"You're looking at Rock Island's offensive set," said Bloomington coach Rigo Schmelzer.

Good news?

Seemingly, considering Schmelzer's Purple Raiders defeated Rock Island, 19-14, Nov. 8 in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

Only one problem.

What worked against Rock Island will need adjusting today when ninth-ranked BHS (13-0) meets No. 1 Carmel (13-0) in the 6A state championship game.

Rock Island didn't have Carmel senior quarterback Mark Venegoni, a dangerous runner and passer in the Corsairs' triple option attack.

"Rock Island's quarterback had only carried the ball a handful of times, and he was so weak on the throw, they didn't even have stats for him," Schmelzer said. "We packed it in with 11 people and shut them down. We can't do that now."

The Raiders figure to have to account for Venegoni in the 1 p.m. game at Memorial Stadium, provided he has recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury.

Venegoni suffered a sprain and a hairline fracture in a non-weight bearing bone in his left ankle late in a 40-20 semifinal win over Minooka.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is listed as questionable, but has been cleared to play if the pain allows.

"The doctor said it was up to me if I think I'm able to play," Venegoni told The Chicago Tribune.

Coach Andy Bitto is hopeful of having Venegoni, the East Suburban Catholic Conference MVP, but said, "If he can't cut on it (the ankle), it causes problems."

Venegoni has 1,629 yards passing and 782 rushing for a team averaging 42 points a game and ranked 13th nationally by USA Today. He has 17 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing with only four interceptions.

The Raiders also will have to contend with Carmel's big offensive line, which averages 6-3 and 251 pounds to dwarf a BHS defensive front of 5-10, 193.

BHS overcame a similar problem with its speed in last week's 20-7 win at Chicago St. Rita. The Raiders thrived on St. Rita's AstroPlay field, the same surface as Memorial Stadium.

"I think we play very hard and very well on that turf," said BHS junior defensive back Donald Brown. "Everybody has stepped it up a notch. Eleven helmets to the ball ... that's what we try to do."

The size matchup will be more even when BHS has the ball. The Raiders' offensive line average of 5-11, 201 compares favorably to Carmel's 6-0, 198 on defense.

"They're quick defensively, so now it's an issue of quickness versus quickness," Schmelzer said. "Quite honestly, this is a smaller defense than St. Rita or Rock Island or (Normal) Community. All of a sudden, you have the idea we might actually try to run something up the middle."

BHS burned St. Rita on the outside with senior tailback James Wade (2,095 yards rushing, 18 TD). The Raiders also have good speed in senior fullback Justin Harrison (1,010 yards, 17 TD) and senior receiver Brandon Hughes (615 yards receiving, 10 TD).

"We're going to have to try to keep them inside the tackles and tackle real well," Bitto said. "We have to try to stop the big play, and that's been our strength.

"If our quarterback is banged up, we'll have to do ball control on offense. But we also have to throw it to keep them honest."

BHS is making its second straight title game appearance, losing 31-0 to Chicago Mount Carmel last year. The forecast is for sunshine and temperature in the low 40s, far better than the wind and bitter cold of last year.

"I can live with that," BHS senior quarterback Jeremy Peden said.

So can Schmelzer, who said, "The conditions in that game (last year) really hurt us."

"We know what it's like to be in a state championship atmosphere and that should help," said senior defensive end Dan Pettie.

It is the first trip to the finals for Carmel.

"At least half of their team had the experience of playing on that field last year," Bitto said. "That's to their advantage. We have to get beyond all the hoopla and realize it's the same 100-yard field we always play on."

Contact Randy Kindred at rkindred@pantagraph.com.