Our Communities. Our Teams. Our Future.
We’re proud to make high school sports coverage free for everyone—because these moments matter. At Maine State Credit Union, we’re here for the people and places that make Maine strong. Let’s Go! Learn more at mainestatecu.org. 

LEWISTON — Walking off the field on Nov. 8, Jeffrey Randall thought he had played his last game on the turf of Don Roux Field.

The Lewiston football team’s season ended with a 22-14 loss to Bangor in the Class A North semifinals. For seniors like Randall, that meant the end of the line — until Lobster Bowl organizers called.

“I thought that was it, so having this one more game on my home field, it’s pretty special to me,” Randall said. “The whole experience means a lot, and just being able to throw on the pads here one more time and run around with the boys, I’m really glad to be here.”

Saturday’s all-star game at Lewiston High will be special for Lewiston’s three representatives. After helping turn a struggling program into a team that had a winning record in 2024 and earned the No. 2 seed in the regional playoffs, a Lobster Bowl at home is a fitting finale for Randall, Joe Dube and Gabe Parent.

Freshmen in 2021-22, Dube, Parent and Randall entered a Lewiston program that had been an also-ran in Class A. Prior to the COVID-canceled 2020 season, the Blue Devils had gone 18-55 from 2012-19, suffering eight consecutive losing seasons.

That was a trend the trio and the rest of Lewiston’s 2025 class were desperate to change. After going through another losing season as freshmen, they broke through as sophomores as the Blue Devils went 5-4, with all five victories by three or more touchdowns.

“Coming off that (freshman) season, I just wanted to work harder — get with that key group of guys and just work, work, work in the weight room,” Dube said. “With (coach Jason) Versey coming in, we all molded together, became one, and started winning some ballgames.”

It wasn’t just a one-off, either. After a 4-6 campaign in 2023, Lewiston went 5-4 last season against a tough schedule. The season began with a 27-18 win over state title contender Bonny Eagle, which few in the state saw coming.

“We just had a group of seniors — sophomores when I got them — that cared, wanted to win and were tired of losing, and you definitely saw that in the three guys we have here today,” Versey said. “They had the determination and the belief, and they were able to turn the program around.”

As seniors, Dube, Parent and Randall were willing to do whatever it took to win. Randall, a quarterback early in his career, began the season as a wide receiver but effortlessly moved back to QB when injuries forced Lewiston to make a change under center. Dube rotated between the offensive line, where he played alongside Parent, and fullback.

Dube won the 2024 Gaziano Defensive Lineman Award, given annually to the state’s top senior lineman based on “strong leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.” Randall was the East’s top Lobster Bowl fundraiser at $5,207, while Dube raised $2,835, and Parent managed to raise more than $1,000 — twice the required amount — despite being a late addition to the team.

“They’re three guys who are near and dear to my heart,” Versey said. “They’ve raised the bar in terms of their high character and their work ethic, and it’s really about what they’ve put into all this. I created the foundation, framework and culture, but they really bought in, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

It’s the first time since 2010 (Kristopher Gagne, Andrew Pulk, Ronald Turner) that Lewiston has three participants in the Lobster Bowl. Only Portland (Colin Kelly, Aidan McGowan, Anthony Tavares, Louis Thurston) will suit up more players Saturday.

“We definitely helped change the atmosphere; other people are looking at us differently and looking at us as a better team,” Parent said. “(I’m getting) to play on that field one more time and playing with my two good friends and so many other people I’ve met here that are just amazing. I think it’s going to be a blast.”