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Truckers outscore Galion 30-0 in just over two quarters as the defense does not allow positive yardage to the Tigers on a sloppy field that saw heavy rain throughout the contest.

 

GALION- It was another losing football season at Norwalk High School, but the 2006 version can lay claim to something that hasn't been done in 23 years.

After beating Galion in the 2005 season finale 39-0 at Warren Whitney Field a year ago, the Truckers 30-0 win over the same Tigers Friday night marks the first time since the 1982 and 1983 seasons that the Truckers won their season finale in back-to-back years. In 1982 Norwalk claimed an 18-13 win over Upper Sandusky, and ended 1983 with a 33-22 win over Willard.

The entire state of Ohio played the final regular season game in rain and sloppy conditions, as a storm system with rain blanketed the entire state. There was an estimated 150 fans combined sitting in the stands for both teams, as the 35-40 Norwalk fans that braved the weather ended up seeing another victory.

It was a slow start for both teams as they had to adjust to the weather, and in all both teams put the ball on the ground nine times. The Truckers then got two quick scores to end the first half, and for all intents and purposes, put the game away by intermission.  Junior Trent Ringle opened the scoring by capping a 57-yard scoring drive with a nine-yard touchdown run with 2:30 left in the half. Kyle Kurtz added his first of two extra points for a 7-0 lead.

Andrew Enderle then got an interception moments later for Norwalk to give the Trucker offense the ball at the Galion 38. It didn't take long from there, as Kurtz found Clay Duncan on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 left in the half. Rather than kick the extra point in poor conditions at that end of the field, the Norwalk offense stayed on the field and Kurtz kept the ball on a keeper to give Norwalk a 15-0 lead at the break.

The third quarter put the rout officially on when Josh Cook capped a 62-yard drive with a one-yard run with 5:41 left in the third, but the extra point was blocked. The Norwalk defense then capped their big night with a safety on the final play of the third quarter by Jared Torrence. The Galion offense was held to -24 yards for the contest.

The Truckers wrapped up the season with Kurtz finding Duncan for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 5:12 left in the game, and the extra point was good to close out the 30-0 win.

Norwalk ends the season with a 3-7 overall record and 3-4 in the NOL for a 5th-place finish. Galion finishes 1-9 overall and has now lost 37 straight Northern Ohio League games.

Kurtz finished 6-of-13 for 117 yards and two touchdowns passing for Norwalk, with Duncan catching three passes for 37 yards and both scores. Spencer Krebs also caught two passes for 48 yards, and Ringle led the running attack with 15 attempts for 64 yards and a score.



                                                        NORWALK (3-7, 3-4)-  0 15  8   7  30
                                                        GALION (1-9, 0-7)-      0  0   0   0   0

                                                                         Second Quarter
                                  N- Ringle 9 run (Kurtz kick), 2:30
                                  N- Duncan 18 pass from Kurtz (Kurtz run), 1:03

                                            Third Quarter
                                  N- Cook 1 run (kick failed), 5:41
                                  N- Galion fumbles out of bounds in end zone, safety, 0:00

                                                                          Fourth Quarter
                                  N- Duncan 16 pass from Kurtz (Kurtz kick), 5:12