By Greg Halbleib
NORMAL – The annual Chili Bowl rivalry game between Normal Community and Normal West carries more reward than the ceremonial post-game cup of tasty meat and beans.
Friday’s winner will remain at least tied for the Big Twelve Conference lead as both the Wildcats and Ironmen enter the contest with perfect 3-0 records, tied with Danville at the top of the standings.
Ironmen coach Wes Temples shakes off the game’s hype, saying the game plan is simple.
“It’s nothing different,” Temples said. “You come out and take care of the ball, you clean up maybe some penalties that you haven’t been used to having. You just go out and play your game, see how they’re going to defend you and try to make some adjustments after that.”
West coach Darren Hess admits the offenses in the game have received much of the attention (West has scored 159 points compared to NCHS with 145), but cautions against overlooking the defenses.
“In the past, we’ve been able to outscore a lot of our opponents,” Hess said. “I think us being able to stop teams at a better rate, we’re going to have to utilize that.”
This year’s Chili Bowl is at West and is the main game of the Week 4 WJBC Friday Night High School Football Extravaganza, which also includes reports from Olympia at Central Catholic, Rochester at U-High, Kankakee at Bloomington, Fieldcrest at Eureka and Tri-Valley at Ridgeview-Lexington in Colfax.
Pre-game scene-setters begin at 6:10, updates from all games air every quarter hour and post-game recaps and interviews continue until 11:00 on WJBC-AM 1230 and WJBC.com. Follow @SportsWJBC on Twitter and feel free to contribute scores and photos (#WJBCHSFB).
WJBC 1230 AM:
12:25 p.m. Baseball – St. Louis at Chicago Cubs
6:00 p.m. Football (Extravaganza) – Normal Community at Normal West Listen live here
WJEZ.com
6:55 p.m. Football – Prairie Central at Pontiac Listen live here
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
