NORMAL — A turnover is typically only a good thing when its a pastry.
Normal Community had a pair of interception return for touchdowns as the Ironmen scored 49 unanswered points on their way to a 71-12 victory over the Danville Vikings in a Big 12 Conference football game at Tharp Field in Normal.
“Every time we turn the ball over, it’s a bad situation,’’ Danville coach Marcus Forrest said. “Against teams like Normal Community, Crete and Peoria High, if you turn the ball over, you don’t take care of it and make mistakes — they are going capitalize on it.’’
The Vikings (2-5 overall, 2-4 in the Big 12) answered the first scoring drive for the Ironmen (6-1, 6-0) with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Diddy Robinson from Darius Jay. Danville had pulled within 7-6.
Normal Community, rated No. 7 in Class 7A, scored the game’s next 49 points, including a pair of pick-six plays, to take total control of the contest.
“It can go from a 1-point game (7-6) to a 50-point game (56-6) in a blink of an eye,’’ Forrest said. “It wasn’t anything abnormal or shocking that they did. They just brought pressure and it just started snowballing.
“By the time, you get it under control, the score is already out of control. Those are the things that happen when you play established playoff teams like Normal, Crete and Peoria High. Those teams are well-coached and confident is what they are doing.’’
The Vikings found the end zone again late in the second quarter on another touchdown pass from Jay to Robinson.
“Diddy and Jerry Reed were able to make some plays, but we needed more than that,’’ Forrest said.
Danville played without stating linebackers Amillian Beasley and Dylan Lee.
“We had one linebacker that got into trouble at school and the other one didn’t make the bus,’’ Forrest said. “So when you go into a game without two of your three linebackers, you are going to have an issue getting lined up and filling holes. Combine that with losing a defensive back, and now, you are starting kids that should be playing in the junior-varsity game.’’
And the linebacking position was an area of concern starting the season as all three starters were new this year.
“We knew that we lacked experience in some areas, so some of the problem is depth, but it’s also having that ‘want to’,” Forrest said. “We are trying to build that right now. We are looking for kids that have the ‘want to’ to step in and make a stop defensively or make a play on the offensive side.
“We had some kids get some experience on Friday night, but that’s the wrong team you want to learn and try to get experience from.’’
The loss eliminates Danville from playoff consideration.