---

NORTON - There's no stopping the Lancers of Norton High.

Beat Bellingham High on Thursday and win the Tri-Valley League championship.

Beat the winless Blackhawks and certify a spot in the MIAA Division 3 playoffs.

Prevail on Thanksgiving Day and face the South Shore League champion Abington Green Wave on Dec. 2 for the right to advance to a Super Bowl game.

"When we started the season we had three goals and we can accomplish two of them on Thanksgiving Day, win the holiday game with Bellingham and win the Tri-Valley League (title)," said Norton High coach Robb McCoy. "The third goal is to get to the Super Bowl." The Bellingham High Blackhawks will only provide a speed bump in the road for the Lancers, a minor inconvenience of a bus ride along Route 495. That is because not only is Bellingham 0-10 on the season, the roster is dotted with juniors and sophomores.

The Blackhawks have been shut out in five games this season, scoring just 46 total points. The Blackhawks have never scored more than one touchdown in any game.

That being said and known, "it's always been a healthy rivalry with them," said McCoy, recalling the heyday of Blackhawk football with former Attleboro High coach Dale Caparaso on the sidelines and former University of New Hampshire quarterback great Ricky Santos putting Bellingham on the football map.

That being said, Norton hasn't won a game in the holiday series since 1969 - Bellingham has won eight straight games.

Need Norton need more motivation?

"We've been a lot more competitive with them through the years," added McCoy. "The kids know what's at stake, you can tell by the intensity of the practice sessions, their attention. Last week, it was Medway, beat them and we have at least a share of the title. This week, beat Bellingham and the title is ours. The kids don't need motivation."

McCoy has thoroughly warned his Lancers about taking the Blackhawks for granted, despite their record, despite their inexperience. "He (coach Ted Rigney) has some good kids and you watch them on film and see how much better they've gotten as the season has progressed.

"They had an unbelievable team last year, but now he has a lot of young kids playing and getting experience. The one thing that you can always count on is Bellingham having some tough kids and kids who like to hit."

Depth, or a lack thereof, has greatly contributed to Bellingham's woes this season. "We have a lot of young kids playing, quite a few sophomores starting, we've brought sophomores up from the jayvees," said Rigney. "In turn, the jayvees have had to bring up freshmen. So it's been a domino effect through the program.

"It's been a very difficult year, an unchartered territory for us. I guess we have to go through it some time." Rigney knows all too well how difficult it will be for Bellingham to compete against Norton. "You look what they did to Medway, they forced four turnovers and forced Medway, which is predominantly a running team, and made them throw the ball.

"We knew that they'd be good and they're having a great year - the (running back Sean, 30 TDs) Ryan kid was great last year and he's phenomenal this year. And they've got a bunch of tough kids."

Ryan was the Tri-Valley League's Player of the Year. Left guard and linebacker Ricky Travers was the TVL's Defensive Player of the Year. Senior tackle Chris Hamel was the TVL's Lineman of the Year. And that's not forgetting multi-use senior Brian Desmond, who has close to 400 yards rushing, close to 400 return yards and close to 300 receiving yards, a play-changing center and linebacker in Chris Archer and a tremendous passing target and outside rusher on defense in end Darren Doucette.

"In a game like this you just can't sit guys out and have them rest, thinking that you're already going to win the game," said McCoy. "We have to win and we have to win with all of our weapons. If you send a message to don't play as hard and don't get hurt, that's when you do.

"We can't have that happen, we have a lot at stake. We need to keep it going."