NORMAL
- Coach Hud Venerable could sense all week long his
Normal Community High School football team was ready to
play and prove worthy of its No. 1 ranking in the Class
6A state poll.
Bloomington found out why
Venerable felt that way Friday night.
The Ironmen
dominated on offense, defense and special teams in the
second game of the Intercity Doubleheader at Hancock
Stadium.
It all added up to an impressive 23-0
victory for NCHS over the arch-rival Purple Raiders in a
Big 12 Conference game.
"This was as good of
preparation for this game as I've seen a team of mine
play here in 13 years," said Venerable. "They came over,
had a great week of practice and were very focused. I
thought we played very smart tonight and that was the
key.
"I knew we were going to play hard, but we
played smart."
NCHS quarterback Omar Clayton
accounted for 149 yards of total offense in the first
half, throwing for one touchdown and running for another
to give the Ironmen a 14-0 lead.
The defense took
care of the rest, limiting BHS to 151 total yards in
posting its second straight shutout as the Ironmen
improved to 2-0 overall and in the Big 12. This is the
first time since 1999 that NCHS has beaten BHS two
straight years and the Ironmen's first shutout against
the Raiders in eight years.
"My biggest
disappointment tonight was the outcome of the battle of
the line of scrimmage," said BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer.
"I felt coming in we had an opportunity to get a push on
them and that we could work it. Their defensive front
really took it to us."
For good measure, NCHS
also flashed some dash on special teams. Kennedy
Freeman, a slippery 5-foot-6 junior, broke off punt
returns of 22, 48 and 30 yards in the second half and
left BHS grabbing for air with a variety of nifty
jukes.
"He's electric," said
Venerable.
BHS (1-1 overall, Big 12), ranked No.
9 in Class 6A, had one shining moment. David Cook got
free behind the NCHS secondary and hauled in an apparent
72-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Stephen Esch in
the first quarter.
However, Cook was called for
offensive pass interference. Instead of possibly being
ahead 7-0, BHS was pushed back to its own 14-yard
line.
"It was the proper call," said Schmelzer.
"David put his hands up to help separation. I thought he
already had them beat and he didn't need to (do
it)."
After a short punt, NCHS took over on the
Raiders' 33. Clayton connected with Alex Buck in the end
zone on a slant pattern for an 11-yard touchdown pass on
the first play of the second quarter. Max Bakana's
conversion kick gave NCHS a 7-0 lead.
Clayton
showed his speed and versatility the next time NCHS got
the ball. He drove the Ironmen 52 yards in 12 plays.
Clayton sneaked in the final yard with 2:53 left for a
14-0 halftime advantage.
"His ability to roll
spread and throw on the run is what hurt," said
Schmelzer. "It's going to sound funny based on the
outcome of the score, but I don't think our defense is
that far off. It's the offense which put us in that
situation."
The Ironmen got conservative in the
second half, with Venerable trying to establish the
running game and eat up the clock. Clayton threw only
two second-half passes.
Freeman's 48-yard punt
return late in the third quarter put NCHS at the
Raiders' 26. Austin Davis ran for nine yards and then
busted outside for a 17-yard scoring run and a 20-0
lead.
Bakana ended the scoring with a 25-yard
field goal with 2:05 left.
"In the first half our
offense controlled things. The time of possession had to
be huge in our favor," said Venerable. "That's what
makes this work. The offense keeps the defense off the
field and controls the clock, making plays and
blocking.
"We made huge strides from week one,
but we can play better and get better. We're still a
little bit of a work in progress."
Davis led NCHS
with 49 yards rushing on 10 carries. Linebacker Sam
Smith and nose tackle Kirkland Grant each had 11
tackles, while linebacker Cam McIntosh added eight
tackles.
Esch completed 12 of 21 attempts for 92
yards and led BHS with 28 rushing yards.
"For the
most part, I'm not displeased," said Schmelzer. "I think
when we watch game tape we're just a couple alignments
by defense or a couple plays away from preventing the
score from what it was. Offensively we really have to
work."
