Norwalk eyes next step in Lake

NORWALK — Things are familiar now. Hired in March 2023, Keith Mora had to hit the ground running entering his first year as the Norwalk football head coach. Months into the season, he still caught himself asking where things were in the equipment room. But heading into the 2024 season this weekend, Mora has found his comfort level. "You know who the kids are, what they do well and what the limitations are," Mora said. "You also know more about your own process and where things are. "It's really been just a more comfortable situation, which is a result of knowing the kids better." With just six seniors on the roster, Mora will be getting to know much of this year's team well for the next several seasons. But among that small class is a wealth of experience, including a Big Ten recruit in tight end Ben Rothhaar, who committed to Rutgers University over the summer. Still, the challenges are obvious if the Truckers want to improve upon last season's 3-7 record, and snap a 15-game losing streak in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division. "We're young, which is nice to a degree, and also a challenge as well," Mora said. OFFENSE Perhaps the area Norwalk will need to grow the most is on the offensive line. Just junior right tackle Jose Velasco (5-foot-11, 275) is back with starting experience. Next to him at right guard is classmate AJ Weilnau (5-11, 195), who is shifting from fullback to the line this season. Junior Nate King (5-11, 225) will be the center, with junior Cooper Gee (5-11, 220) at left guard and sophomore Kaiden Moskus (5-11, 210) at left tackle. Junior Gavin Lepley (5-11, 170) will be at tight end. "Sometimes when I look at it, we return an awful lot next year," Mora said. "But what we're seeing today will look very different by Week 4. Hopefully by that seventh or eighth game, it will look even more veteran and show more improvement. "Some of these guys didn't even play the line last year, so they are learning a lot of new things, which is a big part of it." Last season, the Truckers turned to Brayden Viock (6-1, 180) as a freshman quarterback. He was 79-of-164 passing (48 percent) for 1,101 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. "Brayden has come a long way, and he's a really hard-working kid," Mora said. "He wants to be as good as his senior self can be right now. That can be a good thing and a challenge, because sometimes he expects things to be there — and they aren't there yet. There are limitations. "What we did last year as a freshman really helped mold him into more comfortable overall. Those nerves are different now. It's more about wanting to get something right than it is hoping to not mess something up." Junior Nico Helton (5-8,170) and sophomore Nick Toth (5-6, 165) will be the two main running backs. "It's a very different backfield from the last four years, but both give us a lot as strong runners with a lower center of gravity," Mora said. "They will put their shoulders down and go get three or four yards." Meanwhile, Rothhaar did a little bit of everything last season. That included reps at quarterback and running back. He caught 32 passes for 451 yards and finished with 39 touches for 627 yards with 4 TDs. Mora anticipates more of the same for his NCAA Division I recruit this season. "Ben is someone who gives us an absolute threat," he said. "Some teams may attempt to play him one-on-one who might have an athlete that can match up and do that. "But there might be some teams who have to put two out there, or one and then half of one based on alignment. Those things help other players in our offense excel and do well. Our best run game will be when Ben can catch footballs and get out in space." Other receivers will include senior Antwaine Porter (5-10, 165) and junior Kaedyn Warner (6-0, 180). Mora said junior Carter Harp (5-9, 170) will be like a utility knife who provides something different. Also, senior Sam Konik, who again was all over the field in 2023, is expected to do the same. He ran 17 times for 65 yards with a TD and caught 10 passes for 92 yards and another score in 2023. "Sam is more of a wingback because he is moving all around," Mora said. "That is a hard job for the position to be able to know all the different routes, blocking concepts and motion. But we have him there for a reason, and he's done a great job with it." DEFENSE Rothhaar (6-4, 210) is listed at linebacker as opposed to safety this season, though he could again be all over the field. He made 73.5 tackles