Norton Thanksgiving Football Preview

The football team will be looking for its third consecutive victory on Thanksgiving Day when the Lancers travel to Bellingham for a Tri-Valley League contest on Thursday morning at 10 a.m.

It has been a rough month for Norton. After opening the season with six consecutive victories over Medway, Ashland, Dover-Sherborn, Hopkinton, Westwood and Medfield, the Lancers have dropped three of their last four contests to stand at 7-3.

Norton's first loss of the season came 42-0 to Holliston on Senior Night at Adams Field.

A 29-6 win in Millis the next week against the combined team from Millis and Hopedale improved the Lancers to 7-1.

Norton then competed in the TVL Championship Tournament, entering the event as the third seed. In the first round in Westwood, Norton fell to second-seeded Medway, 28-18. The Lancers then suffered an excruciating 13-12 loss at the hands of fourth-seeded Westwood in the consolation game of the tournament at Adams Field.

But Norton will look to get back to its winning ways on Thanksgiving morning against a Bellingham team that has just a 3-7 record, but has won three of its last four games.

Next Thursday, Norton will be looking to earn its third consecutive holiday victory over Bellingham. The Lancers are also looking to complete the season with sole possession of third place in the TVL with an outside shot at finishing in a tie for second.

Two years ago, the Lancers beat the Blackhawks, 54-0, in Bellingham to end a long holiday losing streak to their rivals. That win also earned Norton the TVL title and a berth in the Division 3 playoffs. A year ago, on Senior Day at Adams Field, Norton registered its second straight shutout over Bellingham, 23-0.

Norton has the fourth-rated scoring offense in the TVL, scoring 21.7 points per game. It also has the third-ranked defense, surrendering 15.2 points per contest. Bellingham averages 15.2 points per game on offense and allows 22.4 points per contest on defense.

The Blackhawks opened the season with six consecutive losses, but have won three of their last four. Bellingham earned its first win at home against Ashland, 34-0. Following a 21-0 setback in Hopkinton, the Blackhawks earned their second win of the year against the Clockers, 34-8, in Bellingham in the opening round of the TVL Tournament.

The Blackhawks then traveled to Millis for their second-round tournament game and registered a 14-6 win over the combined team from Millis and Hopedale.

Norton is currently tied for third place in the TVL. A 33-14 home victory over Medway in the TVL Tournament championship game propelled Holliston (9-1) into sole possession of first place. That loss dropped the Mustangs to 8-2 and into second place, while Norton and Westwood are tied for third at 7-3.

If the Panthers win in Westwood on Thanksgiving, they will secure the league title and a berth in the Division 3A Playoffs. That Holliston victory, coupled with a Norton win in Bellingham, would give the Lancers sole possession of third place in the league. Medway will host the combined team from Millis and Hopedale (3-7) on Thanksgiving morning where a loss by the Mustangs could potentially give Norton a share of second place.