The number four Norwalk sports story of the 2021-22 school year happened in Week 6 of the football season last October 1 as the 8th-ranked Warriors knocked off 2nd-ranked and unbeaten Indianola 45-30 in Norwalk.

The Indians were riding high at the time, having defeated eventual Class 4A state champion Lewis Central 14-9 just two weeks earlier. Indianola led Norwalk 10-7 after one quarter before the Warriors fired up the home fans with 21 unanswered points in the second period.

Junior quarterback Landon Hochstein, who had a hand in all six Norwalk touchdowns on the night, capped the first half with a one-yard TD sneak as time expired to make it 28-10.

Indianola pulled within 28-24 going to the fourth, but a Hochstein-to-Braeden Carlson scoring pass put Norwalk back on track for a huge regular season victory.

Hochstein completed 26-of-33 passes against the Indians for 297 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 88 yards and three scores. Receivers Dillon Ranck and Carlson combined for 243 receiving yards and all three aerial TDs.

Another huge impact on the game was Norwalk’s four interceptions on defense – two by Ky Pearson and one each for Justus Williams and Caden Johnson.

The win improved Norwalk to 5-1 overall en route to a 6-1 start to the season. The Warriors lost close games against Carlisle and Bondurant-Farrar in weeks 8 and 9 before losing in the first round of the 4A playoffs at Webster City to finish 6-4.