It was an all-Warren County matchup that turned into an instant classic. The Norwalk football team defeated Indianola 23-20 in overtime heard live on 94.3 KNIA. The Warriors led for nearly the entire regulated 48 minutes, until the last eleven seconds when Sophomore Nolan Freeman found Senior Luke Gordon in double coverage to eventually force the game into overtime for Indianola.
To begin the game, Norwalk had the ball and found themselves quickly in a 3rd and 18 situation. On that third and a mile, Junior Brendan Gear threw a check down pass to Senior Victor Esparza who dashed 66 yards inside Indianola territory. The drive would then be capped off on the same connection as Esparza caught a four-yard touchdown pass to put the Warriors in front.
The Indians swiftly moved down the field on their first drive of the game, but halted in settling for three. Ruiz drilled the field goal attempt after being froze by the Norwalk coaching staff. After the exchanging of scores, the teams traded punts and the game went into the half with Norwalk still ahead 7-3.
Indianola began with the ball in the second half and things got wobbly for the Indians as Junior Quarterback Hoyt Becker threw his first interception in Norwalk territory with the Warriors taking over at the Indianola 25. Esparza and the Norwalk offense made the Indians pay with a two-yard touchdown run from the senior back for his second score of the day.
The next drive a repeat happened for the Indianola offense as a second interception was thrown and caught by Norwalk’s Graham Wilkening to put the Warriors at the Indianola 28. Norwalk increased their lead to 17-3 with Greer Langel’s 44-yard field goal to begin the fourth quarter. On the very first play of the following drive, a third interception was thrown by Becker and the Indians made a quarterback change.
Norwalk unable to capitalize off a third turnover gave Nolan Freeman and the Indian offense a sense of life. Freeman marched down the field for the first touchdown of the night for Indianola with 17-yard run to make the game 17-10. Norwalk methodically ran down the clock to roughly 90 seconds to set up Langel for another field goal and essentially ice the game for the Warriors. Langel missed left, giving the Indians a pulse.
Indianola had to go 80 yards in a hair under a minute and a half and did with the sophomore’s leadership. The drive ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Luke Gordon that tied the game up after the PAT at 17-17. After the kickoff, Norwalk took a knee and the game went to overtime.
In overtime, Indianola received the ball first and were held short of the end zone as Ruiz knocked in a go-ahead field goal to give the Indians a 20-17 lead, their first advantage of the day. Norwalk answered with a perfectly placed walk-off touchdown pass form Gear to Junior Reid Roof to win the game 23-20. The Warriors snapped their two-game losing streak to Warren County foe, Indianola with the victory.
Esparza led the Warriors with 56 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards, while Indianola was led by Daxton Heimbaugh with 83 yards rushing.
The 1-0 Norwalk Warriors head to Sioux City East next week, while Indianola will play at home for the first time in 2026 against Carlisle. Both games are scheduled for Friday, September 4th at 7 p.m.
