The #10 in Class 4A Norwalk football team weathered the storm and high heat in a 34-31 season-opening overtime victory over #5 Pella Friday, as aired on KRLS.
After Norwalk started offensively with a turnover on downs, the Dutch fumbled their first offensive snap of the game, giving the Warriors a short field to work with. The drive was capped off by a Tracy Davis 10-yard touchdown catch to make it 7-0 Norwalk. The Warriors also got a touchdown catch from Cade Campbell in the first, as well as a Ky Pearson scoop and score on a fumbled punt snap. Pella had four turnovers in the first quarter, including a Tracy Davis interception.
The offense was hard to come by in the second quarter, as the first four drives resulted in punts. With around two minutes until halftime, the Dutch finally got on the board with a 6-yard touchdown carry by Aidan Pollock to make it 21-7 Norwalk at the break.
Pella received the second half kickoff, and capped off an 11-play drive with a 33-yard touchdown reception by Pollock. The extra point snap was low, and the Dutch were unable to convert. Norwalk fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Dutch the ball at the 17 yard line. Nolan Clayberg found the end zone for the first time, and the two-point conversion was converted to tie the game at 21.
The fourth quarter opened with Braedon Carlson hauling in a pass from Landon Hochstein to put the Warriors back on top, but Pella answered with another Clayberg touchdown rush with 50 seconds to play. Norwalk couldn’t gain an offensive rhythm in the final seconds, and the game went to overtime.
Pella got the first possession, and a third down sack pushed them back to the 17, where Luke Hardman connected on a 34-yard field goal to take a 34-31 lead. The Warriors scored on the first play of their possession, a Hochstein pass to Carlson on a slant route for the victory. Norwalk Head Coach Paul Patterson was proud of his team’s bounce back after a rocky start to the third.
Pella Head Coach Jay McKinstrey says he hopes the second half comeback effort is a preview of what’s to come the rest of the season.
Pollock led Pella on the ground with 66 yards on 17 carries and a score. Quarterback Blake Meyer was 5/13 for 84 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
Landon Hochstein was 11/21 for 118 yards and four scores through the air for Norwalk Dillon Ranck had three catches for 56 yards while Carlson had two receiving touchdowns. Norwalk moves to 1-0 and is at Des Moines Lincoln next week. Pella starts 0-1 and hosts North Polk next week.