, including 1,357 rushing, 290 receiving and 404 in kick returns, and 25 touchdowns. He made 81 tackles and picked off four passes as a defensive back. Ranked 11th in a class of 64 students with an 87 average, Bourassa is active with the math team and drama and serves as a youth volunteer. On Sunday, he became the first Jay High School player to receive the Taglienti Award, the award named after former Jay coach John Taglienti and given to the player of the year in Campbell Conference Class C.

“He just took on more of a leadership role, knowing he’d have to step up for things to happen for us,” said Jay coach Mark Bonnevie, who noted that all but four or five of Bourassa’s touchdowns this year were for more than 30 yards.

A three-year starter, Bourassa was hampered by injuries throughout his varsity career until this season. With an inexperienced offensive line in front of him, some thought he might have missed his chance on a big season, but he promised to take the group out to dinner for a 1,000-yard season.

Bourassa hasn’t picked the spot yet, but he could be a lot lighter in the wallet when he does, unless he gets the line tickets to the Fitzy banquet.

“I’m gonna be losing some money. It’s going to a tough one,” Bourassa said. “I’m picking the place. The way I look at it, it’s going to be a buffet because some of them might be kind of small, but they sure do eat. But they definitely earned it, because every yard I had I owed to them.”

Gilbert completed 106 of 174 passes. He threw for 12 touchdowns and ran for six, accounting for 2/3 of the Cougars’ touchdowns. As a safety, he had 84 tackles and played on special teams. He serves as a youth volunteer, is a Freshman Buddy Leader and goes on nursing home visits. He ranks 77th in a class of 201 students with an 83.8 average.

“If you take one guy away from their team, he would be the biggest loss for his team,” Mt. Blue coach Gary Parlin said.

Parlin said Gilbert, a two-year starter, played with a bigger target on his back. Gilbert said he noticed teams shifting their defensive philosophy to try to discourage the Cougars from passing.

“It seemed like most of the teams came into the game playing the pass this year, which made it tough because we wanted to throw and run equally,” he said.