It’s no secret that the Biddeford Tigers football team has struggled this season. After all, the team is 0-7 and has been outscored 294 to 66 in those seven games.
It got so bad for the Tigers at one point that they went two straight games in the middle of the season where they didn’t score a single point: In a 42-0 loss to Scarborough and a 56-0 loss to Cheverus.
This is not typical Biddeford football. The Biddeford Tigers are known for winning. They are known for winning state championships. Their home field, Waterhouse Field, is known as a Mecca for high school football. When Gorham beat the Tigers in Biddeford earlier in the season, Gorham coach Dave Kilborn said that he couldn’t believe he won a game over Biddeford at Waterhouse. The Biddeford football team holds a special place in the hearts of fans, and the minds of coaches and players.
But come Saturday, when the Tigers strap on the pads to play against the Golden Trojans of Thornton Academy, many fans expect a lopsided contest.
After all, Thornton Academy is a powerful team this season. It is 6-1, with its only loss coming against South Portland in the second week of the season, 20-16. Other than that, the Trojans have been dominating as they are playing one of the toughest schedules in all of Maine high school football.
The Golden Trojans have outscored their opponents 155-87 and boast one of the best defensive units in the Southwestern Maine Activities Association.
Measuring the statistics against each other, one could easily see why Thornton should come out on top of this annual Battle of the Bridge game, the 102nd installment of the event. It seems like a no-brainer.
But, as Thornton player and captain John Remmes said earlier this week, “It’s going to be a tough game. You have to throw out the records.”
That is true.
The Biddeford players know they are underdogs, but underdogs always have a chance to do the unexpected.
The Tigers are focusing on their pride, not on the past seven weeks. They know that the fans are disappointed in the on-field results, but they also know that the fans are not disappointed in the work and effort the players have displayed each week.
Talk to the Biddeford players and almost to a man they will say they don’t like losing, but they are still having fun playing football.
They also say that they have not given up hope that maybe the unthinkable can happen on Saturday if they play at 100 percent effort and limit their mistakes.
Regardless of what happens during the game, both teams can be proud of the fact that the players are respectable and good kids.
Talk to people in the community and they not only talk about the talent Thornton has, they talk about the civic minds of the athletes.
Same thing goes for anyone who speaks of Biddeford’s players.
It’s that kind of quality that can produce a more thoroughly exciting football game than fans might think.
Thornton has the talent, but Biddeford has its pride and that could be a recipe for one competitive Battle of the Bridge.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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