After a special football season that started a very unique stretch of success at Normal Community High School, the Ironmen football team will look to defend its Big 12 title this season.

Coach Jason Drengwitz indicates his team used last year's run to the semfinals in the Class 7A high school football playoffs as fuel to get better this summer.

Coach Drengwitz will lean on third-year starter Kyle Beaty at the quarterback position this fall. He credits Beaty's ability to do so many things well.

The Ironmen will be turning to some new faces who played behind the core of last year's team. Coach Drengwitz hopes this year's guys learned a lot watching those players' approach.

Last year the Ironmen had a lot of experience on defense but this season they will have a lot of experience on offense. He likes his team's speed and calls his team smart and intelligent. 

Normal Community opens the season at Peoria Richwoods.