Unity Seats Brings Communities Together for Norwood-Monticello Football Game

The Norwood Mavericks and Monticello Buckaroos will meet for a high school football game Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. MDT at 1225 Summit St. in Norwood, Colorado. Beyond the action on the field, the evening will unite neighboring communities in remembrance, gratitude and shared purpose.

The game is brought to the community by US United, the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office and Norwood Public School through the US United Unity Seats program. Unity Seats pairs sheriffs or other law enforcement leaders with community members who hold opposing viewpoints, purchases tickets for them and seats them together at a sporting event. The goal is simple but powerful: Share the experience as neighbors rather than adversaries.

This year's gathering carries special significance as the community marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and honors local first responders. The football game will provide a familiar setting for people to remember those affected by the attacks while recognizing the people who continue to serve and protect their communities.

The San Miguel County Sheriff's Office hopes the evening brings together people from all the communities represented by athletes participating in the game. Fans may arrive wearing different colors and supporting different teams, but Unity Seats creates space for them to listen, connect and discover common ground. Those conversations can strengthen relationships that continue long after the final whistle.

Football provides the backdrop, but unity is the heart of the night. By sharing seats, conversation and school spirit, participants can demonstrate that differences do not have to become divisions. The Mavericks and Buckaroos will compete on the field, while their communities come together around a lasting message: We are stronger when we are united.