H.S. Football Player of the Year: Therrien was triple threat for Oak Hill

Just under 2,600 total yards. Thirty-six touchdowns. An undefeated season, capped by his third state championship.

Dalton Therrien did enough in those first two categories to solidify himself as one of the top senior football players in the state. It’s the latter distinction that made the Oak Hill quarterback a runaway pick for Sun Journal All-Region football player of the year.

Levi Craig of Leavitt and Riley Robinson of Dirigo also merited strong consideration for the honor in the quarterback-rich, tri-county conversation, but Therrien’s production and leadership and his team’s perfection stand alone.

“That’s the first thing I thought about it. It’s a good accomplishment, but I wouldn’t be able to get it without the guys surrounding me,” Therrien said. “I think the team knows that, and they’re happy for me, but I’m happy for them too.”

Oak Hill became the first program since Marshwood in the mid-1980s to win three or more consecutive titles. Therrien punctuated the run by accounting for all five touchdowns — one through the air and four on the run — in the Raiders’ 34-21 win over Maine Central Institute for the Class D title.

Therrien completed 53.7 percent of his passes for 1,540 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions, including no turnovers in the regular season. He also rushed for 18 scores while picking up 1,053 yards at a clip of eight per carry.

He started at wide receiver and cornerback on Oak Hill’s 2013 championship team before moving to quarterback as a junior. Therrien’s record as a starter was 22-1.

“I think this year we were the underdogs,” Therrien said. “Coming off a state title, nobody expected us to be as successful as we were, losing a few key players from that senior group. I think this senior group stepped up a lot, though. The younger guys did their part, the seniors did our part, and we got the job done.”

Therrien was an understudy to Parker Asselin in 2013 on a championship team headlined by Gaziano Award-winning defensive lineman and tight end Luke Washburn.

Running backs Alex Mace and Kyle Flaherty shared much of the glory Therrien’s junior year, although Oak Hill coach Stacen Doucette — himself a former high school QB — gave Therrien ample opportunity to air it out in a sign of things to come.

“Parker was a guy I looked up to. He and Coach Doucette taught me a lot of what I know now,” Therrien said. “I’m hoping that I’ve made as much of an impact on the younger kids as Parker and Luke made to me.”

Therrien also started the final seven games for Oak Hill in the secondary after focusing exclusively on offense for a season-and-a-half. He had one interception, and his presence made it difficult to opponents to consistently sustain a pass game. MCI threw five interceptions in the state final.

After the state game, Doucette went on the stump for his quarterback and his candidacy for the Portland-based Fitzpatrick Trophy, lauding both his talent and community mindedness.

“I don’t care what class you’re in. No one says, ‘Tom Brady plays in the East.’ He’s still a good football player,” Doucette said. “Coach (B.J.) Robbins has a nephew who plays third-grade football, and Dalton is his hero. He gives him his towel after a game. He goes to his birthday party. What else can you ask for? When your best player is a nice kid and a good citizen, good things will happen.”

Therrien returned the favor to his mentor.

“You can’t say enough words about Coach Doucette. He’s not just a coach. He’s a father figure to the guys,” Therrien said. “It’s not just about football. He teaches you how to be a young man, how to grow up, what’s right and what’s wrong. As he’s doing that, he’s winning state championships.”

Considering who took the snaps, it’s no wonder.

All-Region Teams

They drove, ran, kicked, passed, shot and scored. And they did it better than anyone else.

Meet the Fall 2015 Sun Journal All Region Teams, led by the seven athletes of the year in their respective sports.