User comments on this story
»
Note: All views and opinions
expressed in user comments are solely those of the
individual submitting the comment, and not those of The
Pantagraph or its staff.
nchs baby wrote on
September 02, 2006 7:45
PM:"what happened
in the past doesnt matter what matters is whats going on
now and what will happen in the future and that is the
Ironmen will win the state championship like none of the
b-n teams have accomplished yet."
BHS Grad wrote on
September 02, 2006 6:07
PM:"Steve Barger
for President!"
DamageControl
wrote on September 02, 2006
5:01 PM:"There
was some damage to the field last night. It looked a bit
"unlevel" to me. Wonder if Rigo noticed it too?
"
State Title wrote
on September 02, 2006 4:50
PM:"Now we're
talking state title. Slow down. You'll have to beat
Bloomington again in two months. Relax. The last
braggart in town lost again today and has two 3-7
seasons in 04 and 05. Enjoy the success, but be cool.
The less said the better. Iron, cool your
jets."
Spirit wrote on
September 02, 2006 4:47
PM:"Spirit is one
thing - a good thing. The King Kong attitude and
arrogance is another. I agree with WYC. Players and
coaches have class. after that it quickly goes down the
stool. Spirit?? Ironmen/women parents are quick to brag
and talk. They also love to hide and live in denial when
things don't go their way. "
poor losers wrote
on September 02, 2006 4:33
PM:"considering
the ironmen havent had a winning streak since the 80's
and bloomington has had their chance at the torch since
then, i would say that we deserve this long lost streak
and we are eating it up. Ironmen fans/parents aren't
poor winners, nor poor losers, they are a team with
school spirit no matter what... maybe bloomington fans
should takes some notes? "
90's NCHS grad
wrote on September 02, 2006
4:00 PM:"So, I am
a product of the dark years of Iron football. (I was
there from 1990-1993) Intercity was an embarassment. For
many years, BHS was the only team in the Big 12 that had
a chance at anything, but guess what, we're here now,
and we are ready to play! Intercity is so much more fun
now than it was then. And not because Normal won last
night, but because it was a great hard fought, clean
football game, and even you BHS fans have to agree! Both
teams came out and played hard, and showed that they
have raw talent. That being said, it is a great time to
bleed orange! ROLL ON IRON!"
WYC wrote on September 02, 2006 3:23
PM:"Lots of chest
thumping by IRON fans - not the player or coaches. The
fans/parents are good at that. They are poor losers as
well as poor winners. Nobody wins worse than the IRON
fans. BHS never rubbed it in; neither do the Wildcats.
IRON most hated school in town; except by the
IRON."
to: BHS grad wrote
on September 02, 2006 1:54
PM:" Actually,
Bloomington won 56-6 in 1990, and 46-0 in 1991. The 1991
Bloomington team is arguably the best team in
Bloominton-Normal history, although last year's Normal
team wasn't too shabby. "
NCHS Rocks wrote
on September 02, 2006 12:45
PM:"Wow, what a
dominating victory by the Ironmen. Bloomington must be
pretty humiliated being SHUT OUT on such a huge stage.
Looks like the torch has been passed to Normal for the
best football team in the twin cities!!!!"
State Title wrote
on September 02, 2006 11:54
AM:"HMM.....It
seems like BHS is lacking a state title? Am I mistaken?
Lots of 2nd place finishes to the schools that recruit
up north?"
80's wrote on
September 02, 2006 11:49
AM:"NCHS
dominated BHS for most of the 80's. Looks like the BHS
dynasty is rapidly fading."
BHS grad wrote on
September 02, 2006 9:53
AM:"Complete
victory? In 1990, I believe the score was 56-0,BHS. From
1990-1993, BHS shutout NCHS in intercity. That's four
straight years that the Ironmen failed to score a point.
This year's NCHS team is dominant for sure, time will
tell if they can be a dynasty."
wishful thinking
wrote on September 02, 2006
9:37 AM:"NCHS..state title? Better
chance of a Bears superbowl. Although BHS has wiped the
gridiron with NCHS for so many years we can let them
savor the victory.."
