MATTOON - At Gaines Field at least, Wes Temples can boast that he has a better win percentage than his father. | Box scores, schedules and stats

His first win against Gerald Temples' former team didn't come quickly nor was it among Normal Community's prettiest, but the Ironmen did produce a running clock in the final six minutes of their 42-0 triumph at Mattoon Friday. Had the second half looked like the first, though, it might have been a much closer outcome.

"It took us a while," Temples said. "That's something that we've got to continue to work on. That starts in practice. It's got to be an every night thing. We can't wait until half."

In an effort to control the clock, the Green Wave (0-3) scrapped its no-huddle offense and patiently avoided a hole similar to the one it suffered in losses to Decatur MacArthur and Danville. It stuffed NCHS on fourth and goal on its first drive and only trailed 14-0 after two quarters.

Travis Mullen ran for two of his three touchdowns before the half. Subtract a pair of long runs, however, and the team's total yardage was insignificant at best.

"We made such good strides today. I mean, when was the last time we've been that close with Normal at the half?" Mattoon coach Nat Zunkel asked. "And then we just ran out of gas."

The Ironmen (2-1) punted twice in the third period but consistently had Mattoon pinned deep in its own territory. Mullen (18 carries, 106 yards) took his seventh straight handoff and scored on a 6-yard run. With another quick stop, in less than two minutes Jamar Simon had another touchdown to make it 28-0.

Mattoon wound up with 108 rushing yards, 24 of them after Jacob Gates recovered a fumbled kickoff return in the final minute and a half. But Normal's defense held, stopping Treye Williams (17 rushes, 45 yards) from the 4-yard line as the clock ran out.

That didn't stop Zunkel from seeing a world of progress despite the loss. The only worry appeared to be more injuries to a young team that has already suffered its share. But Jared Dosien and Coleman Covington hobbled off because of cramps and not something more severe.

"Our kids played their butts off, they really did," Zunkel said. "That's as good as a Mattoon team has played under me. That effort sets a standard."