Normal Community to face Peoria with conference title on the line

NORMAL – With seven wins and an IHSA playoff berth secured it may seem as if the Normal Community High School football team doesn’t have anything left to prove. Head Coach Jason Drengwitz and the Ironmen, however, still look towards tonight’s contest at Peoria as a statement game. A win would give Normal Community an outright Big 12 Conference championship, but a loss would result in a three-way tie with Peoria and Normal West. Drengwitz knows his team needs to stay focused on the conference game and not look ahead to playoffs.

“Our number one goal is still in place,” said Drengwitz. “And that is to win an outright championship, we clinched a share but like most teams we don’t like sharing titles so that’s keeping our whole program focused.

Beating Peoria will certainly be a challenge for Normal Community as, the Lions offense has been averaging 56 points per game. Defense, however, has been a strength for the Ironmen who have been limiting opponents to an average of 15 points per game.

“They’re extremely explosive, extremely talented, they’re good up front, and they really don’t have a whole lot of weaknesses,” said Drengwitz. “The first thing we need to do is find a way to control the line of scrimmage and try as best we can to make them one dimensional.”

The Ironmen will travel to Peoria High School with the conference title on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00.