The Norwalk football team was defeated by Southeast Polk, 35-20, on Friday night in a game heard live on the KNIA3 stream. 

Now 0-3 on the season, the Warriors showed improvement in several areas but did not have an answer for the Rams’ powerful rushing attack between the hashes. Senior Drew Thompson and junior Stanley Cooper both ran for two touchdowns and combined for nearly 400 rushing yards behind Southeast Polk’s massive offensive line. Cooper totaled 239 yards on 25 carries, including many yards after contact.

Norwalk held their own at times against the four-time defending state champions, cutting a 21-3 deficit to 21-13 at halftime and sustaining an 83-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Among the Warrior highlights was a school-record-breaking 52-yard field goal by sophomore Greer Langel late in the first half. Langel also kicked a 35-yard field goal that put Norwalk up 3-0 early in the game.

Warrior linebacker Victor Esparza recovered a fumble on Southeast Polk’s first play from scrimmage, setting up Langel’s first field goal, and Eli Robbins intercepted a pass in the third quarter. Jameson Giesemann’s blocked punt led to Norwalk’s first touchdown, a 5-yard pass from James Hatlevig to Breck Welch just before halftime.

Trailing 21-13 in the third, the Warriors were stopped one yard short of a first down on a fake punt. Southeast Polk took possession at the Norwalk 40 and Cooper scored on a 30-yard run moments later. The Rams picked off Hatlevig on the next drive and drove 60 yards to take their biggest lead at 35-13.

Unofficially, Hatlevig completed 18-of-40 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Robbins and Luke Brewer both had six receptions for a combined 140 yards, including Robbins’ 19-yard TD reception in the back corner of the end zone.

Norwalk travels to Ames next Friday to take on the 0-3 Little Cyclones at 7:00 p.m.