OK. Maybe there is a little more to Rock Island High School's offense than that. But the Rocks are up front -- and in your face -- about their desire to run the football.

Coach Vic Boblett calls it a "wing bone type offense," a mix of the wing-T and wishbone attacks.

Bloomington coach Rigo Schmelzer calls it a challenge for his defense in today's 2 p.m. Class 6A playoff game at BHS' Fred Carlton Field.

"Their plan is to establish something immediately in the center-guard gap. If we can't stop that, they're going to run it all day," Schmelzer said.

"If we overload to stop that, they take a second back and dive him through a wider gap. Between the first and second back through, they make a living off of that."

The approach has enabled three backs to pile up 590 or more yards rushing in nine games. The Rocks, seeded fourth in the eight-team quadrant, enter the second-round contest 8-2, but one loss was by forfeit because of an outbreak of whooping cough in the Quad Cities.

Today, top-seeded BHS (10-0) hopes to prevent an outbreak of long, clock-eating drives.

"They're going to be patient on offense. We have to be patient on defense and make certain we're not flowing too quickly and we're reading keys," Schmelzer said.

"The problem we face is this is the first time we've ever worked (against) this. In that sense, they have an advantage."

Rock Island's quickest back is senior Waylond Ryan, who was second in the 100-meter dash in last year's Class AA State Track Meet. The 5-foot-7, 160-pounder has run for 720 yards and 16 touchdowns on 82 carries.

He is complemented by R.B. Krakilow (712 yards, 13 TD) and John Saldana (596 yards, 5 TD).

BHS hopes to have its breakaway threat, senior tailback James Wade, back near full strength.

Wade carried three times for eight yards last week in a 56-6 win over Kankakee because of a sore knee. Schmelzer anticipates Wade being much closer to the form that has enabled him to rush for 1,611 yards and 16 touchdowns.

"He has practiced with the knee brace on, but he can't cut on it very well," Schmelzer said. "If he comes out healthy with no more inflammation, he's going to try and run without it. He is much better than he was last week at this stage."

The Raiders also will test a Rock Island defense allowing 8.9 points per game with senior fullback Justin Harrison (768 yards, 11 TD) and senior quarterback Jeremy Peden (44 of 88 passing, 1,116 yards, 17 TD).

Peden's last six completions to speedy senior Brandon Hughes have been touchdowns. Hughes has 18 catches for 607 yards and 10 scores.

"The biggest thing that stands out to us is their speed," Boblett said. "They have some guys who can flat out fly. So do we, so we think it will be an interesting matchup. I know we have not seen the speed they possess. I'd venture a guess they've not seen the speed we possess.

"It could be a game where the speeds offset and it comes down to who wins the war in the trenches and also the battle of special teams."

Rock Island has a special player in that regard. Senior kicker Jason Reda has been offered a scholarship by several Big Ten Conference schools, including Illinois. He routinely booms the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs and is 3 of 5 on field goals.

"I've never seen a stronger leg," Boblett said. "He's hit 60-yarders in practice."

Rock Island's forfeit loss to East Moline came after Boblett was diagnosed with whooping cough. None of his players was afflicted, but all had to take antibiotics. They did not get cleared to play by the county board of health in time for the Oct. 3 game.

The Rocks' only loss on the field was Oct. 24 at Crystal Lake South, 18-17.

Contact Randy Kindred at rkindred@pantagraph.com