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Friday,
September 27, 2002
Another Big 12 West title in
BHS' sights
By Randy Reinhardt
Pantagraph staff
Little has gotten in the way of the Bloomington High School
football team, which has reeled off 29 consecutive regular-season
victories.
Yet one individual certainly capable of serving as a roadblock is
Decatur MacArthur defensive lineman Lawrence Dampeer, a 6-foot-5,
275-pounder who is being sought by many high profile college programs
including the University of Illinois and Miami of Florida.
A win over MacArthur (2-2, 1-0 in the Big 12 West) in a 7 p.m. contest
today at Fred Carlton Field would clinch a share of BHS' third straight
Big 12 West championship. The Purple Raiders (4-0, 2-0) are ranked third
in Class 6A.
Elsewhere in the Intercity, Rochester visits Hancock Stadium to face
University High and Central Catholic plays at Herscher. Both Corn Belt
Conference games begin at 7 p.m.
BHS-MacArthur
"It is a big game. The kids must realize that to win the
conference outright they have to win this thing," said BHS coach
Rigo Schmelzer, whose team has only Decatur Eisenhower left in the Big 12
West after today.
MacArthur (2-2, 1-0) is led by quarterback Steve Daniel and running
backs Akeem Topps and Nehemiah Bates.
"Both their running backs are quick, hard-nosed kids. It's the
fastest backfield we've seen. We have to be prepared for that. Daniel is
doing a better job throwing this year," Schmelzer said. "I don't
think they're playing as good of football as I thought they would be.
Dampeer is a force inside when he wants to play, but he takes plays
off."
Schmelzer expects strong safety Justin Harrison to return after
missing last week's win over Normal West with a severe headache.
The Raiders are still without receiver Brandon Hughes and receiver
Rodney Hursey remains limited by injury.
BHS ranks fourth in the area in scoring (39.3) and fifth in scoring
defense (8.8).
Tailback James Wade is second in the area with 691 yards rushing and
averages 10.9 yards per carry. Quarterback Andre Brown is fourth with 643
yards passing. The team's top tackler is linebacker Ryan Pankey.
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