When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Fred Carlton Field, Bloomington
Records: Bloomington 4-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12
Conference; Danville 2-3, 2-3.
FYI: The Purple Raiders are coming off a 14-12 loss
at Decatur Eisenhower which snapped a 38-game
regular-season winning streak dating to the 1998 season
... BHS senior running back James Wade has rushed for
949 yards and seven TDs ... Danville features a
wide-open, no-running back attack directed by
quarterback Tyler Blue (1,330 yards passing, 387
rushing) ... BHS has won four straight against Danville,
including a 39-22 decision last season ... BHS junior
offensive guard Bryce Henneberg is out with an Achilles'
tendon injury.
Quoting: "They spread the ball around well, and their
quarterback can scramble well. We need to harass the
quarterback and contain him, force some bad throws if
possible, be opportunistic on defense and get some
picks." -- BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer.
Central vs. Rochester
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Rochester High School
Records: Central Catholic 2-3, 1-3 Corn Belt;
Rochester 2-3, 2-2.
FYI: Central Catholic rolled to a 43-14 win over
Herscher last week behind quarterback Sean Wieland, who
threw for 247 yards and two TDs. Running back Josh Monk
ran for 122 yards and three TDs as the Saints rolled up
450 yards of total offense ... Rochester, coming off a
7-0 home loss to University High, is led by junior
quarterback Kurt Long. A second-team all-Corn Belt
selection as a junior, Long has thrown for 361 yards and
rushed for 433 yards ... Central senior defensive tackle
Thomas Boyden remains sidelined with a neck injury.
Quoting: "Last week's win couldn't have come at a
better time. We needed one like that to show that all
the hard work pays off. The kids know it's another
must-win for us. We got better than the week before last
week, and hopefully this week we'll be better than last
week." -- Central coach Bobby Moews.
NCHS vs. Urbana
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Normal Community High School
Records: NCHS 4-1, 4-1 Big 12; Urbana 2-3, 2-2.
FYI: The Ironmen, who will celebrate homecoming, are
riding a three-game winning streak. Senior fullback
Antoine Kennedy ran for 162 yards and four TDs in last
week's 42-12 win over Decatur MacArthur. Senior tailback
Eric Scott ran for 175 yards, including TD runs of 63
and 41 yards ... Urbana quarterback Preston Williams has
thrown for 569 yards and five TDs ... The Tigers were
tied with Big 12 leader Mattoon early in the fourth
quarter last week before the Green Wave pulled away to a
33-13 win ... Senior Jon Frantz, NCHS' lone two-way
lineman, is sidelined with a knee injury. Allen Hays
(ribs) returns at safety.
Quoting: "They're very explosive on offense, and they
have one of the most talented athletes in the conference
at quarterback. He can run or throw. They're a team
that's very dangerous." -- NCHS coach Hud Venerable.
West vs. Mattoon
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Normal West High School
Records: West 1-4, 1-3 Big 12; Mattoon 5-0, 4-0.
FYI: West, mired in a four-game losing streak, was
victimized by the big play in last week's 49-27 loss at
Woodstock ... After managing only 12 points total in
their previous three games, the Wildcats scored 20 in
the fourth quarter against Woodstock ... League-leading
Mattoon boasts a variety of weapons. D.J. Walker has
rushed for 807 yards and 12 TDs. Quarterback Cody Mullen
has passed for 638 yards and six TDs. Nate Meinhart has
a team-high 373 yards receiving and four interceptions,
including two for TDs.
Quoting: "They do everything right and they don't
make mistakes. We've had two outstanding weeks of
practice although it hasn't shown up on the scoreboard.
It would be easy for the kids to get down, but they're
still working hard." -- West coach Darren Hess.
U High vs. Mahomet-Seymour
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Mahomet-Seymour High School
Records: U High 4-1, 3-1 Corn Belt; Mahomet-Seymour
3-2, 2-2.
FYI: University High bounced back from its only loss
(47-20) with a 7-0 win at Rochester last week. It was
the Pioneers' second shutout of the season. Nick Chiodo
tossed a 16-yard pass to Jeremy Foster for the game's
only points ... Mahomet-Seymour is coming off a 40-0 win
over Olympia. Junior quarterback Bodie Reeder threw for
223 yards and one TD, raising his season totals to 908
yards and six TDs ... Mahomet-Seymour's Brady Greene
leads the Pantagraph area with five interceptions ... U
High junior linebacker Kyle Schaibley (shoulder) will
not play.
Quoting: "Mahomet-Seymour is going to be another
tough game for us. They have a lot of good size, their
quarterback has an excellent arm and they have some good
team speed. We'll definitely have our hands full again
trying to slow them down. -- U High coach Kurt Olson.
