Fired up to play in front of a large homecoming crowd, the Dove Creek High School football team gave everything that it had in a league matchup against Norwood on Sept. 13.
Despite their best efforts, however, the Bulldogs were unable to match Norwood’s physicality. Dove Creek’s record dropped to 2-2 with the loss, and Norwood improved to 3-1.
“They were much more physical than we were and they got off the ball faster,” Dove Creek head coach Shane Baughman said. “They hammered us up front, and they were more explosive than we were. They just kind of took it to us as far as the physical part of the game.”
Although the lopsided contest generally lacked bright spots for the Bulldogs, a handful of highlights came courtesy of sophomore Gauge Thompson, who had an interception and several solid tackles in the first half.
Senior JD Dennison and sophomore Hayden Gray also provided bright spots for Dove Creek as the pair came through with solid blocks against linemen who appeared to be exceptionally strong.
“We definitely grew a lot,” Dennison said. “We had some ups and downs. We all started working together in the (second half). The line started stepping up, and our backers started stepping up.”
Among many highlights for Norwood was a 35-yard touchdown run by Will Gabriel on the fourth play of the game and a 63-yard touchdown run by Gabriel midway through the second quarter that put the Mavericks ahead 34-0.
Even with the huge deficit, Dove Creek players did not quit in the second half, and thanks to better blocking and several sound defensive plays, the Bulldogs held the Mavericks scoreless during the third quarter.
Freshman quarterback Chorbin Cressler scored Dove Creek’s lone touchdown of the game on a 94-yard run around the left side with 1:46 left in the contest, and as fans expressed their appreciation, lights on a local ambulance flashed as if to acknowledge the team’s hard work.
“For homecoming, everyone is here, the whole town,” Dennison said. “All the people who fought before us on this field came to watch us fight just like they did. Homecoming (is special).”
Dove Creek will look to right the ship when it travels to Sangre de Cristo on Sept. 22.
“We just have to stick together like a family,” said Hayden Gray. “We can’t let something like this tear us apart. It just builds us for the rest of the year.”
