It’s Homecoming in Norwalk tonight as the 9th-ranked Warrior football team takes on winless Boone in a Class 4A, District 5 opener at 7:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3), with pregame coverage starting at approximately 6:30. The audio from KNIA3 will also be available on the Norwalk Warrior Productions YouTube video stream.
Norwalk brings a 3-1 overall record into district play after defeating Dallas Center-Grimes 42-28 last Friday. The visiting Toreadors are 0-4 and have scored just six total points in losses to returning playoff qualifiers Nevada, Webster City, Ballard and Humboldt.
Norwalk head coach Paul Patterson gave his team a B+ following its second consecutive 3-1 start on the gridiron – a grade that would have been higher if not for some nagging turnover and penalty issues the last couple weeks. Patterson is looking for more consistency and cleaner play as the Warriors move into district competition.
“We’ve got to get those things under control as we move forward,” he said. “And can we come out of the gate playing our best from opening kickoff through the closing whistle – can we play our best from start to finish? That’s something that we’ve challenged our kids with this week to see if we can get that going.
“That’s something that great football teams can get done, and if we want to be a great football team we’ve got to be able to do it.”
Patterson likes the balanced offense the Warriors showcased last week with more than 200 yards rushing and passing against DC-G. Norwalk senior quarterback Landon Hochstein currently ranks first in Class 4A with 12 passing touchdowns and 17 total TDs. His 965 passing yards are the fourth-most in 4A and he also leads the Warriors with 404 yards rushing.
Sophomore running back Dominic Tigner is improving each week and now has four touchdowns on the year, while seniors Dillon Ranck and Braeden Carlson are an outstanding receiving duo with a combined 41 catches, 613 yards and nine scores through Week 4.
Patterson is also pleased with the development of this year’s defense, which forced four takeaways at DC-G. Junior linebacker Will Clark is off to a great start with 36 total tackles, five sacks and eight tackles for loss. Senior lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson has been a disruptive force as well with one sack and four TFL.
Boone has been outscored 170-6 through four games, with the lone touchdown coming in Week 3 on Jake Judge’s 19-yard pass to Ashton Thilges. The Toreadors have kept their turnover count low, but are averaging just 93.5 yards per contest. Senior running back Landon Davis has netted 166 yards, averaging 4.3 per carry, and also has an interception on defense.
Norwalk won last year’s matchup 31-8 in Boone.