DOLORES – When Norwood and Dolores lined up for their final regular-season game on Halloween, the Bears and Mavericks shared more than just a matchup. Both programs had recently rebuilt after periods without varsity football.
Five years ago, neither Dolores nor the visiting Mavericks fielded a varsity football team. The Bears were transitioning from 11-man to 8-man football, while Norwood struggled with numbers and went dormant.
On Friday, the two programs squared off with playoff hopes on the line in one of the state’s most competitive 8-man leagues.
Talk about a reversal of fortune.
Celebrating its Senior Night, Dolores entered believing a win could secure its first postseason berth in 15 years. While the Mavericks dashed those hopes with a strong second half in a 46-25 win, second-year head coach Travis Rantz’s crew shook hands and embraced fans for the final time in 2025.
Norwood, aiming to clinch its first home playoff game since the mid-2010s, was stunned early. The Bears drove 55 yards in less than a minute, with junior Darren Hicks taking a short pass from classmate River Wickstrom for a 38-yard catch-and-run score and a 7-0 lead.
After Norwood answered, defenses tightened. The Bears made multiple fourth-down stops in the first half, led by senior Kayson Green’s disruptive line play. Dolores capitalized after a pick by senior Deven Winter, as Wickstrom lofted a pass to senior Michael Rantz to reclaim the lead, 13-8, late in the half.
Momentum swung wildly. Norwood scored on its next three drives, sandwiched around a 23-yard touchdown from Wickstrom to junior Miles Brown. The Mavericks forced four second-half takeaways to pull away, despite Winter’s 51-yard strike that cut the deficit to 40-25.
The quarterbacks combined for eight passing touchdowns – four each for Wickstrom and Norwood senior Brycen Rummel – in a game defined by shifting leads and high scoring. But it was the Mavericks’ (7-2, 4-1 Mountain League) ground game that sealed the win and a spot in the 8-man state tournament.
Dolores finished 4-4 (1-4 Mountain League), matching its total wins from the past five varsity seasons combined. It was the program’s first .500 finish since its last playoff appearance in 2010.
Rantz’s team competed closely with three teams projected to finish in the state’s top 10 and earned its first Mountain League win since joining four years ago.
With one of its largest rosters in years, Dolores appears poised for continued growth in 2026. In the meantime, the Bears and their five seniors – Rantz, Winter, Green, Aidan Sweat and TJ Adie – can reflect on their careers and their role in a season marked by progress and key milestones.
