Normal Community was one of two football teams in Central Illinois to reach the semifinal round of the playoffs last season, marking the Ironmen’s deepest playoff run since 2007.
They ran through an ultra-competitive Big 12 Conference, beating seven of their conference foes by 32 or more points and the other by 21 and pitched shutouts in six different games.
The Ironmen have a case that this year’s group could match that same sort of dominance with half of its starters returning, including seven on offense.