Bonny Eagle’s prodigious offense gave the team’s cheerleaders got quite a workout this season as well.
Every time the Scots scored, the girls would do push-ups that equaled the team’s point total.
“We do so many push-ups my biceps are solid,” Brittni Wishart said as she flexed her muscle on the sideline. “They’re rock hard.”
“Coming into the competition season you can see how powerful we are,” said Brittany Cyr.
Not only did the football team score 433 points this season, but the cheerleaders start counting off from “one” every time. Saturday’s 41 points in the state championship game meant 145 push-ups for the squad.
“We’ve been doing it since before I was in high school,” said coach Selena Brown, who cheered for Bonny Eagle in the mid-90s. “It was good then because we didn’t score that much. Now it’s quite a feat for these girls to be doing that many push-ups in one game.”
Over the course of the season the cheerleaders did 1,575 push-ups.
“We always cheer and say that we want the push-ups because we all want to win,” said Melissa Kenison, “but when we have a high score like 50-0, the push-ups aren’t what we want (any more).”
The Scots scored 35 or more points in half of their 12 games this season. Against South Portland they totaled 70.
“We started doing jumping jacks,” Kenison said, “because it was just out of control.”
While Bonny Eagle parents and supporters crowded the stands at Fitzpatrick Stadium, one dad had an even better view of the action.
Steve Assante, whose son Phil is a lineman for the Scots, was on the sideline dressed in a black-and-white striped jersey. He wasn’t one of the field officials for the contest, but he was part of the chain gang.
Usually the first-down markers are handled by local parents or fans, for a big game like this certified officials are used.
“I have a son that’s playing today for Bonny Eagle,” Assante said, “but I have no conflict of interest. I’m here to do a job.”
He added that his working the chains was cleared by the MPA.
This was Assante’s first season as an official, and he was on the field for games from the junior varsity level down to Little Lads.
“I love it. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve done,” he said. “It gets me closer to the game. It’s been a lot of fun seeing it, getting to know some of the coaches. I’ve always loved football.”
Assante grew up in South Portland and Connecticut. He felt that he was too small for football, so he ran track instead. Now he is right in the middle of the gridiron action, especially when he is in the umpire spot – the official closest to the line of scrimmage at the start of each play.
“It’s probably the hardest position,” said Assante. “You’re behind the defense, out there in the middle of the field. You’ve got to be aware of what the play is, what’s going on, what the likely scenario is. You’re always watching for holding, watching the snap and everything else.”
Though he’s been brushed by players, Assante made it through his first season without getting knocked down.
Don Liedke may have been the only person who spent much of the game with his back to much of the action.
Liedke is Bonny Eagle’s band director, and he was leading the school’s pep band as they belted out tunes for the football team. He did turn around to watch the play whenever he could.
“We have concert band during the day, but pep band is a volunteer thing,” he said. “They love it. They volunteered to come here and make lots of noise.”
Stephanie Pomerleau sat in the band area taking a break as the third quarter began. She was playing piccolo for the pep band and has played flute since fifth grade.
“I love the group, and I just enjoy playing,” she said. “It’s nice to support the team.”
Liedke said that the pep band had 30 members, while the school’s concert band had 45.
“They really love concert band and wind ensemble,” he said. “They like playing classical music and really working hard.”
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