Truckers can't keep up with Tygers

NORWALK — The trend started in the first half.Norwalk put itself in too many bad situations to overcome and when it had Mansfield Senior behind the 8-ball, the Truckers couldn't cash in.Norwalk controlled the first 11 minutes of the game and led in the second quarter, but failed opportunities ultimately led to the Truckers being on the wrong end of a 41-19 loss to Mansfield Senior at Contractors Field on Friday."For us offensively, we just made too many mistakes," Norwalk coach Todd Fox said. "It was nothing Mansfield did defensively. It was more of what we could do offensively. We knew it was going to be a chess match. They are fast enough that it is not anything they do schematically. They are just solid, great football players.:A 12-play, 72-yard drive that was kept alive with a 26-yard pass from Payne Flores to Ben Rothhaar on 3rd-and-22 and capped with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Flores to Parker Evans gave Norwalk (0-1) a 12-7 lead with 6:06 to go until halftime. The Tygers (1-0) wasted little time responding with a nice kickoff return and Norwalk penalty to start their drive at the Norwalk 42. It took just a few plays beforr Duke Reese found Amarr Davis in stride for a 24-yard TD. The extra point was no good, but Senior was ahead 13-12.The Truckers had plenty of time to try to respond, but went three-and-out and dropped back to punt. The kick was beautiful, but an illegal procedure brought the kick team back out. This time, the snap sailed high and the Tygers recovered and took over at the Norwalk 3. After a short loss and penalty, Ricky Mills rumbled in from eight yards out to help Senior to a 20-12 halftime advantage."Our special teams was awful," Fox said. "We had the good and the bad, but the bad put us in too many bad situations. In the first half, we weren't able to capitalize on some mistakes after we got in the red zone."Norwalk couldn't find the big stop it needed to start the second half. On the second play from scrimmage, Davis got two steps behind his receiver and sailed into the end zone for an easy 52-yard touchdown catch from Reese. That bumped the margin to 27-12 lead less than a minute into the third quarter.The Truckers did get an immediate response as Rothhaar room the ensuing kickoff and sliced and diced his way through the defenders for a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown. Tommy Vanderpool's extra point kept Norwalk within 28-19 with 10:48 left in the third quarter.Norwalk got a stop on the next Tygers possession, but couldn't capitialize. Senior had a big punt return on the Truckers' punt and started at the Norwalk 22. If took just four plays for Mills to score on a six-yard carry to extend the lead back to two scores at 34-19."We are a ball-control team," Fox said. "That's what we want to do. We set the pass up with the run and personally, I got out of that at the end."The Truckers turned the ball over on downs on their next possession and even after Evans recovered a Senior fumble, Norwalk didn't cash in as Flores was intercepted on the first play of the fourth quarter.Mills added another touchdown run to further the lead to 41-19. Flores was picked off a second time in the fourth quarter and it turned out to be a night Norwalk is ready to forget."We have to get better," Fox said. "We had some new starters out there. We'll get better. Mansfield is a good football team."It started well for the Truckers as Flores marched Norwalk down the field on the opening drive of the game. Flores completed all three passes he attempted including a 27-yard score to Rothhaar. The extra point attempt was blocked, but the Truckers were on the board first.It looked like Norwalk was going to expand the lead quickly as they forced Senior into a three-and-out. Mason Canalos blocked the punt and returned it 25 yards to start the drive at the Mansfield 8. But, a penalty halted some momentum and Norwalk couldn't cash in, thwarting an early chance to build some momentum."We knew we couldn't give up the big plays," Fox said. "We thought we could keep it closer. We got out of our game and started throwing the ball a little bit. Our game is to run the ball."Jarren McLendon ran 26 times for 75 yards for Norwalk while Flores completed 13-of-22 passes for 127 yards. He was just 4-of-10 for 29 yards in the second half."Mansfield has a great group," Fox said. "Coach (Choike) Bradley is a great coach. I'm a little disappointed in his assistant that came and attacked us from across the field there at the end. It's nothing on Coach Bradley. He does a great job with those guys." M. Senior 7 13 14 7 — 41Norwalk 6 6 7 0 — 19ScoringN — Ben Rothhaar 27 pass from Payne Flores (kick failed)MS — Ricky Mills 44 run (Sean Putt kick)N — Parker Evans 24 pass from Flores (run failed)MS — Amarr Davis 24 pass from Duke Reese (kick failed)MS — Mills 8 run (Putt kick), 1:45MS — Davis 52 pass from Reese (Putt kick)N — Rothhaar 91 kick return (Tommy Vanderpool kick)MS — Mills 6 run (Putt kick), 5:08MS — Mills 9 run (Putt kick)