Tigers football stays classy

BIDDEFORD — While it wasn’t a Maine Class A State Championship, the award the Biddeford High School football team received on Monday evening proved it was the team of class.

The Tigers were the recipients of the Southwestern Maine Football Officials Team Sportsmanship Award, presented each year to the team that best exemplifies respect to both opposing teams and officials. Biddeford was selected out of a group of 29 possible high schools for the award.

It’s the second time the Tigers have been presented the award. They also received the honor in 2002, under former head coach Brian Curit.

Biddeford head coach Scott Descoteaux said he was proud of both the team and the community with the award.

“It means a lot,” Descoteaux said. “I think as a coach, you try to portray the qualities that are important, teaching kids how to do things the right way. In a community that doesn’t always get a lot of positive press I think this just shows there’s a lot of positive things going on. I think this is indicative of the types of people we still have in this community and the way that they teach our kids. What is focused on most of the time or what makes the newspapers most of the time is winning and losing, and what we don’t spend enough time on is the types of kids that we have. I’m incredibly proud of this award and again, as far as our community is concerned, how our parents parent their kids, and our kids are as classy as any group. I’ve always known that, but to be awarded that means a lot to me.”

In a sport that is as rough and tough as football, Descoxteaux said it meant just as much to receive the award from the Southwestern Maine Football Officials.

“This isn’t an award being presented by a panel of people in shirts and ties,” Descoteaux said. “This is from the officials who were on the field, right in the middle of the most trying, intense moments of an athletic contest. For those gentlemen to see our kids as the classiest group, I think that says an awful lot.”

The Tigers were just as impressive on the gridiron as well, finishing the season 6-3, including a four-game winning streak to start the season. Biddeford made it to the quarterfinals of the Maine Western Class A Playoffs before losing to the Cheverus Stags, who will play Windham on Saturday in the Western Maine Class A title game.

Biddeford captain Trevor Parker said Descoteaux tells the team respect for others is just as important as the wins and losses.

“It’s definitely a good feeling, it’s a team award,” Parker said. “Coach D, he’s been letting us know that playing with class is really important.”

The team received the award as part of the Biddeford High School Fall Athletic Awards Ceremony, which also recognized players from each fall sport. One player from each team was presented a “Tiger Pride” award, for having the most character. Travis Vigneault was awarded the football recipient of the award.

Presentations were also made to members of each team for making the Biddeford High School All-Academic Team, which is given to players with an A- average or better in all of their classes. Members of the football team receiving All-Academic honors were Alex Villandry, Trevor Parker, Vigneault, Sam Butler, Gavin Cote and Erik Villandry.

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