Norwalk ready for Rogers, home opener

NORWALK — Home at last. Other than a practice scrimmage held in the morning on a Saturday (Aug. 10), the Norwalk football team hasn't played in a game setting at Contractors Stadium since Week 9 of the 2023 season. After splitting a pair of non-league away games at Toledo Start (0-2) and Eastlake North (1-1), the Truckers (1-1) will host Toledo Rogers (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Contractors Stadium. The home opener will also serve as Hall of Fame night, as the 1974 Class AA state championship football team will be recognized at halftime. Norwalk closed the 2023 regular season at Clyde. In each of the last three weeks, the Truckers traveled to Shelby (scrimmage), Toledo and Eastlake. "The kids are obviously excited, and being able to honor the 1974 team is an added excitement for our team and program," Norwalk head coach Keith Mora said. "But it definitely feels like it's been a long time since we played a game on our field, and we're really excited about that. We're also happy to have some normalcy to our schedule. I'm sure everyone is happy to not be making an hour-plus bus ride on a Friday for the next three weeks." Norwalk is coming off a 17-12 loss at North on Aug. 30. The Truckers trailed 10-0 at halftime and 17-6 in the fourth quarter. The Truckers pulled within 17-12 and had the ball inside the North red zone in the closing minutes, but didn't find the end zone in the loss. Mora said after the Norwalk defense allowed just one TD at Start in a 26-7 win on Aug. 23, it was just as impressive at North. The Rangers' first TD was set up near midfield after the Truckers turned the ball over. "This is the second week in a row we've been really pleased with our defense," Mora said. "Last week they were put in some tough spots at times. "When you talk about giving up one touchdown in a half in high school, I think most coaches will sign up for that," he added. "And our kids did it in both halves on that side of the ball. Super pleased with what we showed defensively. We are a much improved week, and week-by-week we seem to grasp what we're trying to do a little bit better." Mora said things got better in the second half for the Norwalk offense. But after going 1-19 in 2021 and 2022 — along with 3-7 last season — many of the current players had not been in games decided in the final minute. "We are more of a run-first offense, but the second half showed we're able to throw the ball around when we need to," Mora said. "We had a chance at the very end, which is all you can ask for. "Our kids weren't in that position a whole lot of times, and sometimes in order to feel good about competing in those moments, you have to be in those moments. We have to learn how to not make that moment too big. Hopefully we are able to lean on that experience somewhere down the road." Quarterback Brayden Viock is 20-of-39 passing for 260 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for the Truckers. Ben Rothhaar has five catches for 60 yards and a TD, while Jameson Poole adds four catches for 50 yards and 2 TDs. On the ground, Nico Helton has rushed for 221 yards and 3 TDs on 53 attempts. Defensively, Rothhaar leads the way with 18 tackles. Carter Harp has 13 with an inception, while Brady Case adds nine and Helton has eight. Last season, the Truckers posted a 42-26 over Rogers in Toledo. The Rams are under a new head coach, Rahsan Wilson, and are coming off a 16-8 loss to Holland Springfield that saw a blocked punt and a fumble return as two of the three TDs in the game. "They are a different team than they were last year with the coaching change," Mora said. "They are a little more run-focused with a nice running back. They are gritty, and play tough football. They played Springfield tough, and watching it back, the game almost gave you whiplash just trying to keep track of where the ball was." Mora said the Rams have attempted several onside kicks as well. "Which is something we'll have to spend a lot of time on this week as well," he said. "They are going to come in and give us their best shot, and we have to be ready for it."