Friday night’s matchup against the Normal West Wildcats is a game Ironmen football fans have had circled on their calendars all offseason.

Whenever the crosstown rivals meet, Community head coach Mr. Jason Drengwitz said, it always feels like a playoff atmosphere.

“Both sides show out really, really well and support their team at a high level,” Drengwitz said.

Despite being an early season contest, the game may have significant post-season implications, as both teams enter the night 1-0 in the Big 12 Conference. Community is hoping to repeat as Big 12 champions after last season’s 8-0 finish, while West seeks to improve upon 2023’s 6-2 finish.

While the Ironmen opened the season with a statement win, knocking off Peoria Richwoods 55-12, the Wildcats had to claw their way to victory in week one.

After trailing Peoria Notre Dame 27-19 with 6:48 to play, West eked out a 33-27 victory over the Irish.

The win comes courtesy of the offensive efforts of the Wildcats sophomore sensation running back Cody Muhlbauer.

Behind a strong, physical offensive line, the tailback tallied all five of the ’Cats touchdowns, including a 50-yard scoring scamper on the second play of the game.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Muhlbauer finished the night with 350 yards, ripping off two more long scores of 74- and 80-yards.

“If you don’t tackle him,” Drengwitz said, “he can take the ball to the house from anywhere on the field.”

Muhlbauer is far from the Wildcats’ only weapon, as senior Cooper Temples is back in West’s lineup. Temples suffered a season-ending leg injury in week two last season and didn’t face the Ironmen.

Temples will be “a key” to what the Wildcats do offensively: he is a “tough,” “physical player,” Drengwitz said.

The Wildcat offense is a versatile one, Drengwitz said.

“They got a quarterback who can throw, receivers that can run and catch, and a running back that has a chance to be really, really special.”

Under center for West is junior Jrue Mangruem, a player who has experience against Community, seeing time in last season’s 43-0 loss to the Ironmen.

Mangruem, a “really good athlete,” can “throw the ball effectively,” Drengwitz said.

He’ll be looking for Maliq Givens.

The “speedy” junior receiver doesn’t just pose a vertical threat, Drengwitz said, but he is “great with the ball in his hands.”

If the Wildcats can “get loose, that’s a problem,” the coach said.

Community will lean on strong play upfront to combat West’s ground attack, relying on returning starters Jase Wilson and A.J Montoya to try to replicate last week’s performance, where they held Richwoods to negative rushing yardage.

Junior Damarion Gardner will be alongside Wilson and Montoya after making his debut under the lights last week.

The lineman’s performance, Drengwitz said, was “outstanding.”

On the other side of the ball, the Iron will look to their multi-dimensional offensive core to lead the way.

The Iron have a double-edged sword at the running back position with the tandem of Calen Taylor and Cole Kretsinger.

The backs combined for over 180 yards and four touchdowns in the season opener, something Drengwitz isn’t taking for granted.

“The ability to play two running backs,” Drengwitz said, “is a blessing.”

Community is also blessed at the wideout position, headlined by senior receivers Ivo Austin and Mar’Quan Gary.

The duo combined for two touchdown receptions, 100 yards and four receptions.

But nothing will come easy against the’ Cats defense, who “jump in and out of fronts” and “bring a lot of different types of pressure.”

That can present problems, Drengwitz said if the Iron’s offensive line isn’t locked into their assignments.

“Normal West,” Drengwitz said, “is very talented in all three phases. Coach Fincham and their staff do an excellent job of preparing for us. We’ve got to raise our level of play,” and “be the best version of ourselves going into week two.”