WESTBROOK – Friday’s 48-34 win over York guaranteed the Westbrook football team something that many past Blaze teams could only dream of – a winning record.

But the aspirations of the Blue Blazes, now 5-1 and in the top spot in Western Class B, go much higher than simply being above .500. They have their sights on championship trophies, a realistic goal far out of reach just two years ago as Westbrook toiled at the bottom of Class A.

Declining enrollment allowed the Blazes to move out of the Southern Maine Activities Association and into the Campbell Conference starting last season. It was a somewhat controversial switch that reflects the changes occurring in the city of Westbrook, and has given the community something to root for.

“We belong in Class B, it fits our enrollment. We’ve been needing this boost to play at an equal level for a long time,” said Mike Heath, whose son Kyle is the Blazes’ quarterback. “I’ve been waiting a long time for it. You can see the crowd come out and it’s special for everybody.”

Last year, the Blazes finished 4-4 and made the postseason for the first time in a generation. The team beat Falmouth in the opening round before falling to eventual state champions Wells. This year has gone even better, as a balanced attack out of fifth-year coach Jeff Guerette’s Wing-T offense has the Blazes Though some of questioned the move down, and the school still plays the rest of its sports in Class A, the move to B in football has been met with open arms by most in the community.

“I’d be lying to tell you that going down to Class B hasn’t been a huge benefit for us, almost as if that is the fit for us,” said Athletic Director Marc Sawyer. “That’s kind of where our community is going, in a direction where we are a Class B school. I’ve had some fun arguments with friends and members of the community who really aspire to be who we used to be. We used to be a community that had a mill with 3,000 workers in it. Now we are not that community, we’re a little bit different community.”

James Phelps, whose son James is a sophomore on the team, played for Westbrook in the 1970s. He agrees that the move to Class B was not just a plus, but a necessity.

“Their numbers aren’t like they used to be when they were in the old school,” he said. “They only have what, 170 kids in a class? When we were in school it was 220-230.”

For longtime fans who sat through the years of one-sided games in Class A, the switch to B has provided much more competitive action on the field. Russ Grant, who was working the chains at the York game and whose son Ben is a senior on the team, recalled what it was like to go into games against some of the bigger schools in the SMAA.

“You hoped and prayed that maybe they could make a close game of it, that’s what I always thought,” he said. “It wasn’t so much, ‘Oh, I hope they win,’ it was, ‘I hope they play well and make it a good game.’ I’m sure it worked on the players, as well. They see that they have a third of the players the other team has. Right there it gets in your head and you start thinking you’re going to lose.

“I think this year and last year speaks for itself in that they’re playing against other teams at the same level, and I think it also shows on the sidelines. It’s huge, to be able to have a winning team and to be able to have a good feeling about playing football.”

As expected, being able to cheer on a winning team has also increased excitement in the town and school as well as the attendance at home games, even “home games” that have to be played on the road. Due to problems with the lights at Olmsted Field, the game against York, the school’s homecoming game, had to be moved to Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. That didn’t stop plenty of Westbrook fans from filling up most of the seating on the home side, including a large and raucous student section.

“I think that it’s definitely boosted morale for the kids as well as the community and brought a lot of people together with a sense Blazes pride that they have,” said Mary Phelps, James’ wife. “I think that they’ve always had it, but to be able to display it and feel good about it is huge.”

Before the York game, Liz Grant, who was working the chains alongside her husband, agreed.

“Westbrook is a town that loves their football and loves their sports. Tonight I think there’s going to be a lot of people here from town even though we were unable to use our field,” she said. “I think people are excited, and it’s nice to see people excited and it’s nice just to have my son a part of that.”

One member of the community who is enjoying the newfound success is Sally Leavitt-Phipps, who has been attending Blue Blazes basketball games for 28 years and baseball games for 10 even though she now lives in Portland. She started coming to football games this year when a friend’s son started playing, and she’s hooked.

“I’ve never followed football, but I’m enjoying it,” she said in the stands before the York game. “The only thing I know is a touchdown, but I’ll be back next year. I’ll be here as long as my legs will bring me.”

When the Maine Principals’ Association expands from a three- to four-class system for football for the 2013 season, Westbrook will stay in Class B West alongside Gorham (enrollment of 853), Falmouth (727), Marshwood (719), Kennebunk (715), Greely (694), Oceanside (679), Camden Hills (635) and Fryeburg Academy (632).

And Sawyer says that’s exactly where the Blazes want to be.

“You see what happens when kids are put in the right situation, and the proper situation and the proper classification, the success that they can have and the things they can achieve,” he said. “It’s been awesome for the school, awesome for the community, awesome for the kid’s confidence. We couldn’t be happier with where we’re at.”

Westbrook running back Ben Grant is one of the seniors honored in a ceremony before last Friday’s 48-34 win over York in Portland. After years of struggling in Class A, the Blazes are now 5-1 and atop the standings in their second year in Class B. “It’s huge, to be able to have a winning team and to be able to have a good feeling about playing football,” said Grant’s father, Russ, who works the sideline chains at the games.