Football
Football is one of the oldest sports at Thornton Academy. Thornton sponsored its first football team in 1893 when Coach Joseph T. Shaw guided the Maroon and Gold to a York County championship. The program now boasts seven Class A State Championships since 2012.
Program Overview
Season: Fall
2026 Opening Date: August 17
Teams: Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman
Head Coach: Kevin Kezal
The original home of Thornton Academy football was the Saco Driving Park, a horse racing facility located west of the campus. Visiting teams and many spectators used the adjacent railroad as a means to travel to the games.
Thornton Academy football achieved great success there prior to the turn of the century with three state championships beginning in 1896, with the 1898 squad coached by former Harvard All-American football player John Moulton.
Thornton Academy football can boast some of the top football coaches in the history of the sport in Maine. After debuting with a winless season in 1930, Robert Bowie coached three undefeated state championship teams in the next four years; he later became the Thornton Academy headmaster. George Martin led Thornton Academy to an overall record of 56-5-5 and five state titles from 1935-1942. Known for coaching in his trademark fedora, Martin left his position at Thornton to serve in the military with distinction during World War II. Bob Cote moved from rival St. Louis High School to coach Thornton from 1970-1984 and collected 81 victories at the academy; he was later inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame. Dick Agreste guided the fortunes of Thornton football from 1985-1996 and won two state Class A state championships (1986, 1988).
Under current head coach Kevin Kezal, the Trojans have added to their legacy of success with Class A State Championships in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2025.
