Yet as coaches tend to do, BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer found an area where he believes improvement is necessary.

"Most of our yards came off the corner with the ability to read (the defense) of our quarterback and our receivers doing a good job blocking," Schmelzer said. "We did not run the middle real well. This is where their test is going to come from."

Providing that test will be archrival Normal Community in a 7 o'clock Intercity Doubleheader clash tonight at Hancock Stadium.

Ranked No. 4 in Class 6A, BHS will be gunning for its sixth straight regular-season win and seventh consecutive overall victory over the Ironmen.

"It's always an emotional game," Schmelzer said. "It's something everybody gets excited for. There's a certain amount of extra effort."

"They are very fast, very athletic. They are just as skilled as their team has ever been," NCHS coach Hud Venerable said. "They're not as big as they've been up front, but they're very fundamentally sound. It's a typical Rigo Schmelzer team. Very impressive."

NCHS opened its season with a convincing 41-6 triumph over Urbana.

"We've come a long way since summer," said Ironmen linebacker Devon Lindsay. "We're looking real good. We have a lot of enthusiasm."

NCHS quarterback Craig Lutes also was pleased with the team's initial effort. Sophomore Austin Davis rushed for 95 yards and Lutes passed for 95 more.

"It did give us some confidence. After the long offseason, it was nice to play and show we really can play as a team and we really are a good team," Lutes said. "It's always fun with the large crowd and the Intercity rivalry. I think everybody on the field has more emotion. But you have to keep it under control and play solid and keep fundamentally sound."

Venerable was not surprised by Davis' early success.

"He showed last year as a freshman he had the ability to be a contributor this year," the NCHS coach said. " He runs hard and he's an aggressive kid. That's kind of our mentality right now."

Starter Brent Holtz and Stephen Esch both saw action at quarterback in BHS' first game.

"Holtz will start," said Schmelzer. "We want the junior to feel comfortable. He knows he has to be ready and I trust him."

Holtz believes the Raiders' offensive line gained confidence from the first game.

"We had a big question mark on our offensive line, but the offensive line did a great job against Danville. They stepped it up really big," Holtz said. "We've looked forward to Intercity this whole summer. Normal is going to be a tough team to play against. It will be a real physical, tough game. I think we're ready to play."

Schmelzer hopes to have defensive linemen Eric Floyd and Rickey Robinson available today, although Floyd is fighting back problems. Neither had enough practices to be eligible the first week.

"One (Robinson) is 290 and the other (Floyd) is 240," said the BHS coach. "If these kids are willing to work, we could become a deeper team as far as the line is concerned and get better in that area."

Simmons is ready for the excitement of the Intercity Doubleheader.

"Normal is a big rivalry. Everybody is real excited to get out there and play," he said. "Everybody will take it as a regular game, but it will have a little more umph, I guess."

NCHS sophomore nose guard Jake Kretlow will not play because of an ankle injury, according to Venerable. Kretlow blocked a punt, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in the win over Urbana.

Ironmen wide receiver Sheldon Harper remains sidelined with a knee injury, while defensive back Shannon Cobb is questionable because of a viral infection.

"It's hard to get a gauge on how your team is going to play. The second game of the year neither team is close to where they're going to be in seven weeks," said Venerable. "It's going to be an interesting battle on both sides of the ball."