HEBRON – Four state titles in tennis. Four state title losses in hockey. Blocking for a Fitzpatrick Trophy winner and another 1,000-plus yard rusher in football.

Matt Letourneau’s high school athletic resume at Lewiston High School was already impressive, so getting a chance to cap that career by playing in the 19th Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl on Friday night (7:30 p.m. kickoff, Waterhouse Field in Biddeford) only seemed fitting.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now,” he said. “This is the biggest football game there is here in the state of Maine, and we’d like to come out on top.”

Letourneau will play linebacker for an East squad that will try for it’s first three-game winning streak in the event’s history. The West leads the all-time series, 14-4.

Win or lose Friday, Letourneau will know how to deal with it. He’s been on both sides of scoreboard in big games throughout his career.

“Losing the hockey state title for the fourth straight year, that was depressing for me, but I look back at it now and I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” he said. “I’ve had a wonderful high school experience. I’ve had the ups and the downs, but I’ve always been right there in (the mix). Even in football we’ve been pretty competitive. I’ve been very fortunate to achieve the success I’ve had.”

He was the the captain of the football, hockey and tennis teams his senior year, but for the most part, he stood in the shadows of other great players throughout his career. In tennis, it was Mike Butler. In hockey, it was Travis Roy finalist Jon Roy. And in football, it was 2007 Fitzy winner Jared Turcotte and, last year, Wesley Myers.

Had it not been for Turcotte and Myers, Letourneau might have been the one winning Pine Tree Conference rushing titles at tailback for Lewiston the last three years. He got his chance once, playing the tail when Turcotte was out during an exhibition game against Edward Little, and had a big game. Then Turcotte came back and it was back to fullback for the 5-foot-9. 185-pound Letourneau.

He still enjoyed several 100-plus yard rushing performances from the fullback spot, Letourneau doesn’t think about what might have happened if he’d stayed at tailback.

“I definitely enjoyed blocking for (Turcotte) and, my senior year, blocking for Wes,” he said. “I had a great experience playing in high school with both of those kids.”

“I knew with Jared, you had to get up in that hole right away. If you’re not getting up there, he’s going to run you over,” he added. “Wesley is another one. You have to be up on your toes because next thing you know, he’s running that way and you’re completely out of the way. You’ve got to pay attention to what he’s doing.”

Lewiston coach Bill County described Letourneau as an “extremely intelligent football player” who was one of the keys to Lewiston’s success last fall

“He’s the total package,” said County, who is serving as an assistant on the East squad. “He’s a Top 10 student. He’s been a captain of the football team, the hockey team, the tennis team, so everything he does, he’s a leader. And he’s a tremendous leader in that he leads by example.”

“With us losing Jared, who obviously was the focus of the team, we really needed someone to step up and be the leader, and he did a great job,” he added. “Jim Hood, my defensive coordinator, would probably tell you that Matt’s one of the top two kids he’s ever coached.”

In its history, the Lobster Bowl has helped raise over $340,000 in support of Shriners Hospitals. All proceeds from the game go toward supporting the 22 Shrine Hospitals for Children across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Tickets are $10 for reserved seats, $8 for general admission. They may be purchased at the gate, at Kora Temple or from any Shriner. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.