The Norwalk football team looks to punch their ticket into the Class 5A playoffs tonight when the Warriors host 2nd-ranked Waukee Northwest at 7:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3), starting with pregame coverage at 6:30.

Norwalk moved up two spots to number 13 in the latest 5A RPI rankings following last week’s 20-13 win at Urbandale, but there is work left to be done. The 5-3 Warriors would almost certainly clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight, but will need other outcomes to go their way if they are unable to defeat the 7-1 Wolves in the regular-season finale at Mineart Field.

Norwalk has won five consecutive games since starting the season 0-3, and kept its playoff hopes alive with last Friday’s hard-fought road victory. The Warriors led 13-0 late in the first half before Urbandale rallied back to tie the score with 11:20 remaining. Norwalk responded with a 61-yard scoring drive and regained the lead on an Eli Robbins’ rushing touchdown, then used a big defensive stand to help clinch the win.

Waukee Northwest was the only undefeated team in Class 5A until falling to cross-town rival Waukee 31-28 in Week 8. The Wolves’ balanced attack is led by junior quarterback Mack Heitland, who enters tonight’s contest with 2,000 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and no interceptions. Northwest has a pair of dangerous receivers in Jordon Green and Isaiah Oliver and has also rushed for more than 1,300 yards on the season. The Wolves’ defense has 17 takeaways, including 12 interceptions.

Norwalk is seeking a top-16 playoff spot in its first season as a Class 5A participant.