With a hard-fought comeback and a sigh of relief, the Norwalk football team outlasted Winterset 17-8 last Friday night, ending a three-game losing streak and opening district play with a much-needed win. Tonight, the Warriors try to make it two in a row when they host Dallas Center-Grimes at Mineart Field. The game can be heard live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3), with pregame coverage at 6:30 and the opening kickoff at 7:00.
Norwalk is 2-3 overall and 1-0 in Class 4A, District 6. DC-G, which defeated Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson 55-0 a week ago, is 1-4 overall and 1-0 in district play. The Mustangs won last year’s matchup with the Warriors 17-7, but Norwalk coach Paul Patterson tells KNIA/KRLS Sports that his team enters tonight with a better mental attitude. Patterson says that the Warriors may have underestimated DC-G last year while overestimating themselves – a bad combination that won’t happen again, he says. Patterson adds that last week’s win was a nice confidence booster for the Warriors, who want to stay in control of their own destiny for a playoff spot out of District 6.
“I’m not sure what this week would have looked like if we didn’t get that [win] and we would’ve had four losses in a row,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about the opportunity to have another district game and to be in the driver’s seat still… and hope that we come out and take care of business like we think we’re capable of tonight.”
Eli Robbins scored both Norwalk touchdowns at Winterset on a first-quarter 58-yard reception from James Hatlevig and a fourth-quarter game-clinching 2-yard run. Gavin Ferner drilled a 44-yard field goal with ease going into halftime while Kadan Borcherding-Johnson and Isaac Binder combined for three interceptions in the second half.
DC-G’s four losses include one-score setbacks vs. Gilbert and Fort Dodge. Osborn Grimm returned last week’s opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown vs. TJ and the Mustangs were off to the races. Sophomore quarterback Chase Engel passed for 211 yards and three scores and the team added 178 yards on the ground.
Patterson says that Norwalk must pay attention to DC-G’s formational changes and recognize tendencies tonight on defense. Offensively, the Warriors need to be sound in their blocking assignments and be aware when the Mustangs are sending pressure. Patterson adds that the Warriors must also eliminate penalties tonight after being flagged a combined 24 times in the last two games.