Norwalk snaps 16-game losing streak

NORWALK — The scene told the story. Norwalk players were hoisting their helmets in the air, celebrating in front of the student section while the marching band played the fight song. The rite of passage after Friday night high school football had been missing at Norwalk games. In cruising to a 27-0 win over Toledo Start in Friday's season opener, the Truckers also snapped a 16-game losing streak with the win at Contractors Stadium. Norwalk had gone 1-19 over the past two seasons, and last tasted victory on Sept. 10, 2021 in a last-minute win at Edison. "I just thought over the offseason we became really close and refocused," senior offensive lineman Landon Ward said. "It's just a completely different team and atmosphere, and I'm just glad we got this win." The blueprint for the Truckers under first-year head coach Keith Mora is a simple one. And in Friday's win over the Spartans, they followed it perfectly. Norwalk returned two of the more dynamic players in the SBC Lake Division this season in senior running back Jarren McLendon and junior receiver Ben Rothhaar. Their performances against Start did little to dispel that belief. McLendon ran 25 times for 224 yards and three touchdowns. In the second half, he carried the ball 16 times for 145 yards and 2 TDs. Meanwhile, on a night the Truckers completed just three passes, it was Rothhaar's 25-yard TD catch on a third-and-14 that helped his team pull away. Norwalk only officially attempted three passes, though penalties eliminated a second TD pass, and sacks prevented other attempts. "That first week is difficult, because you're kind of guessing on some things with your opponent," Mora said. "We were really just trying to find what was working for us, and truly it was our curveball stuff. "It wasn't our usual A-game stuff," he added. "If you can play your other stuff and do well, it makes your first stuff look good when its working. It took us a little while to get going." Start opened the game with a 15-play drive that took 8:41 off the first quarter clock. It ended, however, with an incomplete pass at the Norwalk 25. The Truckers then responded with a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive that lasted 5:47, as McLendon carried six times — the last a 1-yard TD run at the 9:32 mark of the second. Tommy Vanderpool added the first of three extra points for a 7-0 lead. It was still 7-0 at halftime, as both teams continued to use up the clock, but were unable to score. The Truckers didn't attempt a pass in the first half, while the Spartans attempted eight. Norwalk began the second half with a solid drive, but it was appearing to stall when it was faced with third-and-14 at the Start 25. However, Viock simply rolled to his right and dumped a pass off to Rothhaar at the line of scrimmage. The Division I state track sprinter then used that speed to turn upfield and outrun three Start defenders for the 25-yard scoring play at the 5:52 mark of the third quarter. The run for two points failed for a 13-0 lead. "It's one of those things where we can do it, we prefer not to, but it's not like we can't," Mora said of the limited passes. "We lull you to sleep in the run game, and something that looks like a run becomes a pass. "That's why we had a few illegal man downfield penalties tonight. We're teaching our kids to get downhill blocking, and sometimes they go a little too far." After Start again turned it over on downs at the Norwalk 23, the Truckers moved 77 yards in 10 plays. McLendon finished it with a 9-yard scoring run for a 20-0 lead with 8:54 left in the game. After Elliot Gahring intercepted a pass at midfield, the Truckers added one more score. McLendon ran five times, the last a 19-yard scoring run with 5:52 left in the game. "Credit to them for that first drive of the game, but if they score on that, the first half could look very different" Mora said. "So it was a good job by our defense to get that stop and get us the ball." The Truckers host Eastlake North next week in another first-time non-league meeting. Ward and his teammates will be looking for more of the same. "It all starts up front, and we were able to get good blocks tonight," Ward said. "I feel like we can have a great year, and this brings our level of confidence through the roof. This is great for us." Tol. Start 0 0 0 0 — 0 Norwalk 0 7 6 14 — 27 Scoring NOR — Jarren McLendon 1 run (Tommy Vanderpool kick) NOR — Ben Rothhaar 25 pass from Brayden Viock (run failed) NOR — McLendon 9 run (Vanderpool kick) NOR — McLendon 19 run (Vanderpool kick)