Friday night’s high school football matchup between the Normal Community Ironmen (4-1, 4-0) and Bloomington Raiders (5-0, 5-0) is more than just a crosstown rivalry—it’s a battle for the top spot in the Big 12 Conference.

Both teams are undefeated in conference play, and the winner will control its destiny in a tight race for the Big 12 title.

For Bloomington, this season is historic. Their 5-0 record marks the first time since 2004 that the Raiders have boasted such a strong start. That year, the Raiders finished as runners-up in the IHSA 6A State championship.

Led by first-year head coach Niall Mulcahy, an experienced Bloomington roster has built off of 2023’s 5-5 season, a campaign that saw the Raiders make the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

The Raiders, Ironmen head coach Mr. Jason Drengwitz said, “believe in what they’re doing. They’re very confident. They’re playing at a high level, which makes them a very formidable opponent.”

Under Mulcahy, a long-time Raiders’ assistant, Bloomington has won all but one contest this season by a margin of four or more touchdowns, including last week’s 84-0 rout of Urbana, a modern-day program scoring record for the Raiders.

“Their identity is running the football and being physical,” Drengwitz said. It’s essential “we control that” and “make them one-dimensional.”

Of the Raiders’ 32 touchdowns this season, 24 have been via the rush.

“We’ve got to be able to control the run game and put them in some third-and-longs where we can use our pass rush,” the Iron head coach said.

The Raiders’ offense is spearheaded by senior running back Rob Lanier, who has racked up over 750 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns midway through the year.

Complementing the ground game is three-year starting quarterback A.J. Codron, who’s thrown for 661 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

Codron’s experience is vital to Bloomington’s offensive success, Drengwitz said. The senior “does an outstanding job” under center and reading defenses.

“They stress you with their formations and run-pass options,” Drengwitz said, “so we have to be locked in and dialed into what they’re doing.”

The value of a three-year starter at quarterback is immeasurable, Drengwitz said.

“The trust you give your quarterback to run things,” Drengwitz said, to “operate your offense, is invaluable.”

And it’s a rarity.

Until this season, in Drengwitz’s more than two decades at Community, the Ironmen have “never had a three-year starter at quarterback. It’s something special.”

Enter Kyle Beaty.

Leading the Iron’s balanced offense, Beaty has passed for 677 yards and 13 touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers for scores.

Senior running back Calen Taylor has contributed 11 total touchdowns this season.

To add to that tally, Taylor will have to get past a Raiders’ defense that features standouts like senior Justin Robinson.

The 6-foot-1, 226-pound do-it-all tackle has accumulated six sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception this season..

As a team, the Raiders have 16 sacks on the year.

To counter the pressure-heavy defense, Community must “continue to be explosive and get our playmakers the ball in space and try to establish that early,” Drengwitz said.

The Ironmen defense has been stellar in Big 12 play, giving up a conference-best 18 points, while Bloomington leads the Big 12 in scoring with 214 points.

With significant Big 12 title implications, Friday’s clash at “The Fred” between two of the conference’s elite teams promises to be a pivotal moment in the season.