NCHS Grad wrote on
September 02, 2006 9:02
AM:"This is the
most complete victory by either team over the other.
State Title Baby!!!!!!"
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Note: All views and opinions expressed in user comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of The Pantagraph or its staff.
nchs baby wrote on September 02, 2006 7:45 PM:"what happened in the past doesnt matter what matters is whats going on now and what will happen in the future and that is the Ironmen will win the state championship like none of the b-n teams have accomplished yet."
BHS Grad wrote on September 02, 2006 6:07 PM:"Steve Barger for President!"
DamageControl wrote on September 02, 2006 5:01 PM:"There was some damage to the field last night. It looked a bit "unlevel" to me. Wonder if Rigo noticed it too? "
State Title wrote on September 02, 2006 4:50 PM:"Now we're talking state title. Slow down. You'll have to beat Bloomington again in two months. Relax. The last braggart in town lost again today and has two 3-7 seasons in 04 and 05. Enjoy the success, but be cool. The less said the better. Iron, cool your jets."
Spirit wrote on September 02, 2006 4:47 PM:"Spirit is one thing - a good thing. The King Kong attitude and arrogance is another. I agree with WYC. Players and coaches have class. after that it quickly goes down the stool. Spirit?? Ironmen/women parents are quick to brag and talk. They also love to hide and live in denial when things don't go their way. "
poor losers wrote on September 02, 2006 4:33 PM:"considering the ironmen havent had a winning streak since the 80's and bloomington has had their chance at the torch since then, i would say that we deserve this long lost streak and we are eating it up. Ironmen fans/parents aren't poor winners, nor poor losers, they are a team with school spirit no matter what... maybe bloomington fans should takes some notes? "
90's NCHS grad wrote on September 02, 2006 4:00 PM:"So, I am a product of the dark years of Iron football. (I was there from 1990-1993) Intercity was an embarassment. For many years, BHS was the only team in the Big 12 that had a chance at anything, but guess what, we're here now, and we are ready to play! Intercity is so much more fun now than it was then. And not because Normal won last night, but because it was a great hard fought, clean football game, and even you BHS fans have to agree! Both teams came out and played hard, and showed that they have raw talent. That being said, it is a great time to bleed orange! ROLL ON IRON!"
WYC wrote on September 02, 2006 3:23 PM:"Lots of chest thumping by IRON fans - not the player or coaches. The fans/parents are good at that. They are poor losers as well as poor winners. Nobody wins worse than the IRON fans. BHS never rubbed it in; neither do the Wildcats. IRON most hated school in town; except by the IRON."
to: BHS grad wrote on September 02, 2006 1:54 PM:" Actually, Bloomington won 56-6 in 1990, and 46-0 in 1991. The 1991 Bloomington team is arguably the best team in Bloominton-Normal history, although last year's Normal team wasn't too shabby. "
NCHS Rocks wrote on September 02, 2006 12:45 PM:"Wow, what a dominating victory by the Ironmen. Bloomington must be pretty humiliated being SHUT OUT on such a huge stage. Looks like the torch has been passed to Normal for the best football team in the twin cities!!!!"
State Title wrote on September 02, 2006 11:54 AM:"HMM.....It seems like BHS is lacking a state title? Am I mistaken? Lots of 2nd place finishes to the schools that recruit up north?"
80's wrote on September 02, 2006 11:49 AM:"NCHS dominated BHS for most of the 80's. Looks like the BHS dynasty is rapidly fading."
BHS grad wrote on September 02, 2006 9:53 AM:"Complete victory? In 1990, I believe the score was 56-0,BHS. From 1990-1993, BHS shutout NCHS in intercity. That's four straight years that the Ironmen failed to score a point. This year's NCHS team is dominant for sure, time will tell if they can be a dynasty."
wishful thinking wrote on September 02, 2006 9:37 AM:"NCHS..state title? Better chance of a Bears superbowl. Although BHS has wiped the gridiron with NCHS for so many years we can let them savor the victory.."
NCHS Grad wrote on September 02, 2006 9:02 AM:"This is the most complete victory by either team over the other. State Title Baby!!!!!!"
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