With two regular season games still remaining for the Norwalk football team, it almost feels like the playoffs have already begun.

The Warriors face a big test and have a big opportunity tonight when they make the short trip to Carlisle to face the red-hot Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3), with pregame coverage starting at 6:30.

Norwalk, ranked 12th in this week’s BCMoore Class 4A rankings, is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in District 5 following last week’s win by forfeit over Perry. Sixth-ranked Carlisle is 6-1 overall and 3-0 in district play, holding a one-game lead over Norwalk, Indianola and Bondurant-Farrar.

The Wildcats secured a highly-impressive 42-21 win at Indianola last Friday and can clinch the district title with a victory tonight. The Warriors, who host Bondurant-Farrar in Week 9, likely must win at least one of their final two games to make the playoffs. Norwalk head coach Paul Patterson says his team knows what’s at stake and is anxious to play after having last week’s home game taken away when Perry canceled the rest of its season.

“We feel like we’re ready,” Patterson said. “The true test is (Friday) night when we strap it up and see how things go. It’s going to be a hard fought and in-a-phone-booth type of football game with Carlisle the way that they play both offense and defense.”

The Wildcats’ triple-option attack is led by senior running backs Jack Laughlin and Jes Krcil, who have combined for nearly 1,600 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. Quarterback Joe Goodhue is also a dangerous threat with the football.

Norwalk is led by senior quarterback Landon Hochstein, who is one yard shy of 1,600 passing on the season with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also leads the Warriors with 561 rushing yards and nine TDs. Top receivers Dillon Ranck and Braeden Carlson have combined for 71 receptions, more than 1,100 yards and 14 scores.

The contrasting styles will feature Norwalk’s quick-strike spread offense against Carlisle’s ball-control running game. Coach Patterson says it will be important for the Warriors not to panic and try to score too fast if the Wildcats put together a long, time-consuming scoring drive.

From a defensive standpoint, Patterson says that Norwalk must win first down as much as possible and force Carlisle into third-and-long situations.

Carlisle has won the last two meetings in this Warren County trophy game series, including a 21-14 victory at Norwalk last season.