Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Mattoon High School, Mattoon
Records: BHS 3-1, 3-1 in Big 12 Conference; Mattoon
2-2, 2-2
FYI: The Purple Raiders need a victory to keep
unbeaten Big 12 co-leaders Normal West and Champaign
Centennial in their sights ... Tailbacks David Simmons
and Valshun Powe each surpassed 100 yards as BHS amassed
323 yards rushing in last week's 23-12 home win over
Champaign Central ... Simmons, who ranks second in The
Pantagraph area with 568 yards, is questionable because
of a "dental issue." Nose guard Eric Floyd has been
slowed by an illness and won't start ... Mattoon
hammered Urbana 52-20 last week as sophomore running
back Marshall Creed posted his fourth straight 100-yard
rushing effort after taking over for injured all-Big 12
performer Trison Moss. Moss will be sidelined again this
week ... Green Wave quarterback Jeremy Jordan has thrown
for 460 yards and six TDs.
Quoting: "We're starting a three-game stretch where
if we don't take care of the football and do the right
things, we can lose all three games. We have to make
sure the kids are focused and have their heads on
straight. Mattoon is a very good team, and the best
gauge of that was the way they stopped the run against
(Normal) Community (21-14 NCHS win two weeks ago)." --
BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer
Mahomet vs. Central Catholic
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Central Catholic High School, Bloomington
Records: Mahomet-Seymour 3-1, 3-1 in Corn Belt
Conference; Central Catholic 3-1, 3-1
FYI: This is a key battle in the tightly bunched Corn
Belt, where surprising Rantoul holds a precarious
one-game lead over Central Catholic, Mahomet, Prairie
Central and Pontiac ... The Saints will be seeking their
first win on their new home field after a shocking 6-0
loss to Rantoul weeks ago ... Saints quarterback Matt
Pelton threw for two TDs, ran for one score and returned
one of his two interceptions for another TD in last
week's 34-0 win at Olympia ... Ryan Arnold will replace
injured starter Aaron Bivins at outside linebacker for
the Saints ... Mahomet has reeled off three straight
victories since a season-opening 13-12 loss at Prairie
Central ... Senior running backs Caleb King and Brandon
Tarter combined for 347 yards and six TDs in last week's
46-20 win over Rochester.
Quoting: "It's certainly a big game for both of us to
get a leg up in the conference I think whoever wins our
conference is probably going to have at least one loss
if not more. (Mahomet) is a big, physical football team.
They come right at you. We have to be able to handle
their physicalness. If we can do that we're going to be
in the game. -- Central Catholic coach Bobby Moews
University High vs. Prairie Central
When: 7:45 p.m.
Where: Prairie Central High School, Fairbury
Records: U High 1-3, 1-3 in Corn Belt Conference;
Prairie Central 3-1, 3-1
FYI: U High will try to snap a three-game losing
streak, while Prairie Central seeks to keep pace with
the Corn Belt leaders ... U High allowed 443 yards of
total offense in last week's 44-10 setback at Pontiac.
Pioneers quarterback Josh Cox threw for 179 yards,
including a 67-yard TD to Josh Huff in the fourth
quarter ... Prairie Central is coming off a 42-0
drubbing of Eureka. The Hawks held Eureka to 73 yards of
total offense while intercepting three passes ...
Prairie Central quarterback Cody Freed has thrown for
475 yards and six TDs ... Senior wide receiver Tom
Harrison had three TD catches against Eureka
Quoting: "Prairie Central has a lot of skill, a lot
of athleticism and a lot of returning starters, too.
Offensively we've been working on our blocking because
we can't move the ball unless we're blocking up front.
Defensively it's coming down to tackling. Our kids are
getting in position but we're not shedding blocks and
making the tackle when we need to." -- U High coach Kurt
Olson
"U High has got some talented kids on their football
team in Cox, Huff and (running back Sean) Hastings.
They're all good athletes, and they scare me in the open
field. We have to do a great job of tackling and
containing those kids. It starts with our front four on
defense and getting pressure on Cox." -- Prairie Central
coach Brian Hassett
