HEBRON — It had been nearly two weeks since the original conversation between Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway and tailback Josh Strickland had taken place, so Strickland thought a critical juncture in the Pine Tree Conference championship was a good time to rehash it.

Following Leavitt’s Pine Tree Conference quarterfinal win over Belfast, Hathaway told Strickland that the time had come for him to be the center of the Hornets’ potent spread offense. But after a fortnight passed, Hathaway veered away from the plan to start the title game against Gardiner.

“At one point, he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, remember what we talked about. Just give me the ball and good things will happen,” Hathaway recalled nearly nine months later. ” It’s hard to argue with that.”

It would be hard to argue with Hathaway if, as the offensive coordinator of the East squad at Saturday’s 21st Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic (4 p.m., Biddeford’s Waterhouse Field) he decided to give the ball to Strickland and let him be the workhorse he was last November. That’s when the 220-pound tailback carried the ball 93 times over the final three games of the Hornets’ march to the Class B title, gaining 807 yards and scoring seven touchdowns in one of the great postseason performances in Maine high school football history.

Of course, the Lobster Bowl is an all-star showcase of Maine’s premier outgoing high school football talent, so Hathaway will spread the ball around to other outstanding players on the squad such as Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist Lonnie Hackett of Bangor. Strickland doesn’t mind sharing the load, but he will relish the opportunity to steal the spotlight at Waterhouse Field, just as he did when he rushed for 300 yards and four touchdowns at Fitzpatrick Stadium in the state championship against Cape Elizabeth.

“It’s one thing to show your skills against the regular schools, but when it’s the best players on everyone’s team, it’s exciting,” Strickland said.

East head coach Bill County, who has coached some great running backs at Leavitt and Lewiston, put Strickland in the same class with the elite runners he’s seen.

“He’s one of those Jimmy Ray, Jeff Dube, Jared Turcotte-type of kids,” County said. “He has a great understanding of where to go and how to get there, and when he gets there, he’s got the strength to go one-on-one with anybody.”

Strickland said he saw his remarkable playoff run as a reward for the hard work he put in and payback for the frustration he felt when he missed three games early in the season with a hamstring problem.

“I’ve been playing football since third grade, and about the last regular season game, I realized it was the last time I was ever going to play high school football and play with the guys I grew up playing with,” he said. “I just made sure I worked a little harder.”

Hathaway never doubted Strickland would take the blue-collar approach.

“His work ethic off the field sets him apart from a lot of other guys,” Hathaway said. “He’s working out all the time. He’s running all the time. He’s a very competitive kid, so when he’s on the field, he’s got a lot of will, and I think that sets him apart from a lot of other guys.”

He attributed that work ethic and will to Strickland’s background. The product of a broken home, Strickland has spent part of his childhood living with friends.

“Growing up, he didn’t have anything easy, and I think he knows that things aren’t given to you,” Hathaway said. “He’s had to work for things his whole life.”

Recently, Strickland has been living with the family of Leavitt quarterback Eric Theiss and Leavitt assistant coach and Lewiston police detective Jim Theiss. Eric, who joins Strickland on the East roster, marvels at his friend’s attitude in the face of adversity.

“He’s the nicest kid anyone will ever meet. He does nothing bad,” Theiss said. “He just does everything right.”

“Eric and I have been best friends since second grade. He’s a lot smarter than me, so it’s a good thing he’s at QB because sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing out there and he’s been there to tell me,” Strickland said with a smile.

Strickland will most likely play in the same backfield with Lewiston quarterback Ronnie Turner, so he will have to do without Theiss’ guidance Saturday. At least he can use the game as a head start for his career with Turner. Both are headed to Dean College, a two-year junior college in Franklin, Mass., in hopes of building their academic and/or athletic resumes for college recruiters.

Maine, New Hampshire or Boston College have talked to Strickland and may be in his future if he proves he can handle his academic responsibilities at Dean.

Strickland said he’s ready to carry the load once again.

“I can’t go anywhere without grades,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to Dean, taking some classes in the summer so I can graduate early and then go wherever feels right.”