The Ironmen head to Champaign Central looking to extend the program’s 17-game winning streak against the Maroons when they open up Big 12 Conference play on the road tonight.

Community heads into the matchup 1-0 after a decisive win over Sacred-Heart Griffin, while Champaign (0-1) enters the contest coming off of a 47-7 loss to the Normal West Wildcats.

Despite last week’s 54-14 win, Community head coach Mr. Jason Drengwitz thinks the team has room for improvement.

The Iron, Drengwitz said, have some things to “shore up” on special teams after a blocked punt and two bobbled snaps on extra point attempts in last week’s game.

Snaps on PATs and punt protection have been points of emphasis this week at practice.

“We can’t afford to have punts get blocked,” the coach said.

Kickoff return, the coach said, has been another place for improvement.

“We’ve got to do a better job of executing our blocks on the front line,” Drengwitz said.

“You have to be improving week to week, day by day,” the coach, “if you want to achieve the goals… this team has.”

That goal–win the Big 12 Conference Title.

“If we want to win the Big 12,” Drengwitz said, “we have got to take care of this week. That’s the only thing that matters: preparing for Champaign Central and beating them.”

The Ironmen’s game plan?

“Get the ball in our playmakers’ hands,” Drengwitz said. “We’ve got some guys with speed that can take the top of things.”

To take advantage of that speed, QB Kyle Beaty will need the offensive line to give him time in the pocket to pass downfield.

The Maroon defensive front can play physically, Drengwitz said, and “can bring pressure in different ways.”

The Ironmen defense will focus on containing the Maroon’s quarterback, “a good athletic player,” Drengwitz said, “who likes to… scramble and run around.”

The Ironmen kick off at 7 p.m. at Centennial High School.