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2025 Snapshot: Norwood

Norwood TE/DE Colton Hull (photo courtesy of Norwood football)

Snake bitten by injuries a year ago, Norwood is highly motivated to turn its fortunes around, end its current 13-game losing streak and get some payback for what went on in 2024. You wouldn’t know that the Indians were mired in this tailspin with the confidence they are exuding this offseason. This is a team that believes it is capable of doing big things.

Last year we were full of injuries having lost seven starters for the season by Week. We averaged having 12-16 players out with injuries from Week 5 thru Week 8. However, our team did not give up, played hard, stayed unified, and refused to let adversity stop us from building our program,” head coach Matt Money states.

Money goes on about what he and his staff are trying to accomplish with their troops.“This being my third year, we have a true culture established. We have more experience on the field than we’ve had in years. We truly believe that we can be greater, and our conference realigning to 3 divisions puts us in a better position to finally get over the hump.” Norwood will play in the MVC Gray division along with Cincinnati Country Day, Clark Montessori and North College Hill.

The Indians bring back seven starters on offense and eight on defense. “We return a lot of players with a ton of varsity experience but we are still young as a whole. The majority of our team are freshmen and sophomores. This is by far our best senior class since I’ve been here. They work hard, are unified, lead by example, and want to give their greatest in everything they do,” Money says.

Money goes on. “We have a lot of depth at the o-line and d-line positions. We will be very strong upfront. Our running game returns all but one player in the backfield. We have speed across the board on offense and have a chance to score a lot of points. Defensively, we return our entire front seven with many more players being added to step up and make us a force to be reckoned with.”

“Our motto this year is WARPATH. We are going after our opponents and getting back what is ours. So many of our players didn’t play last season due to injury and we play eight of the same teams. This is their time to take back what’s theirs.”

Division V, Region 20
2024 RECORD: 0-10, 0-5 MVC Scarlet
COACH: Matt Money (1-19 at Norwood, two years; 1-19 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Ke’Vontai Williams, Jr, QB – An excellent athlete who will be very tough to gameplan for. Williams developed himself into a true quarterback after injuries last year on his way to Honorable Mention All-MVC Scarlet accolades. Williams heads into his junior campaign with 820 yards rushing, 382 yards passing and nine touchdowns (five rush, nine four) in an Indians uniform.

Norwood QB Ke’Vontai Williams (photo courtesy of Norwood football)

Aiden Meadors, Jr, LB/TE – A leader on defense who always gives 100% of everything he has. Meadors had 70 tackles and a sack on his way to being named Honorable Mention All-MVC Scarlet as a sophomore.

OTHER RETURNEES
Colton Hull, Sr, TE/DE – A difference maker on both sides of the ball. Hull will be someone who Norwood can design its offense around and be its best pass rusher on defense. The coaching staff believes Hull can be the most dangerous defensive end in the MVC. He has 79 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 17.0 tackles for losses in his career. 

Laterrio Washington, Jr, OG/DT – The Indians best o-lineman and a returning captain. The foot-2, 270-pound Washington was sidelined last year due to injury in Week 2.

Richie Banderas, Jr, OT/DT – Last season was Banderas’ first playing football and he made an immediate impact on offense. Banders became someone that when the Indians needed a conversion they could run behind him.

Damien Hunter, So, DE – Started seven games as a freshman and became a dominating force in the middle of the defensive line. Hunter registered 21 tackles, a sack, 4.0 tackles for losses and a forced fumble.

NEWCOMERS
Senior OL/DL Devonte Castleberry is a very large presence and should make an instant impact on both sides of the line. Castleberry is an extremely hard working player who was unable to play last year. Sophomore WR/DB Camron Shepard will fit right in with the skill position players. A very talented incoming freshman class that includes WR/DB Jeremiah Foree, TE/DE Terryion Smith and WR/OLB Carter Callahan could add much needed depth.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(five appearances, 2-5) – 2020, 2014, 2012, 2004, 1991

2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – at Shroder (7-4 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – MARIEMONT (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – DEER PARK (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – CHCA (9-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – at St. Bernard-Elmwood Place (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – at Bethel-Tate (5-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – at Roger Bacon (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – Cincinnati Country Day (11-2) – 7:00 PM*
Fri – 10/17/25 – CLARK MONTESSORI (5-5) – 7:00 PM*
Fri – 10/24/25 – NORTH COLLEGE HILL (3-6) – 7:00 PM*
*MVC Gray division games

 

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