After losing 52-0 to Dove Creek on Friday, Oct. 4, many Bluejays players probably thought that things could not get much worse. Sadly they were mistaken.

Playing on the road against the Norwood Mavericks on Friday, Oct. 11, the Bluejays were manhandled by the state's fifth-ranked eight-man team, losing by a score of 67-0.

Bluejays' head coach Adam Priestley said Norwood's passing attack was especially difficult to defend and the Bluejays' inability to do so proved to be their undoing.

"They hurt us by passing," said Priestley. "The first three touchdowns came over the top of us. We were trying some zone coverage and messed up on some zone coverage."

Bluejays' players who stood out to Priestley in the loss included running back Everett Strazza-Whalen and lineman William Cooper.

"(Strazza-Whalen) has been great, Priestley said. His effort has been outstanding. He does what we ask, and he cares. (Cooper) snapped the ball against Norwood, and did what we asked him to do."

With their season record now at 2-5, the Bluejays will begin preparing for a home game against Rangely (4-3) on Oct. 18.

"Rangely is a good ball team," said Priestley. "I think overall, we match up very well with them. They do things well, we do things well, and whichever team does things better is going to come away with the win."

imaclaren@cortezjournal.com