It will probably be the scoreboard.

U High, which entered the Class 3A state poll at the No. 10 position this week, is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Corn Belt behind an offense averaging a Pantagraph area-leading 45.0 points per game. Seventh-ranked Prairie Central (3-0, 2-0) counters with a high-flying attack directed by the area's passing leader, senior Dylan Ward.

"There's no question it's a big game," said fifth-year Prairie Central coach Brian Hassett. "It ought to be exciting down there in Normal."

In other Intercity action tonight, Bloomington will host Decatur MacArthur at 7 o'clock, and Normal West will visit Normal Community in another 7 o'clock kickoff (see related story). Central Catholic will face Mahomet-Seymour at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium.

U High-Prairie Central

U High is off to a great start under first-year coach Kurt Olson, a veteran of several Corn Belt battles with Prairie Central when he played quarterback for the Pioneers in the mid-1990s. The Pioneers feature a potent ground and aerial attack coupled with a defense allowing 11.3 points per game.

Senior quarterback Nick Chiodo single-handedly dismantled Herscher in the Pioneers' 48-20 win last week, throwing for 150 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 131 yards and another score.

Chiodo has completed 17 of 28 passes for 361 yards and seven TDs with no interceptions. U High junior running back C.J. Johnson has rushed for a team-high 356 yards and five TDs.

"They're the best team we've played so far," Hassett said. "They run the football well with their running backs and Chiodo, and they're really good up front on offense. They run play action well and throw to their two big wide receivers and tight end real well.

"They've played awful well on defense. They do a good job of playing great team defense. Another thing we've noticed is they have great special teams. Curt's done a great job of getting those kids rallied and playing hard."

Prairie Central boasts a great passing attack under the direction of the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Ward, who has thrown for 855 yards and nine TDs. Dustin Stephens has 15 receptions for an area-best 305 yards and four TDs. Ward's other favorite targets have been Nathan Wenger (19 catches, 285 yards) and Will Barsema (13-186).

"They have a lot of team speed and a lot of good size," Olson said. "Dylan Ward is a ton back there at quarterback. It will be a huge challenge for our defense to step up and shut the pass down. Nobody has been able to do it yet.

"We need to execute better even though we have been putting points on the board. We definitely have room to improve. I hope our kids come ready to play and their focus is there."

The Pioneers will be without backup junior quarterback and starting outside linebacker Bryce Morton, who broke his collarbone against Herscher and is out for the season.

BHS-MacArthur

The Purple Raiders, ranked No. 5 in Class 6A, return to Fred Carlton Field in search of their 38th straight regular-season victory following last week's 59-0 demolishing of Rantoul. BHS is 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 12 Conference, while MacArthur is 1-2 and 1-2.

"The kids were excited last week and got it done," said BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer. "I was more impressed that we were able to maintain the shutout with our reserves playing most of the second half."

Senior running back James Wade has rushed for an area-leading 478 yards, including 206 yards in the first half against Rantoul. Senior quarterback Jeremy Peden has thrown for 298 yards and five TDs. University of Illinois recruit Justin Harrison leads BHS' defense from his linebacker position.

MacArthur, coming off a 43-20 loss to Big 12 co-leader Mattoon, features 5-10, 205-pound senior halfback Akeem Topps. The speedy Topps is being recruited by several Division 1-A schools.

"They're going to throw a big tailback at us, and he's a legitimate player," Schmelzer said. "My scouts described him as a large James Wade. That means he has great speed and good vision and is a hard runner who can bounce it from the point of attack anywhere on the field.

"I fear them because we're not big. They're averaging 290 pounds from tackle to tackle, so essentially all they have to do is give this kid the ball 40 times."

Contact Douglas Hamm at dhamm@pantagraph.com