Scott Descoteaux turned to a higher power in preparation for Saturday's annual "Battle of the Bridge."

After a 20-14 overtime loss to Thornton, the first-year Biddeford football coach reached into the pocket of his khaki shorts and took out a small chunk of grass and earth, taken from the grave site of Mike Landry.

Landry, the legendary Biddeford football coach, died in December of 2006 after a two-year battle with skin cancer. Descoteaux played for Landry from 1989 to 1991.

"This is from the top of his grave, from this morning," Descoteaux said. "I saw Mrs. Landry today, she was wearing his sweater, I asked her if I could wear the sweater. I gave her a big hug and I stroked the shoulder of that sweater as many times as I could.

"I think Coach is up there, smiling at the effort he saw of the kids in their orange helmets. We call it 'Tiger Pride.' I know Coach is up there smiling, in terms of what he saw, the kids playing with Tiger Pride."

Beginning Wednesday, tickets will go on sale at Thornton Academy for one of the state's top football rivalry games, the annual "Battle of the Bridge" between Thornton and Biddeford.