BIDDEFORD – Even all-star football games for charity can be riddled with controversy.

The West took advantage of some mistakes and some questionable calls on the East side and ended its modest two-game losing streak at the 19th Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic, 24-6, Friday night at Waterhouse Field.

The West now leads the all-time series, 15-4. Lawrence QB Jack Hersom was named the East MVP, while Marshwood’s Jonathan Hussey, who ran for a touchdown, kicked a 27-yard field goal and three extra points and even completed a halfback option pass, was named the West MVP.

Jay’s Nick Bourassa scored what was essentially the game-clinching touchdown on an eight-yard run that made it 21-6 early in the third quarter. Hussey added his field goal with under a minute left to cap the scoring.

“It felt great to get a Class C touchdown in there,” said Bourassa, who rushed for 59 yards on eight carries. “We felt a purpose in what we were doing and worked hard all week and had a lot of fun and put the West back up after two years.”

After Westbrook’s Joel Chadborne recovered a disputed fumble for the West on its own 30-yard line, the West drove 70 yards and made it 14-6 on Hussey’s 15-yard run and extra point late in the third quarter.

The East marched deep into West territory again, this time to the 25, but a bad snap pushed it back all the way to 38, where the drive stalled. The West then drove 66 yards on eight plays with Bourassa capping it on a third-down run.

“It was power up the middle, following my lead blocker (Justin Tarbox-Toussaint) who happens to be a Biddeford Tiger, so it was tiger pride inside,” said Bourassa. “I followed him up the hole and got lucky enough to get it over the line.”

Lisbon quarterback Mike Unterkoefler completed three of his eight pass attempts for 43 yards for the West.

The East drove to the West’s 33-yard line on the game’s first drive, but back-to-back sacks by Mark Haley of Marshwood and Sam Lewis of Old Orchard Beach squelched that threat and caused some consternation on the East sideline. The West was playing a 3-4 front and it’s outside linebackers, including Haley, were cheating to the line of scrimmage before the snap and rushing the passer, a no-no according to the rules of the all-star game.

After a couple of stoppages of play, the officials worked the situation out, but that didn’t keep the West from striking quickly on its first possession. On the second play, Massabesic QB Jeffery Elliott connected with Bonny Eagle’s Richard Hoyt down the right sideline for a 72-yard TD. Jonathan Hussey added the extra point.

“My dad (Tom) died in April,” said West coach Tim Roche of Wells. “I promised in the eulogy, because we don’t throw the ball much, that within the first two plays we would throw the ball. I’ll be honest with you, I had a tough time not breaking down on the sideline.”

The half turned into a defensive struggle after that (the two teams combined for just 241 total yards). The East enjoyed some good starting field position that it couldn’t exploit because the West’s defensive line, led by Lewis, Nick Ellis of Madison and Poland’s Joshua Quint, was controlling the line of scrimmage.

Traip’s Robert Allen picked off two first-half passes. The second near the end zone temporarily thwarted the East again late in the second quarter, but a West fumble set them up again at the 8-yard line. On third-and-goal, Waterville QB Dan Hussey faked two handoffs and ran off left tackle from six yards out to make it 7-6. The East’s try for a two-point conversion failed, and the West took the one-point lead into the intermission.

The East suffered a major blow to its running game when Morse’s Darrus Grate had to leave the game with a knee injury in the second quarter. The East ended up with a modest 164 yards rushing, compared to 221 for the West.

The annual contest benefits the Shriners’ Hospitals of North America. In 19 years, it has raised over $300,000.

“It was all about the kids this week,” said Lewiston offensive lineman Ryan Coleman. “It was awesome bonding with the guys and meeting a bunch of people I’ll be going to Husson with (in the fall).”