BIDDEFORD — Waterhouse Field reopened Friday night, and Biddeford High junior quarterback Carter Edgerton christened the rebuilding phase in style.
Making his first varsity start at quarterback, Edgerton threw three first-half touchdown passes and added a third-quarter touchdown run as the Tigers easily handled Westbrook 43-0 in a Class B South season opener.
Waterhouse Field looked and felt different without the old wooden bleachers that used to seat up to 6,000. Portable bleachers surrounded the south end zone, but the sidelines were bare except for the teams and some fans standing. The field was closed in April because of unsafe bleachers, and a community-driven renovation is ongoing.
“The atmosphere tonight was phenomenal considering what Waterhouse has been through,” said Edgerton, a junior. “The whole town pitched in. I thought it was fantastic having everyone there. People were lining the field, and I think it was a great way to say to Biddeford, we’re ready to play football.”
Edgerton was 5 of 5 for 136 yards, completing passes to five different receivers.
His first TD pass went for 68 yards to Curtis Petit. A play-action fake to Cam Lantagne helped Petit sneak behind the defense. Edgerton pump-faked the safety out of position and dropped in a soft pass. Petit made a good cut to get past the last defender.
In the second quarter, Edgerton threw touchdown passes to tight end Zach Reali (14 yards) and Cody Saucier (28 yards). Saucier went up and over a Westbrook defender before tumbling into the end zone.
“After the ice breaker, I was pretty confident with what I was doing,” Edgerton said. “And after Curtis’ great play, I just kind of settled in and felt pretty good.”
Lantagne’s hard running helped set up the throwing lanes.
The Tigers took the opening possession 83 yards on eight consecutive running plays, with Lantagne covering the final 24 yards on a burst up the middle.
Lantagne rushed for 95 of his 152 yards (24 carries) in the first half as the Tigers had a 298-35 edge in total yards and built a 28-0 lead.
“It was a great feeling coming out the way we did at the brand-new Waterhouse,” said Lantagne, a senior.
After Edgerton’s rushing touchdown in the third quarter, Biddeford went to its second teams on both sides. Senior halfback Scott Spellman sprinted around end for an 8-yard score early in the fourth quarter, shortly after Westbrook’s third turnover.
Both Biddeford and Westbrook are coming off 6-2 regular seasons, but both teams graduated key offensive threats.
Westbrook’s Kyle Champagne and Hayden Phelps broke off a few tough runs, but penalties and a speedy Biddeford defense kept Westbrook from ever threatening to score.
“I thought we had a handful of good plays and I thought we competed well in the second half,” said Westbrook Coach Jeff Guerette. “I think we’ll just work hard to improve. I like our kids, so I’m pretty sure they’re going to buy in and keep working.”
Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or:
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