Growing up and playing youth football, a lot of the Norwood seniors on the football team were used to having success. Throughout the years, the group found themselves rather successful on the field. While losing was not a word in their vocabulary, unfortunately things all took a turn once they got into high school and began playing for the varsity team under Manny Lopes. 

Brian Dearborn

Lopes had recently took over the reins of the Mustang football program and was putting his touch on the team. Two years ago, when this year’s group of seniors were only sophomores, playing on the varsity team for the first time, Norwood was only able to secure three wins while losing eight games. It was not at all what the sophomores were hoping.

“A lot of us had been playing football together since the second grade,” wide receiver and offensive leader Brian Dearborn said. “As youngsters, we were a dominant group and always winning, so to only win three games that year was really tough on us. We knew that we were going to have to step it up if we wanted to improve.”

Coach Lopes knew that while his team was improving since he took over, he also knew that when you start a lot of younger players, things were not going to happen overnight; it was going to take time. 

“That year, we started four or five sophomores, and for every sophomore that you start you have to figure you’re going to lose one game,” the Norwood coach said. “While it is not always the case, it should be considered. Those kids were sophomores, turned into juniors, and are now seniors. Things have changed and they seem to have found their groove and are buying into what the coaches are telling them.”

Last fall as juniors, the group was able to improve to 7-4 while earning themselves their first home playoff game in over 10 years. The 7 wins not only got Norwood into the tournament, but put them atop the Tri-Valley League (TVL) in a three-way tie with Holliston and Westwood. As a 5 seed in the Division 4 tournament, Norwood unfortunately did not play their best football and was upset by Burlington, the number 12 seed, 34-21.

“Having a rough season during our sophomore year, we knew that we needed to get better,” middle linebacker and defensive leader Drew Bartucca said. “We all bought into the program and hit the weight room getting bigger, stronger, and faster. We had a successful season in our junior year and earned ourselves a home game and after a close first half, Burlington ran away with the game in the second half.” 

Norwood didn’t seem to take Burlington all that seriously and found themselves on the wrong side of the final score. The loss motivated the team to work even harder as they got ready for the upcoming season.

“School ended around June 22/23 and the team started working in the weight room on the following Monday; three times a week, 6:30 – 8 a.m.,” Lopes said. “I asked them if they wanted to take a break around the fourth of July and they told me that they wanted to continue. The coaches were talking about it recently how they could barely lift 95 pounds and now they were up to 225-255 pounds. You could see them consistently getting stronger and buying into the program.”

Lopes continued to say that in previous years you could see that this group was very talented, but there was no leadership. This year, the seniors have stepped up in a big way.

Defensively, Norwood has lost four key players, but Bartucca is confident that the Mustangs have the players to step in.

“We definitely have some big shoes to fill, but we have the guys to do it,” Lopes said. “We have really looked good defensively so far although we have only done 7 v 7; we haven’t got into the rushing aspect of practice. We need to listen to the coaches and not get ahead of ourselves and we’ll be ok.”

Bartucca believes that there is a lot of chemistry between this year’s group and they feed off one another.

“I am looking to be a leader to this team and show the younger guys what needs to be done,” Bartucca said. “Learning is a progression and we’ve see it on the younger guys.”

Dearborn echoed his teammates sentiments while adding that in order to win the team needs to stay tough.

“We’ve been lifting and conditioning as well as some team bonding events,” Dearborn said. “Defense looks to be pretty solid and the offense is going to need to do the same as last year offensively if we want to win. I believe that we are ready to go.”

Both athletes have the same goal – making the playoffs with another home game.

“This time, we want to win that home game, then get another home game, and hopefully make a run through the playoffs,” Dearborn said. “Last year, we fell apart and went into the game thinking we were going to win. That loss has been in the back of our minds all year and it’s the motivation that we need to be successful this year.”

Bartucca went on to say that Norwood is looking to have themselves a decent regular season, while making a run in the tournament.

“I have never won a playoff game and that’s one of my biggest goals this year; to help Norwood win a playoff game and hopefully we can do it a couple of times,” Bartucca said.

Lopes’ goal is the same as it is every year. Norwood is looking to win the TVL, and although they have won it three times during the Coaches six years with the Mustangs, he would like to win it outright instead of sharing it like they have in the past. He too has not won a playoff game and would like to see that happen this upcoming season as well.

“People approach me and ask me continuously how the team is,” Lopes said. “I believe that they are good and competitive,” Lopes said. “I can say anything I want, but it doesn’t matter; it’s all up to the guys on the field living up to their expectations.”

The Norwood players have been putting in a lot of off-season work and are gearing up for what they believe to be one of their most successful seasons in Lopes’ career as the Mustangs Head Coach.