A dozen of this year's Raiders have older brothers who played football for BHS, including some who played in last year's state championship game against Chicago Mount Carmel.

This year's undefeated team will take its shot at the Class 6A title when it faces No. 1-ranked Mundelein Carmel at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

"I've been playing with my brother all my life," said senior linebacker Justin Harrison, who was on last year's team with his older brother, Michael. "If we win, this might be the only trophy in the house with just my name on it."

Despite the hint of sibling rivalry, Justin Harrison and some of his teammates say they are carrying the torch from last year, when Chicago Mount Carmel won, 31-0, and previous years. BHS has been in the football playoffs for 18 consecutive years, including the final game in 1991 and 2002, but it has never won a championship.

"We knew last year's game was special, because it was the last game we'd play together," Justin Harrison said. His older brother now plays for McKendree College.

Last year's loss was difficult. "I knew he was feeling the same exact thing as me," Justin Harrison said.

The younger Harrison has committed to the University of Illinois next year. That's a long way from the junior Little League he played in with his brother in St. Louis. The boys, then 6 and 4, were coached by their father, Michael Harrison Sr.

"Since the time I was 4, my brother was there for me to ask him a question," Justin Harrison said. "This was the first year without him."

The BHS senior said he will be happy to play in front of his future coaches at U of I and all the fans, but "the most important one in the stands will be my brother."

Senior Ryan Esch and his brother, freshman Steven Esch, are on Bloomington teams this year. Their older brother, Eric, who now plays for Illinois Wesleyan University, played alongside Ryan Esch last year.

Their father, John Esch, was a BHS football player in the 1970s.

"He (Ryan) better be ready to play Saturday, because you can't go back," said Eric Esch. "That is one of the things I've seen guys who were seniors last year struggle with."

Ryan Esch, a defensive end, said he's drawing on his older brother's example.

"Seeing how disappointed he was after that game really motivated me to be a better player this year," said Ryan Esch, a defensive end.

Saturday's game also is a chance for some of these younger brothers to come out of their big brothers' shadows.

Junior Greg Higby plays left guard, the same position his brother, Dan Higby, played last year. The brothers have kept a friendly competition about how many plays they each made in that position.

"A win this Saturday could let me win that competition, too," Greg Higby said.

Contact Michele Steinbacher atmsteinbacher@pantagraph.com