"I think our players were hoping they could get an opportunity to play them again. That's just human nature," said NCHS coach Hud Venerable. "When you have two rivals only playing once a year and then to play twice a year, it doesn't happen often."

Try about 16 years.

Bloomington (11-0) and the Ironmen (10-1) will renew their fierce rivalry in a Class 6A quarterfinal playoff game at 2 p.m. today at BHS' Fred Carlton Field. The ninth-ranked Purple Raiders rallied in the second half to beat NCHS 24-20 in the Intercity Tripleheader on Sept. 5 at Illinois State's Hancock Stadium.

This will be the first trip for NCHS across town since 1982 when BHS earned a 21-0 Class 5A first-round playoff victory. Five years later, the Raiders came out on top again 14-0 in a 5A second-round game at NCHS' old home, Truman Keys Field.

BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer's first year as a Raider assistant was in 1982. He served as BHS' defensive coordinator in 1987. The Raiders' coach in both those playoff games against NCHS was Terry McCombs, who is now the Ironmen's first-year defensive coordinator.

"You lose this game, you're done. There's no tomorrow. At this level in the playoffs, no matter who you are playing, the game is extremely important," said Schmelzer. "Then it falls back to the rivalry concept in the Intercity.

"You lose this game to an Intercity team and turn the corner in the grocery store, someone will remind you because it's over with. In that case, there may be added incentive."

It seems the Ironmen aren't the only ones excited about a rematch.

"Ever since week two we've been wanting to play them again because everybody said it was a fluke we beat them. I don't think it was," said BHS wide receiver/cornerback Brandon Hughes. "It's going to be a great game."

Hughes made some key catches on Sept. 5, but none bigger than converting a short pass into a first down on a fourth-and-20 play late in the third quarter with BHS trailing 20-12.

"At the beginning of the game I could feel everyone was a little nervous," said NCHS senior fullback/linebacker Israel Brown. "Once we broke in, we thought we had it. We let down and they took over. This time, it's going to be different."

For NCHS to break its four-game losing streak against the Raiders, stopping tailback James Wade and fullback Justin Harrison will be crucial.

The speedy Wade (1,756 yards) didn't let a sore knee bother him against Rock Island, rushing for 145 yards. While Wade is Mr. Outside, the 215-pound Harrison (897 yards) definitely is Mr. Inside. Rock Island probably still has the bruises from Harrison's 129 rushing yards.

"I don't think he (Wade) is 100 percent, but he came out of it good," said Schmelzer. "If pain is there he knows it, but he ran through it."

Much was made in the preseason about BHS' undersized offensive line. Those questions were put to rest against NCHS when the Raiders rushed for 232 yards.

"They might be small based on Bloomington's standards from tackle to tackle, but (junior Tim) McAvoy is, in my opinion, the best blocking tight end in the Big 12 and Harrison is a punishing blocker," said Venerable. "McAvoy is 250 (pounds) and Harrison is 215. You've got a big tight end and a bruiser at fullback."

Jeremy Peden has stepped up and produced as a first-year senior starter for BHS at quarterback. Peden is 45 of 98 for 1,141 yards and 17 touchdowns, but is coming off a 1-of-10 performance against Rock Island.

"Coach has told me a couple times you can't say you had a great season until you played the whole season," said Peden. "Now we're here in week 12 playing them again. Both teams have improved."

NCHS' option offense has been nearly unstoppable, leading The Pantagraph area in scoring with 40.8 points per game while BHS is third at 36.7.

The Raiders also are third in points allowed at 10.6. They won't have to see NCHS fullback Antoine Kennedy (865 yards), who suffered a broken ankle three weeks ago. Brown has replaced Kennedy in a backfield with quarterback Jake Hopper (752 yards passing, 500 yards passing) and tailback Eric Scott (1,075 yards).

This will be the first time Venerable has been on the sidelines at Fred Carlton Field. Yet Schmelzer isn't sure there is a home-field advantage.

"Probably in the first quarter it means a lot. But once everyone gets in the swing and feel of it, it's not that much," he said. "Everyone is so close in town, Community might want to bring 5,000 people and get here early enough they'll stack it and, at times, it will seem as much their home as ours."

The winner goes on the road for next week's semifinals to face third-ranked Chicago St. Rita (10-1) or Lisle Benet (7-4).

Contact Jim Benson at jbenson@pantagraph.com