with an interception last season to earn SBC Lake second team and Division III Northwest District honorable mention. "I know he's going Big Ten on offense, but he's a good safety who likes to come up and hit and be physical," Mora said. "It's nice when you have someone with that much range who is 6-4, but also closes on you fast." Up front, most of the new offensive lineman will be in the same positions on defense. Gee and King will be tackles, with Velasco also rotating in. Konik (19.5 tackles, one sack) will play defensive end. "What he does on offense is similar on defense," Mora said. "Sam came off the edges in our first scrimmage and did a nice job. We can move out of an even or odd front with him." Helton and Weilnau (18.5 tackles, 2 sacks) are inside linebackers, with Rothhaar on the outside. Junior Brady Case (5-10, 170) and Lepley are also working at linebacker. Toth is at safety, with Harp, Warner and newcomer junior Gabe Bellamy (5-9, 165) also working in the secondary. Last season, the Truckers were outscored by an average of 30-13 over the 10 games. "Our defense will need to be ahead of the offense," Mora said. "A really good defense also helps an offense. We can't take it lightly or favor one side, but we are asking a lot of our defense. "The kids are working hard, but the difficult thing is maintaining depth and keeping guys fresh." SPECIAL TEAMS Junior Tommy Vanderpool (5-11, 165) is back with a solid track record as well for the Truckers. He was 14-of-15 on extra points and made two field goals as the kicker, which earned him Northwest District honorable mention. On 32 punts, he also held a 32.8-yard average. "Tommy is someone who is going to be kicking somewhere at the next level one day," Mora said. "This is a hard-working kid who earned the role of team captain as a junior. He's booming his extra points and has been good from the 30-to-40 yard range on field goals." With Vanderpool kicking and players such as Rothhaar among others returning kicks and punts, the Truckers could find themselves with consistently good field position — while also pinning opponents deep — this season. "If we have a long offensive drive, half that group comes back for kickoff, and Tommy can put it in the end zone, which makes it easier on you," More said. "We can be a team that can put out offense in great spots, and Tommy can put the other teams in less favorable spots. That can be huge for us." --------------------- 2024 scheduleAug. 23: at Toledo Start, 7 p.m.Aug. 30: at Eastlake North, 7 p.m.Sept. 6: Toledo Rogers, 7 p.m.Sept. 13: Bellevue, 7 p.m.Sept. 20: Edison, 7 p.m.Sept. 27: at Vermilion, 7 p.m.Oct. 4: at Sandusky, 7 p.m.Oct. 11: Perkins, 7 p.m.Oct. 18: at Columbian, 7 p.m.Oct. 25: Clyde, 7 p.m. 2023 results (3-7)Norwalk 27, Toledo Start 0Eastlake North 35, Norwalk 0Norwalk 42, Toledo Rogers 26Bellevue 26, Norwalk 0Edison 28, Norwalk 0Norwalk 27, Vermilion 0Sandusky 48, Norwalk 12Perkins 52, Norwalk 3Columbian 44, Norwalk 7Clyde 45, Norwalk 14 2024 rosterNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.1 Nick Toth RB/DB 5-6 165 102 Nico Helton RB/LB 5-8 170 113 Jamison Poole WR/DB 5-11 175 124 Antwaine Porter WR/DB 5-10 165 125 Brady Singer WR/DB 5-9 160 106 Carter Harp WR/DB 5-9 170 117 Brayden Viock QB/LB 6-1 180 108 Brady Case RB/LB 5-10 170 119 Gabe Bellamy WR/DB 5-9 165 1110 Sam Konik RB/DL 6-2 200 1211 Kaedyn Warner WR/DB 6-0 180 1112 Cam Evans QB/LB 6-1 175 914 LJ O'Dell WR/DB 5-9 160 915 Tristan Biddinger WR/DB 6-0 150 916 Westin Sage TE/LB 5-11 170 1118 Dylan Eggleston WR/DB 5-11 155 1119 Colby Ferguson TE/LB 5-10 175 1120 Gavin Lepley TE/LB 5-11 170 1121 Joey Goebel WR/DB 5-10 160 922 Cade Evans TE/DL 6-1 175 923 Isiah Kelsey WR/DB 5-9 155 924 Ayden Hudson-Brown RB/DB 6-0 170 925 Adam Goebel RB/DL 5-10 165 1028 Caiden Wilson RB/LB 5-10 175 1029 Clay Heyman WR/DB 5-8 150 935 Hunter Schneider TE/LB 5-10 190 1139 Declan Hanna WR/DB 5-9 155 1044 Josue Ogaldez-Cruz WR/LB 5-9 155 947 Zao Roderick TE/LB 5-10 160 1051 AJ Weiland OL/LB 5-11 195 1152 Ray Arrington OL/DL 5-11 245 1264 Liam Vandersluis OL/DL 6-4 275 965 Ethan Broadbent OL/DL 6-2 210 1267 Kaiden Moskus OL/LB 5-11 210 1068 Luis Ramirez OL/DL 5-9 190 970 Mathew Dotson OL/DL 5-10 270 1171 Jose Velasco OL/DL 5-11 275 1173 Jared Ramirez OL/DL 5-10 205 975 Elijah Cringe OL/DL 5-11 190 1076 Troy Blystone OL/DL 5-6 190 978 Nathan King OL/DL 5-11 225 1179 Cooper Gee OL/DL 5-11 220 1180 Tommy Vanderpool K/P 5-11 165 1181 Harley Johnson WR/DB 5-10 170 1182 Ben Rothhaar WR/LB 6-4 210 1287 William Biller WR/DB 5-10 165 9