SPORTS | Hey, Biddeford . . . are you ready for some football?

Head Coach Steven Allosso says his young football team has nowhere to go but up, and he’s feeling optimistic as his players continue conditioning through the pre-season.

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

On a damp and gray morning, Coach Steve Allosso sits near the entry of the visitors’ locker room at Waterhouse Field; a smile on his face as he greets his players who will be spending the next two hours doing some weight training and waiting to see if the field will be dry enough for some drills.

Allosso is beginning his sixth season as the head coach of the Biddeford High School varsity football team, and he chooses optimism while conceding he will be fielding a young team this year and that a lot of hard work is ahead for both him and his players.

**BHS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH STEVEN ALLOSSO** (left) double-checks his roster during a recent practice session at Waterhouse Field | *Seaver photo*

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“Really, we have nowhere to go but up,” Allosso said, conceding last year’s disappointing season in which the Tigers won only one game during a discouraging season.

But Allosso thinks this year’s team has what it takes to hold its own among other Class B schools in southern Maine.

“We have some really good energy, and these kids are willing to work hard and give all they got,” Allosso said. “And that – along with a few good running plays up our sleeves – is really all we need to be competitive.”

The Tigers have 11 seniors on a team of roughly 50 players.

Senior Ernie Dore will return as starting quarterback and will be backed up on offense by offensive lineman Marcus Perkins, a junior who says he’s ready to give it everything he’s got this year.

“We’re all pretty much focused right now on building our team,” Perkins said. “We’re showing up to the practices, working hard and trying to help the younger players.”

**OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MARCUS PERKINS** gets in some weight training during a recent practice session. | *Seaver photo*

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Allosso said he has several key players that he expects will help give the Tigers momentum both on and off the field.

Senior receiver Ty Eastman will be the team’s back-up quarterback; and Allosso is expecting big things from junior receivers Estevao Lembissa and Achille Tchuluka.

Seniors Lyly Chhay and Caiden Howe join Dore as team tri-captains; and Allosso is expecting Sophomore Trey Coleman to be an effective running back and defensive back.

Allosso says Juniors Brandon Hall and Stanley Richerson are ready to step up this year. Hall will help lead the offensive line; while Richerson is expected to reinforce the Tigers’ defense as a running back and defensive end.

Allosso said he is especially grateful for a great coaching staff that includes several volunteers.

Assistant Coach Derek Gaudreau will be joined by Defensive Coordinator Keith Leblanc, Joe Hanson, Jeff Wolfhardt, John Chenard, Keith Parady, Earl Parks and Aaron Toussaint.

The players and coaching staff are hoping for a big public turnout during an Aug. 21 “Community Night” event at Waterhouse Field.

“It gives people from the public a chance to meet these kids and the coaching staff in a relaxed and friendly setting,” said Coach Parks.

The Community Night event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. and will include family events including face painting, a bounce house, food and a DJ.

The Tigers football team will begin its regular season at home, facing the Brunswick Dragons on September 3.

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