Normal West with a late touchdown to beat Bloomington

Posted on September 17, 2021
Another game down to the wire as Normal West defeats Bloomington 14-10. (Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – A 43-yard touchdown pass from Kolton Lindsey to Matthew Marsaglia with under 30 seconds gave Normal West the victory over Bloomington 14-10.

The Wildcats (3-1) led into the fourth quarter before the Purple Raiders (2-2) took the lead 10-7 with a minute to play on a touchdown run from Marcus Griffin. But it was the 43-yard bomb from Lindsey to Marsaglia that sealed the deal for West.

“We called vertical on that just to try to get some yards and get it out quick and he (Lindsey) scrambled around and Matt found a seam deep and able to hit him,” said Normal West head coach Nathan Fincham.

The Purple Raiders defense held strong the entire game, said head coach Scott Godfrey.

“That’s tough, our guys played their butts off, they played four quarters. I feel like they deserved to win the game, but West made the play at the end and the one that matter and the one that won, so hats off to them,” said Godfrey.

Around the Intercity:

It was a back and forth game in Monticello as the Sages (4-0) held on to beat Central Catholic (3-1) 32-27. The Pioneers of U-High (2-2) got a win 43-21 at Springfield Southeast (2-2). Normal Community (3-0) will play Saturday night on the road against Peoria Notre Dame (2-1).

Scores around the area:

Tri-Valley 35 Tremont 0

El Paso-Gridley 14 Dee-Mack 6

GCMS 14 LeRoy 7

Ridgeview 42 Fisher 0

Ottawa Marquette 47 Heyworth 22

Eureka 41 Fieldcrest 0

Prairie Central 48 Rantoul 14

PBL 48 Pontiac 8

Tolono Unity 42 Olympia 14

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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