Maverick football’s regular season ended over the weekend, and the guys finished 7-2. The combined team made up of Nucla, Norwood and Telluride guys have been led by head coach Brad Campbell the last four years.
Campbell told the Forum Nov. 1 the guys should’ve finished 8-1, but they lost to Plateau Valley.
“We beat ourselves in that one,” he said. “We should’ve won that one.”
He said the guys are young and were still trying to figure it out then. Now, he said, they’ve gotten things together.
“We’re in a good place and finished the season really well,” he said.
With 25 guys on the team, Brycen Rummel is quarterback. Coach said he’s done a good job and is the smartest guy on offense. In fact, Campbell said Rummel is really good at making sure everyone is lined up correctly, and he’s like having an extra coach on the field.
Sadly, Coulter Shumway did recently suffer a significant injury. Coach said thankfully that’s the only big one that’s happened, and he’s also grateful for the other players stepping up.
“We have a lot of depth on our team,” he said.
There are three players from Telluride coming down for Maverick football.
“It’s a good group, it’s been fun to watch them grow, and we’ve finally got everything together, and are figuring out each other and are playing as a team,” he said.
The brackets for post-season play came out Nov. 2. The Forum spoke with Campbell again, and he confirmed it was as he suspected. Norwood was seeded No. 6 in the tournament and will play Simla Nov. 8.
The really exciting part, he said, is that since Norwood is a Top 8 team, they host this weekend’s game. It’s the first time in nine seasons the Mavericks have hosted. He said the guys are feeling extremely excited about this. The last time it happened many of the current players were in the first grade. Then, it was Devyn Rummel and Trenton Armintrout’s team on the field.
Campbell wants Norwood to get hyped. He’s hoping folks from all three communities show up in Maverick gear.
“We want to make sure everybody knows,” he said. “We want to get as many people to come to the game as possible.”
Concessions will be happening, and Campbell was even hoping for a food truck too for tailgating, though that hadn’t been confirmed.
For the last four years, coach has been assisted by Morgan Rummel, Wes Tackett and Blade Harrigan. The current coaching staff has been with this year’s seniors — Brycen Rummel, Jackson Dinsmore, Brody Richardson, Braxton Brack, Coulter Shumway and Owen Tackett — for their entire high school careers.
“To watch them grow has been incredible,” Campbell said.
It’s a big practice week for the guys, but there are changes this time of year. Coach said that means worrying less about the physical stuff and more about the mental aspects. He compared it to a chess match he’s prepping for.
“Coaches have to be more focused and attentive,” he said. “You don’t get as many opportunities.”
Campbell told the Forum Simla’s coach took his team to the state tournament four years ago. He said David Guy is one of the best coaches in the history of 8-man football. Campbell is looking at this weekend as an opportunity.
“It’s a super fun match up for the team,” he said. “Please come support the boys.”
