NORMAL - Standout running back Darius Bell played only one series after tweaking a muscle in his foot. | Photo gallery

Then the Normal West High School football team had to solve Decatur Eisenhower's puzzling A-11 offense, where six receivers and two quarterbacks operate behind only three down linemen.

The Wildcats emphatically passed both tests Friday night and broke into the win column by blanking Eisenhower, 27-0, in a Big 12 Conference game at West.

"It feels great," said West senior linebacker and co-captain Jordan Shifflett. "It was a good win for the defense and a good win for the team all around. Hopefully we'll keep it going all year."

West (1-1 overall and in the Big 12) intercepted four passes and limited Eisenhower (0-2, 0-2) to 60 yards of total offense. The Panthers abandoned the A-11 late in the third quarter after falling behind 21-0 and continued to flounder offensively.

Junior running back Aaron Smith replaced Bell and rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Bell ran for 46 yards on six attempts before being rested for precautionary reasons.

West senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson tossed two TD passes in the second half, a 4-yarder to Jerry Lewis and a 68-yarder to Keith Hitchcock, to help the Wildcats pull away from a 7-0 halftime lead. Jefferson was 4 of 9 for 98 yards with no interceptions.

"I'm just really proud how our kids responded in the second half," said West coach Darren Hess. "We had some adversity as far as injuries go. Aaron Smith did a great job at running back, and our defense stepped up.

"(Jefferson) didn't have quite the first half that we wanted him to, but we sat him down and he adjusted at halftime. It's nice to bounce back, and our kids showed a lot of heart."

Junior Trey Hartema intercepted two passes for West, while Shifflett and sophomore Tyler Marcordes had the other two.

"We were ready for it," Shifflett said of Eisenhower's offbeat offense. "We were where we were supposed to be, and when they changed it up we adjusted really well."

First-year Eisenhower coach Rick Austin said he plans to stick with the A-11.

"We knew we had to go with it because we have strength issues up front," Austin said. "So we're trying to spread people out and get some of our athletes in the open field.

"It didn't work the way I wanted it to tonight but we're going to work it and get it better."