1st year head coach heads to the locker room alone before Normal Community took on cross-town rival West – both teams entered the match-up with 1-0 records.

The Normal West Wildcats gather in the far endzone as a team after completing their pregame preparations.

The Ironmen student section arrived an hour before the game to cheer on the senior members of varsity football, band, and the cheer team in honor of senior night.

In response to the Ironmen students “blackout”, the Wildcat students dressed in all white to support their team.

The officials replace their hats after the conclusion of the national anthem. In week one, the Ironmen began the game with a 15-yard penalty for a uniform violation. The rule had been clarified with the IHSA for week 2.

The varsity cheer squad stretches a banner for the team to enter through before the rivalry game begins.

Seniors Jermaih Glenn Louis Charles (7) and Isaac Hackward (17) lead the Iron onto the field.

After a turnover on their first offensive drive that lead to a Wildcat TD, Dishon Hall II (32) powers his way to 6 after making a catch. After the extra point, the Ironmen would not trail again in the game.

The Iron Studs cheer after on the Community players from the bleachers as their team tied the game.

Varsity cheer performs for the Community stands during an NCHS time-out.

After running a reverse on their kickoff return and a large gain on a scrambling pass play, West had worked their way down to the goal line. OLB Jordan Allen (4) came up with a 3rd down stop of the Wildcats ball carrier to force a field goal attempt.

The West kicker (9) and holder (10) watch as the 3 point attempt goes wide left – keeping the game tied at 7.

DB Michael Showers (26) makes an open field tackle for the Ironmen that drew cheers from the home stands.

Glenn Louis Charles (7) wraps up West’s QB in the backfield for a sack.

After two big defensive stops and an incomplete pass, West was forced to punt on 4th down.

Jordan Allen (4) is able to get a hand on the ball, blocking the punt.

Connor Lay would score as a result of the blocked punt to give the Ironmen a 13-7 lead after missing the extra point.

With 2 minutes to play in the 1st quarter, Jake Hileman runs down the sideline to set up another Iron TD,

Fans look on from the near end zone gate behind the newly completed Iron Warrior Memorial Walkway, in honor of NCHS graduate and former Ironmen football player Joshua Rodgers. Rodgers, a US Army Ranger, was killed in action serving his country in 2017.