No break for the Truckers entering Lake play

NORWALK — The schedule only gets more difficult from here. Through six games, the Norwalk football team has seen its share of difficult opponents. Over the last two weeks alone, state-ranked Edison (6-0) and Vermilion (5-1) have just one loss between them. And that lone loss for the Sailors came in a 36-20 defeat at Sandusky on Sept. 20. The Blue Streaks also just cruised to a 41-13 win at Tiffin Columbian last week. Where do the Truckers (2-4) open SBC Lake Division play this Friday? With a trip to venerable Strobel Field to take on the hot Blue Streaks. Remaining in the Lake are opponents such as Perkins (6-0) — the No. 1 team in the Division IV state poll all season — along with the Tornadoes (2-4) and Clyde (4-2). "It's one of those things where it's not going to go away," Norwalk head coach Keith Mora said. "It's our league, and it's tough to play in. Over time, our kids will continue to get better and better against these types of opponents. "When you are in a year you are good enough to qualify for the playoffs, facing these teams only better prepares you to see the teams of those levels," he added. "You can't play the woe is me card and be upset you have to play the schedule you have to play. We're in the Lake, we'll have tough opponents every week." To that point, Mora referenced the Truckers' journey to this point since the second weekend in August. They scrimmaged stalwarts such as Cuyahoga Heights (3-2) and Shelby (6-0), then opened with a 26-7 win at Toledo Start (3-3). Norwalk had chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter in a 17-12 loss at Eastlake North (3-3); a 21-18 loss vs. Bellevue (2-4); and last week's 21-0 loss at Vermilion. The Truckers trailed by a 6-0 score in the fourth quarter before the Sailors pulled away. "Our kids are battle-tested and we've done a good job of competing against every team we've played, with Edison (35-0 loss) as the outlier," Mora said. "We have been right in every game and have competed, and that's what we expect our kids to do, even in Lake play." The Blue Streaks started the season 0-3 after losses to Oregon Clay (4-2), Fremont Ross (2-4) and Lorain (5-1). They only lost to the Little Giants by a touchdown and nearly tied it late, and fell by an 8-0 score to the Titans. But Sandusky has since turned it on. It rounded Parma Padua (4-2) by a 28-0 score, then cruised past Vermilion and Columbian. Mora said it's not difficult to pinpoint Sandusky's offense taking off. Quarterback Jason Henlon — a basketball standout — missed the first three weeks of the season with an injury. Since Henlon returned, he is an efficient 35-of-48 passing (70 percent) for 419 yards with 2 TDs and three interceptions. In last week's win over Columbian, Henlon was 14-of-18 for 217 yards. Amir Aaron has 23 catches for 460 yards and 3 TDs, while Aa'Zoryion Bonner has 12 catches for 131 yards and a TD. In the backfield, Maky'Veon Lately has 324 yards and 4 TDs on 63 attempts. In limited rushing, Helton has 85 yards and 2 TDs on 23 attempts. "Sandusky is extremely athletic and their slow start is probably more of a byproduct of an offseason of building and coming back together," Mora said. "Those kids are talented, and when they are able to find themselves in open space, they do a lot of things that make life difficult for a defense. "Aaron can out-jump and outrun a lot of people, and that's a dangerous combination," he added. "Henlon has a strong arm and can also move around In the pocket and extend plays. Defensively, we are definitely trying to figure out what's the best way to try and bottle this up a little bit." To that end, Mora said special teams will play a strong role on Friday. The Truckers have a solid kicker in Tommy Vanderpool, and they will rely on him quite a bit this week. "When you kick off to them, you're doing so to those same dangerous players," Mora said. "In their last two games, there were a lot of things created through special teams. You want to make Sandusky have to drive the ball 70 or 80 yards down the field." Mora said the goal is to not let Sandusky take over at its own 40 or even midfield where it routinely gets shorter fields. "That will be a long night if that's what happens," he said. "We have to be strong on special teams and do a good job of keeping the ball near the sidelines, and not the middle of the field. "Defensively, we have to make them put together long drives." On the opposite side, Mora knows his team has to put together a better offensive showing. The Truckers were without Rutgers University commit Ben Rothhaar to an injury in the loss to the Sailors. Norwalk has not scored since the 2:24 mark of the fourth quarter against Bellevue on Sept. 13. Dennarius Walk has 67 tackles for the Streaks, while Bonner has 45 tackles, two interceptions and has forced and recovered a fumble. Sandusky is allowing 10.1 points over the last four weeks. "It's a matter of how we are going to attack their even front," Mora said. "We've seen an odd front for the last few weeks, which poses a different kind of difficulty in the box. "Sandusky is going to be a hard-hitting defense and very athletic on that side as well. Our line will have do do a great job this week of picking up the rushers and try to give us time to allow us to move the ball." For Norwalk, QB Brayden Viock is 48-of-91 passing (53 percent) for 477 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT. He's also rushed 73 times for 159 yards and a TD. Rothhaar has 16 catches for 145 yards and a TD, and adds 106 yards and a TD on 12 rush attempts. Entering the Vermilion game, Nico Helton had 255 yards and 3 TDs on 69 attempts. Nick Toth adds 64 yards and a score on 15 attempts. "We have to do the best we can to play ball control and keep the ball out of their hands," Mora said. "We talk about stopping them from scoring quickly, but it doesn't benefit us to score quickly. "But with our struggles, we'll take the score however we get it. But it would be nice to take some time off the clock and try and shorten this game some."