BODDIE, DIXON FUEL FIRST-HALF BLITZ FOR NCHS IN WIN OVER BHS

NORMAL — Limiting either quarterback Daylen Boddie or tailback Varshaun Dixon will likely prove a perplexing proposition for Normal Community High School opponents this season. Defending both was a near impossibility for Bloomington on Friday at NCHS. Boddie and Dixon had a hand in five first-half touchdowns and six overall as the Ironmen started fast and rolled to a 54-30 Big 12 Conference victory. The No. 6-ranked team in Class 7A, NCHS advanced to 2-0 overall and in the Big 12. "It was a really good first half on both sides of the ball," Ironmen coach Wes Temples said. "The kids were locked in early, and we got kids out with a lot of time left." Boddie stormed over the right side of his line on NCHS' second play from scrimmage and sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown. "Every team keys on Varshaun because he's such a good player," said Boddie. "I just make the right reads and get touchdowns for my team." On the third snap of the Ironmen's next possession, Boddie was crunched by two BHS blitzers but not before he dropped off a screen pass to Dixon, who took it 45 yards into the end zone. "He's a really good athlete, our point guard. And man, he makes plays," Temples said of Boddie. "We blocked well up front and played at a physical level." BHS' Drew Crooks returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to bring the Purple Raiders (1-1, 1-1) within 13-6. After BHS' Jamil Sturdivant recovered an NCHS fumble, the Ironmen snatched the ball right back two plays later on a Landry Mavungu interception. Boddie converted again on a 43-yard keeper, cutting right to roll down the sideline for a score and a 20-6 margin. "It was the O (offensive) line, really. They had it," said Boddie, who rushed for 135 yards and passed for 91. "I had enough time to throw the ball and get to open spots on the field." A Jeremiah Glenn interception set up the next Ironmen touchdown, a 2-yard shovel pass from a scrambling Boddie to Dixon. Dixon charged untouched up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown, and NCHS extended its advantage to 40-6 on a 94-yard interception return by CJ Christian with 3:37 left in the first half. "We got emotional a little bit and that carried us to places we didn't want to be," Raiders coach Joe Walters said. "We feel like we're really talented. If we get our offense clicking, we're pretty good." BHS scored on the first half's final play when Colton Sandage passed 17 yards to Griffen Kolic. NCHS expanded its lead to 47-12 a mere 29 seconds into the third quarter on a 43-yard sweep down the right sideline from Jalen Coleman. Another Christian interception led to a 13-yard touchdown run by Boddie on a draw. The 54-12 score with 9:26 left in the third quarter meant the rest of the contest would be played under a running clock. The Raiders did score three more touchdowns on runs of 1 and 7 yards by Sandage and a 47-yard TD pass from Sandage to James Ellis. Sandage completed 15 of 26 passes for 195 yards and carried 20 times for 86 yards. BHS tailback Holden Snyder, who had a big first week for the Raiders, was held to 40 yards on 14 attempts. Dixon added 81 rushing yards on six carries as the Ironmen defeated the Raiders for the sixth consecutive time.

BODDIE, DIXON FUEL FIRST-HALF BLITZ FOR NCHS IN WIN OVER BHS

Photo Credit: Bloomington Athletics

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