WATERVILLE – It’s not just the players who make a lot of sacrifices to play in the Maine Lobster Bowl Classic. The coaches put in a lot of time, too.

Brunswick coach Dick Leavitt, who heads the East coaching staff, worked almost daily filling out the roster, putting his staff together, scheduling meeting times, and coordinating the trip to the Shriners hospital in Springfield, MA. Deering’s Greg Stilphen, the head coach for the West, fulfilled the same duties.

“I put far more hours into preparation for this game than I thought I would,” said Leavitt, who lives in Sabattus and was an assistant in four previous Lobster Bowls.

The week of practice leading up to Friday night’s game has been the easy part, Leavitt added, thanks to the eight assistants he has on his staff.

“I’ve had so little X’s and O’s coaching to do that I feel like (Florida State head coach) Bobby Bowden, driving around in a golf cart, checking on this drill, checking on that drill, making sure that they’ve got water and are toweled down,” Leavitt joked. “But seriously, the staff that I have is outstanding.”

Moccia back in the game

Among those on Leavitt’s staff for the East is former Oxford Hills coach Ted Moccia.

“I coached against Teddy for years when he was at OH.,” Leavitt said. “For him to get back in the game for a week, week-and-a-half or whatever, I’m just honored to be able to work with him. He’s having a blast.”

This is Moccia’s fifth time coaching in the Lobster Bowl, including a stint as the head coach in 2001.

“It’s so exciting. I’m so happy that Dick asked,” said Moccia, who stepped down as Vikings’ head coach in 2001 and remains an assistant principal at Oxford Hills. “There was no hesitation. It’s just so much fun, the camaraderie with the kids, and obviously the cause.”

“It’s just fun to talk football,” added Moccia, who stepped down as the Vikings’ head coach in 2000. “All of a sudden, all of the stuff comes back, all of the terminology, the conversation and the camaraderie. I couldn’t ask to be with a better group of guys.”

Moccia has emotional memories of the Lobster Bowl, particularly the one where he served as the East’s head coach, when former Oxford Hills football player Dan Maxfield was honored before the game. Maxfield lost his leg in a motorcycle accident the year after playing in the Lobster Bowl, was treated at the Springfield hospital and worked to raise money for the Shriners.

Joining Moccia on Leavitt’s staff are Lewiston head coach Bill County and assistant coach Darren Hartley. Among those assisting Deering coach Greg Stilphen are his brother, Kevin, an assistant at Lewiston, and Lisbon coach Dick Mynahan.

Husson bound

Husson College football fans may want to catch the game to get an idea of what is in store for the future of their fledgling program.

Both rosters are full of players headed to the Bangor school to play football in the fall, including Deering’s Joey Marsh, the 2003 Fitzpatrick Trophy winner, Mt. Blue’s Cal Miller, John Tefft of Lisbon, Brunswick’s Josh Hamilton, Lewiston’s Nick Lajoie and Greg Whittier of Maranacook, among others.

The Division III program had 54 players from Maine on its 65-man roster last year and continues to do well recruiting home-grown talent. Part of what attracts players to the school is that the program is in its formative stages, Lajoie said.

“You get to set the standard there,” he said. “Instead of going to a program you have to live up to an expectation, you get to set the bar. It’s going to be fun.”

Tickets still available

Tickets to Friday night’s game can still be purchased. Reserved seats are $10 while general admission tickets are $7 ($8 at the gate) and can be purchased at Kora Temple, from any Shriner or at the Waterhouse Field gate, which opens at 6 p.m. Game time is 7:30.