It finally happened for the Biddeford Tigers football team.

The Tigers, after struggling through an 0-8 campaign last season ”“ the first season without a win since 1979 ”“ snapped its losing streak Friday night with a home win against South Portland.

It was the first time in 10 games, dating back to October 2010, that Biddeford won a football game.

It’s easy to say that the past two years for the Biddeford football program have been difficult: The winless season last year; beginning this season with a blowout loss to Bonny Eagle; the summer-time discussion of the team possibly moving to Class B.

When it was all said and done this summer, however, the fans and school decided that if Biddeford were to drop to Class B, it would petition the Maine Principals’ Association to remain in Class A.

After the season’s start on Aug. 31, where the Tigers lost to Bonny Eagle 48-13, it could’ve been argued that the Tigers should rethink their desire to remain in Class A. Maybe a move to Class B would make sense.

At least that’s what some outsiders might have thought. The members of the program ”“ players and coaches ”“ however, thought differently.

The Tigers have endured one of the toughest periods in the programs’ history, but one thing remained constant: Their pride.

It’s written on their helmets and it is more than just a word to those players and coaches. It’s an attitude, a direction in ideals and thought.

Even during the losing season, the players didn’t give up. They never hung their heads. Sure, they were upset, furious and frustrated, but after a loss they would all say that next week is a new week, and this game is over, so it’s time to move on.

Even after Bonny Eagle beat them in the season opener, the Tigers were echoing the same sentiments. Including the 2010 loss during the playoffs, the Tigers’ losing streak had hit 10, but it didn’t matter. That game was done and South Portland was coming to Waterhouse Field.

And when the final horn blew Friday, the scoreboard read Biddeford 23, South Portland 7. The Biddeford bench erupted. Coach Scott Descoteaux, who never got down on his players, smiled brightly. The streak was over. It was in the rearview mirror.

The win was a testament to the Biddeford program. No matter how difficult football has become, the desire to fight through the adversity is there.

We don’t know if this will translate into an overall winning season, and we don’t know what this week holds for the Tigers. What we do know is that, for now, the Biddeford Tigers are back on the winning side, improving to 1-1 and wiping the slate clean from last year. The players, the coaches, the school, the fans and the community should be proud of the team that displayed its Tiger pride through it all.

But, as the players will tell you, the South Portland game is history and it’s time to focus on this week’s game against Kennebunk ”“ and that’s thinking like true winners.

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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards representing the majority opinion of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.