Those might be the most striking differences between Sept. 5 and Saturday.

Players and coaches from the Bloomington (11-0) and Normal Community (10-1) high school football teams insist much more has changed heading into Saturday's 2 p.m. Class 6A quarterfinal playoff game between the Intercity rivals.

"Playing Normal is just a chance for us to play them at their best because it's later on in the year," said BHS two-way lineman Dan Pettie. "It's a chance to see each of us at our best, and may the best team win."

NCHS will need its best to break two losing streaks against BHS. The Raiders have won four straight in the series. BHS also won the only two previous playoff games between the teams in 1982 and 1987 (see accompanying chart).

When BHS rallied from an eight-point third-quarter deficit to pull out a thrilling 24-20 victory in the Intercity Tripleheader in September, both teams were breaking in new quarterbacks.

The Purple Raiders' Jeremy Peden and NCHS' Jake Hopper now are considered veterans by their coaches.

Peden has completed 45 of 98 attempts for 1,141 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. Hopper, a junior, has gone 37 of 70 for 500 yards with nine TDs and three interceptions.

"Jeremy is a classic example of a senior stepping up and doing things we had not counted on," said BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer. "The first two weeks he exceeded what we hoped for, and now after that we've asked for more things. He's doing everything we need out of him."

Coolly operating an option attack that is leading The Pantagraph area with 40.8 points per game, Hopper also has gained 752 yards rushing with 12 TDs.

"He's become more assertive. He's really grasped the understanding of staying in the framework of the offense," said NCHS coach Hud Venerable. "I like the tempo he sets on the football field. It's much like a point guard in basketball, which he happens to be.

"He understands the concept of being quick, but not hurrying. I like the calming influence he has on the other 10 players. That ties in with his leadership."

The biggest question mark surrounding BHS coming into the season was its offensive line. There was a shortage of the usual big bodies up front that have characterized the Raiders' run of 17 straight playoff appearances.

And there was little experience.

No one is questioning the Raiders' line play anymore. BHS has opened up plenty of holes for tailback James Wade (1,756 yards) and fullback Justin Harrison (897 yards).

"We improved mostly in the offensive line and the execution of our plays. We made a lot of mistakes in that (Sept. 5) game," said Pettie, the Raiders' right tackle. "We want to execute better. Our line is definitely working more as a unit.

"Even though we were small, we knew we had fast backs. As long as we stay in front of our man, they'll get through the line and make something happen."

The emergence of Harrison as a running threat has caught Venerable's eye. In the first meeting, Harrison carried six times for 16 yards while Wade galloped for 134 yards on 21 carries.

During last week's 19-14 second-round victory over Rock Island, Harrison gained 129 yards and scored all three BHS touchdowns, including one on a blocked punt by Pettie.

Harrison, a University of Illinois recruit, was his usual force at linebacker, too, with 21 tackles.

The BHS defense won't have to worry about Antoine Kennedy. The Ironmen's fullback was on his way to a 1,000-yard season until suffering a broken ankle against Decatur Eisenhower in week eight.

Kennedy gained 60 of his 865 yards against BHS. Israel Brown, a 150-pound senior, has replaced Kennedy, and senior tailback Eric Scott has come to the forefront of the devastating NCHS ground attack.

"As soon as he went down, I knew I would have to carry a bigger load for the team because he was a big part of the offense," said Scott. "But I knew our offensive line could handle it, and so could I.

"I enjoyed having Antoine in front of me because teams didn't know who to key on. We were both able to get yards."

Scott ripped off a Class 6A playoff record 97-yard TD run last week in a 21-14 victory against Peoria Richwoods. He had 189 yards and three TDs to improve his season totals to 1,075 yards and 16 TDs.

Schmelzer said BHS won't change its defensive game plan without the 180-pound Kennedy in the backfield.

"They may have changed a couple plays, but to establish option you still have to make a legitimate threat out of the middle. What Israel is able to do attacking the holes and misdirection cutbacks, Kennedy couldn't do that," said Schmelzer.

"Kennedy could run over you and as a lead blocker was better, but they still run power to the weak side with the fullback block. Kennedy did a better job with that, but their line is so big it doesn't matter."

BHS made a couple key passes against NCHS, including converting a fourth-and-20 pass to Brandon Hughes, to spark the second-half comeback.

"It was us giving up the big plays. We've improved in our tackling, our running ability and we're more assignment sound now," said Scott, a defensive back. "Our team chemistry has come together a lot, too."

Contact Jim Benson at jbenson@pantagraph.com.