The 4-1 Ironmen will look to hand Bloomington its first loss of the season Friday in a showdown with Big 12 Conference title implications. The two rivals are the last unbeaten teams in conference play.

Community’s only loss came in Week 4, a non-conference setback against Class 6A No. 4 Kankakee. The Ironmen responded the following week with a 56-8 rout of Peoria Manual.

Bloomington enters the contest 5-0, including intercity wins over Normal West and University High. The Purple Raiders edged U-High 19-14 and overcame a 15-point second-half deficit against West to win 31-27.

Under second-year head coach Nial Mulcahy, Bloomington is off to its second straight 5-0 start. Last season, Mulcahy lead the Raiders to their first playoff win since 2013 and their 5-0 start was their first since 2004.

Ironmen defensive outlook

The Purple Raiders’ offense averages more than 200 rushing yards per game, led by quarterback Keyontae Hamilton and running back Ky’veon Chestnut.

Hamilton, a converted wide receiver, has thrown for 657 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for a team-high four scores.

Micah Drengwitz, a senior defensive back, stressed the importance of containing the versatile quarterback.

Hamilton “can throw the ball and is a really good runner,” Drengwitz said. 

Chestnut leads Bloomington with 527 rushing yards, averaging nearly eight yards per carry.

Chesnut’s success has come courtesy of a talented offensive line, senior linebacker Murphy Brennan said.

“They’re really strong up front,” Brennan said, with David Williams, a 6-foot-4, 318-pound all-conference standout anchoring the line.

With many Raiders linemen playing both sides of the ball, Brennan said Community’s depth could make a difference.

“We can wear them down,” Brennan said. “We should be fresh and good to go every drive.”

The Ironmen defense is allowing just 14 points per game through five contests.

“Our run defense is not like others they’ve seen,” Brennan said. “We need to stay assignment sound and make them play our game.”

Ironmen offensive outlook

Bloomington’s defense has forced 15 turnovers this season—averaging three takeaways per game—and limited Normal West to 27 points, despite West scoring 40 or more in three of its other four games.

Community quarterback Lucas Beaty has committed just one turnover through five games, a game sealing pick six from Kankakee defensive back Cedric Terrell III. 

Against Bloomington, Beaty’s concern will the size on the defensive line and an experienced linebacking corps.

“They’re big and pretty strong up front,” Beaty said. They’ve got linebackers, the junior said, “who can spy the quarterback, so that’s something I look for.”

Still, Beaty said he feels prepared.

“I’m not going to feel nervous at all,” Beaty said. “I’m just going to be excited to go out there and play football with my team.”

Beaty will be without receiver Michael Mavec, who is sidelined with an injury sustained last week.

But he will have his top target Luke Potts, a longtime teammate.

The junior, Beaty said, is one of his “go-tos,” Beaty said. “We’ve been playing together since JFL and freshman football.”

Potts and Beaty have connected for 24 catches, 341 yards and 6 touchdowns this season.

Senior Holden Baldwin, who caught two passes and his first touchdown last week, could see an increased role in Mavec’s absence.

Senior defensive back Jalen Smith, who has turned three interceptions for touchdowns, will see increased scoring opportunities on offense.

Smith found the endzone for the first time offensively last week with a 6-yard run.

Running back Cole Kretsinger remains the Ironmen’s workhorse, coming off a performance of 122 yards and 4 touchdowns.

What’s at stake

Community is facing its largest challenge since the Week 4 contest against the Kays, which saw the Iron surrender 28 fourth quarter-points

“It’s still our bounce back from that,” Brennan said.

That redemption comes with increased stakes. 

“I love it when Bloomington is good,” Drengwitz said. “Beating a team that is 5-0 will be huge for our momentum.”

The winner will seize control of the Big 12 and the inside track to an outright conference championship.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Dick Tharp Field.