Normal Community advances in IHSA football playoffs after offensive shootout against Prospect

Posted on November 8, 2024
Normal Community advances to the quarterfinals in Class 7A bracket. They’ll play the winner of Mt. Carmel and Saint Charles North. The IHSA playoff brackets can be found here. (Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – It was a touchdown frenzy Friday night at Dick Tharp Field and Normal Community (10-1) was able to advance in the IHSA playoffs with a 52-49 win over the Prospect Knights (8-3).

The Ironmen took an early 13-0 lead after the first quarter. But three unanswered touchdowns from the Knights gave Prospect a 21-13 lead at halftime.

Normal Community came out early in the third quarter and scored two quick touchdowns from senior running back Calen Taylor to retake the lead. Then it was back and forth as the teams combined for six touchdowns in the third quarter.

NCHS led early in the fourth quarter 45-35 thanks to a 27-yard field goal from William Castro. But Prospect quarterback Jack Skoog threw two touchdowns in the final period as the Knights retook the lead 49-45 with 3:45 to play.

The Ironmen bounced back and got another rushing touchdown from Taylor as they once again took the lead 52-49 with 1:35 to go. NCHS sealed the game with an interception of Skoog.

For the Ironmen, Taylor rushed for five scores from 16, 14, 76, 1, and 9 yards. Senior quarterback Kyle Beaty had two passing touchdowns, one of those from 38-yards out to senior wide receiver Mar’Quan Gary. Senior wideout Reed Hoover also caught a 13-yard touchdown.

Prospect was led by their senior quarterback as Skoog threw for six touchdowns.

Normal Community head coach Jason Drengwitz spoke after the game with WJBC’s Eric Lapan.

Lanz Underground Solutions Player of the Game Calen Taylor rushed for five touchdowns in the win over the Knights

Normal Community advances to the quarterfinals in Class 7A bracket. They’ll play the winner of Mt. Carmel and Saint Charles North.

The IHSA playoff brackets can be found here.

Saturday, Nov. 9 Second Round Playoff Games

Class 6A

#8 Normal West at #1 East St. Louis 2pm

#6 Bloomington at #3 Kankakee 2pm

Class 4A

#2 Richland County at #10 U-High 4pm at Hancock Stadium

Class 3A

#7 Eureka at #2 Wilmington 5pm

#3 Du-Pec Coop at #11 PBL 2pm

Class 2A

#6 Chicago Christian at #3 Tri-Valley 2pm

Class 1A

#1 LeRoy at Rockford Lutheran 1pm

#6 Newman Central Catholic at #3 GCMS 2pm

The WJBC High School Football Extravaganza is sponsored by CEFCU, Heller Ford, O’Brien Hyundai of Normal, ReMax Rising Realtor Tracy Patkunas, Heller Motors, Lanz Underground Solutions and Community Motors, Land of Lincoln Credit Union, Bloomington Public Library, Ginzkey & Molchin, LLC Injury Attorneys, Floor Coverings International, Direct Travel, Country Financial Representative Katherine Petersen, McLean County Unit 5, Fasteners ETC, and Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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