Football Game Preview: Norwood Mavericks vs. Dove Creek Bulldogs

The Norwood Mavericks will square off against the Dove Creek Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Having both just faced considerable losses, both teams are looking to turn things around.

Norwood is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Colorado's top teams: Sanford, who was ranked sixth at the time (Norwood was ranked 22nd). The Mavericks were beaten by the Mustangs 54-24 on Friday. The loss continues a trend for the Mavericks in their meetings with the Mustangs: they've now lost six in a row.

Meanwhile, Dove Creek started off well but failed to capitalize on an early lead against Mancos. They came up short against the Bluejays on Thursday, falling 42-22. While the Bulldogs didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating the Bluejays 8-0 in the first quarter.

Norwood will have to contain Nicholas Aragon as he made an impact in Dove Creek's last game. He rushed for 144 yards and two TDs on only 12 carries. The bulk of those rushing yards came from one huge play: a run that gained an incredible 75 yards.

Dove Creek now has a losing record of 2-3. As for Norwood, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-2.

Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Norwood has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 194 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Dove Creek struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 305.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.

Norwood suffered a grim 50-26 defeat to Dove Creek in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Will the Mavericks have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more football content.