By Greg Halbleib
Normal Community took over in the second half on the way to a convincing win over rival Bloomington on Friday night at Bloomington’s Fred Carlton Field.
Normal Community 49, Bloomington 28
The Ironmen (5-1, 5-0) are the only unbeaten team in the Big Twelve Conference with the victory over the Purple Raiders (4-2, 3-2), a half-game ahead of Normal West.
Despite an opening 87-yard kickoff return by Bloomington’s Drew Crooks, Normal Community responded with three straight scores, two on rushes by senior quarterback Daylen Boddie of 54 and 5 yards followed by a 5-yard run by Jake Hileman. Raider quarterback Griffin Moore found Diontay Griffin on a 7-yard pass play combined with a two-point conversion to close to 21-15 at halftime.
But Boddie and the Ironmen took over in the second half as Boddie ran for two more scored and passed for two others to outscore the Purple Raiders 28-13 in the second half.
Boddie finished with 224 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while throwing for 163 yards and two more scores with touchdown catches by Conner Lay and Dishon Hall. For Bloomington, Moore picked up 214 yards through the air with three touchdowns. In addition to Griffin, Ivan Smith and Mauliek Johnson had touchdown grabs.
Springfield Southeast 18, U-High 13
The Pioneers had a final drive on their Homecoming night with 2:30 left in the game but turned the ball over on an interception. U-High (1-5) was led by quarterback Dawson Brooks with 172 yards passing on 13-of-30 with four interceptions, as Southeast quarterback Stuart Ross racked up 319 yards through the air with 22-of-40 passing and one interception. Wide receiver Deon Fairlee caught 11 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown to lead Southeast (2-4).
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 42, Tri-Valley 0
GCMS (6-0) clinched a playoff spot with its fourth shutout win of the season. Jared Trantina carried nine times for 118 yards and three touchdowns for GCMS. Tri-Valley (3-3) turned the ball over on its first three possessions.
Week 6 scores:
BIG TWELVE:
Normal Community 49, Bloomington 28
Normal West 41, Hampshire 20
Champaign Centennial 33, Urbana 6
Peoria Notre Dame 42, Peoria Manual 0
Peoria 58, Peoria Richwoods 14
ILLINI PRAIRIE:
St. Thomas More 37, Central Catholic 7
Pontiac 49, Olympia 7
Monticello 41, Tolono Unity 0
Prairie Central 34, St. Joseph-Ogden 14
IVC 35, Rantoul 34
CENTRAL STATE EIGHT:
Springfield 49, Sacred Heart-Griffin 41
Chatham Glenwood 39, Decatur MacArthur 32
Rochester 70, Decatur Eisenhower 20
Jacksonville 29, Springfield Lanphier 20
HEART OF ILLINOIS LARGE:
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 42, Tri-Valley 0
Fieldcrest 42, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 7
Eureka 35, El Paso-Gridley 12
HEART OF ILLINOIS SMALL:
LeRoy 48, Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland 0
Tremont 33, Ridgeview-Lexington 16
Fisher 40, Heyworth 16
APOLLO:
Lincoln 26, Charleston 25
CENTRAL ILLINOIS:
Decatur St. Teresa 50, Clinton 0
SANGAMON VALLEY:
Dwight 21, Momence 20
SATURDAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL BROADCASTS:
1:00–Illinois State at Missouri State (AM 1230 WJBC, 93.7 Nash Icon, WJBC.com)
12:45–Illinois Wesleyan at Carroll (WJBC.com–click here to listen)
