It is possible Saturday’s state Class A championship football game could come down to the performance of one player. Biddeford High School Coach Mike Landry hopes the player is senior quarterback Chris Cote.

“Chris Cote is a winner,” Landry said. “I think he’s the best quarterback in the state. He’s that good not because of his athletic talent but because of his poise. He gets the job done. He’s just a winner. He proved it last year.”

Last year, Cote etched his name along side many other former greats at the tradition-rich football school. When starting quarterback Jason Lariviere was hurt at the start of the fourth quarter of last year’s state title game against Lawrence, Cote stepped in and led the Tigers to their eighth state title.

This year, with Cote the starting quarterback, Biddeford (8-3) will take on unbeaten Gardiner (11-0) at 1 p.m., at Bowdoin College’s Whittier Field in Brunswick.

Cote, along with his Tiger teammates, is ready for the game.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me because of the great tradition and all the great players (in the past),” Cote said. “They are the measuring stick of how I perform.”

While Cote measures up well, the Biddeford team still sputtered to a 1-2 start behind a youthful backfield (two starting sophomore halfbacks) and the loss of senior linebacker Peter Poirier to an injury.

“We weren’t thinking of state championships, just winning games,” Landry laughed. “We got Peter back (for the fourth game) and then we beat Marshwood at Marshwood. That was the critical point of the season. The kids believed they could win.”

Along with Cote and Poirier, the emergence of the two youngsters in the backfield has spearheaded the Tigers’ turnaround.

Keith Grenier – all 5-foot-4, 130 pounds of him – is dangerous as a halfback and kick returner. He has three kickoff returns for TDs and two punt returns for scores this season.

“He’s our best running back,” Landry flatly states.

Grady Beaulieu, another sophomore, will also see his share of carries.

Left tackle George Corriveau, outside linebacker Jason Tremblay, and inside linebacker Carl Landry are the other three sophs who have grown up fast. Wide receiver Craig Prendergrass is Cote’s favorite target and seniors Scott Descoteaux (guard), Scott Polack (tackle), Dewey Kopenga (defensive back), and John Beaulieu (defensive back) will also key the team.

“We’re just a balanced team right now,” Cote said. “Last year, it was great being a part of the team and being able to step in and lead the team to the win. This year, it’s good to be one of the team leaders in getting us back there.”

And, in the end, it could come down to Chris Cote.