Norwalk and Indianola renew their Warren County football rivalry tonight with a Week 1 matchup in Indianola. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. with live coverage on kniakrls.com (KNIA3). The pregame show starts at 6:30.

The Warriors and Indians both move up to Class 5A competition this year, and tonight’s outcome will have RPI and playoff-qualifying ramifications later this fall. The two teams have met every year since 2016 and have alternated wins the last seven times. Norwalk started poorly in last season’s Week 2 contest and lost 28-3. Head coach Paul Patterson tells KNIA Sports that the Warriors must walk in humble tonight and match Indianola’s physicality. He felt that the Warriors were overconfident last year following a season-opening win vs. Carlisle.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Patterson said. “Regardless of who ends up winning this game, it should be a tight game and it’s going to be physical. It’s a rivalry game so you never know what’s going to happen, but you do know you’re going to know that you played a game at the end of it and I think that’s a huge key for us is being able to come in and understand that we have to be physical. We’re going to have to match that with them.”

Both teams enter the season with experienced starting quarterbacks. Norwalk senior James Hatlevig passed for 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Indianola’s Asher Brueck threw for 1,300 yards and 11 scores and is also a threat to run.

Coach Patterson says that run defense will be important for the Warriors, as well as hitting the home run ball to Eli Robbins and Luke Brewer when it’s available. Patterson calls Robbins and Brewer dynamic difference makers who will be counted on for yards, points and big plays all season.

Patterson adds that penalties, turnovers, mistakes, big plays, field position and the kicking game are all key areas that are magnified in Week 1.