NORMAL - Alumni were welcomed back to Normal West High School's homecoming football game Friday night and so was Darius Bell.

The sophomore running back rushed 29 times for 161 yards and one touchdown in a 20-13 triumph over Mattoon.

Bell returned to duty after missing two games for disciplinary reasons just in time to replace starter Rayshawn Johnson, who left the game with a severe knee injury after rushing twice for 10 yards.

"He was patient and found some seams that second half," said Normal West coach Darren Hess, who watched Bell collect 102 yards after intermission.

Bell's yardage came the hard way as Mattoon put eight men in the box in anticipation of the run. The Wildcats only attempted two passes, completing none.

The outcome sent Normal West into the Class 6A playoffs with a 6-3 record overall and in the Big 12 Conference. Mattoon (5-4, 5-4) is also expected to land a playoff berth.

"I thought we played well for the most part," said Normal West all-state candidate Cody White, who made 12 tackles from his defensive end spot to tie linebacker Jordan Shifflett for team-high honors. "We had some letdowns we need to definitely fix before we go into the playoffs."

Those letdowns included three lost fumbles.

"The past few weeks, that has been our issue," Hess said. "Part of it is our line and part of it is having a quarterback only in his second week."

Ross Schmillen played his second game as signal-caller in place of Todd Albert, who is out for the season with a thumb injury.

On the plus side, the Wildcats also recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

Leading the turnover crew was Aaron Kinnebrew, who returned a fumble 50 yards to set up a 23-yard Jared Daugherty field goal in the second quarter. Erich Bushong and Brock Messamore also recovered fumbles while Matt Haas intercepted a pass.

"All I know is we didn't play well offensively at all," said Mattoon coach Gerald Temples, whose team was penalized nine times. "I thought our defense played their rear ends off all night."

Special teams were a nightmare for the Green Wave, whose first punt traveled 8 yards, putting Normal West at the Mattoon 35. Eight plays later Daugherty converted a 22-yard field goal to make it 3-0.

"He's been real solid for us the last three years," Hess said.

A Wildcat fumble set up Mattoon's first scoring drive, a 10-play march that ended with a 27-yard field goal by Stephen Eades 1:02 before halftime to pull the Green Wave within 6-3.

"I told our kids we're in great shape," Temples said. "We came out (in the third quarter) and we still didn't do anything."

Mitch Bauman did it up big on the opening kickoff of the second half, weaving 49 yards to put Normal West at the Mattoon 24. Bell followed with four carries, ending with a 5-yard touchdown run. Daugherty's kick made it 13-3.

Mattoon's next possession ended on a high punt snap, giving Normal West the ball at the Green Wave 1. Three plays later, Schmillen scored on a 2-yard run and the gap went to 20-3.

Marshall Creed, who led Mattoon with 77 yards on 15 carries, scored on a 28-yard run with 4:28 left in the third period. A Normal West fumble preceded that score.

The scoring ended on a 23-yard field goal by Eades with 4:47 left to play. That drive reached the Normal West 1, but went no further and Mattoon never got the ball back.

"I was proud of our kids," said Hess, whose team has reached the playoffs three consecutive years. "Even though we gave up big plays, we tightened it up down by the end zone."

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