The Norwalk football team took care of business at Ottumwa on Friday night, defeating the Bulldogs 38-13 in a game heard live on the KNIA3 stream. Sparked by Eli Robbins’ 95-yard pick-six in the opening minutes, the Warriors built a 35-0 halftime lead and won their fourth consecutive game since an 0-3 start.

Robbins, who lost a fumble on the game’s second play from scrimmage, wasted no time atoning for his early mistake. On a Bulldog pass headed for the end zone, Robbins made a leaping grab in front of the intended receiver, found a lane down the left sideline and outran everyone in a red jersey for a 95-yard interception return. He now has three return TDs of 90-plus yards on the season, including a 98-yard kickoff return at Indianola and a 94-yard punt return vs. Des Moines East.

Norwalk’s big-play ability continued to shine throughout Friday’s first half. On Norwalk’s second series, tight end Luke Brewer delivered a perfect 54-yard strike to Robbins on a double pass, setting up James Hatlevig’s 10-yard TD run. Still in the first quarter, Robbins’ long punt return led to a four-yard touchdown run by Breck Welch. Hatlevig added second-quarter TD passes of 14 yards to Brady Wilkening and 39 yards to Robbins. A successful fake punt conversion by Wilkening set up Greer Langel’s 23-yard field goal in the third, making it 38-0.

Defensively, the Warriors stymied Ottumwa’s option attack for three quarters, leading to six straight punts after the pick six. The Bulldogs put together a pair of long scoring drives in the fourth, however, and Norwalk coach Paul Patterson was not pleased with his team’s level of focus and execution in the second half.

With the victory, the Warriors improve to 4-3 overall and remain in the Class 5A playoff hunt with two weeks left in the regular season. The Warriors travel to Urbandale next Friday to take on the 4-3 J-Hawks at 7:00 p.m.