Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Central Catholic High School
Records: Rantoul 2-0, 2-0 in Corn Belt Conference;
Central Catholic 2-0, 2-0
FYI: Two of the three remaining undefeated Corn Belt
teams (Pontiac is the other) meet in the inaugural game
at Central Catholic's new field just north of the school
... Ranked No. 8 in Class 4A, the Saints have scored 77
points in two games with a balanced attack. Quarterback
Matt Pelton has passed for 264 yards, while the rushing
game is led by Ryan Waldron (94 yards) and Andrew King
(82) ... King and Pelton each have intercepted three
passes ... Rantoul owns wins over Rochester (35-20) and
Olympia (33-0) after a 1-8 record in 2004. Tailback Greg
Foust rushed for 261 yards against Rochester. DeMarkco
Butler is another of the Eagles' rushing threats ...
Cornerback Pat Knutson is questionable for Central
Catholic with an ankle injury
Quoting: "They are very much improved over last year.
They primarily run the ball. They have some big linemen.
The right side of their line is 300 and 280 (pounds).
Their defense seems to fly to the ball pretty well. They
have some confidence and they have some athletes. We're
certainly going to have our hands full." -- Central
Catholic coach Bobby Moews
Bloomington vs. Urbana
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Urbana High School
Records: BHS 1-1, 1-1 in Big 12 Conference; Urbana
0-2, 0-2
FYI: The Purple Raiders lost only their second
regular season game in the past six seasons last week to
Normal Community at the Intercity Doubleheader ... BHS
will start junior Stephen Esch at quarterback for the
first time this season, while former starter Brent Holtz
also will see action at the position ... Tailback David
Simmons paces the Raiders with 284 yards rushing. Esch
and Holtz have combined for 180 yards through the air.
Ryan Kernes has 97 yards receiving ... Urbana has lost
to Normal Community (41-6) and Champaign Central
(40-18).
Quoting: "We look at the things we did right and the
things we did wrong (against NCHS) and we have to move
on. We all have to play a little smarter. If we take
better control of ourselves we'll be OK. Stephen is
going to start. His ability to throw the football is
going to make us more dimensional. We need to be able to
spread the football out a little better and establish
some of the receivers we have. Brent is still going to
play and it will allow him to be fresher on defense." --
BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer
Decatur MacArthur vs. Normal West
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Normal West High School
Records: MacArthur 1-1, 1-1 in Big 12 Conference;
West 2-0, 2-0
FYI: The Wildcats are ranked seventh in Class 6A
after victories over Champaign Central (30-17) and
Decatur Eisenhower (42-0) ... MacArthur wide receiver
Marques Wilkins has committed to the University of
Illinois, while Travis Garrett is a rushing weapon for
the Generals ... West will again be without guard Nick
Schulke because of an ankle injury that is expected to
keep the senior out another two weeks ... Wildcat junior
Trevor Huddleston will see his first action of the
season at offensive tackle after moving from defense.
Jordan Flex and Matt Repplinger will get more time on
the defensive line ... MacArthur defeated Mattoon
(36-26) before losing to Champaign Centennial (34-19).
Quoting: "MacArthur is so fast and explosive. Wilkins
has it all. He makes things happen. Fundamentals are the
big thing. We've got to be good tacklers. We didn't
tackle well against them last year and big plays killed
us." -- West coach Darren Hess
Rochester at University High
Time: 7:45 p.m.
Place: Hancock Stadium
Records: Rochester 0-2, 0-2 in Corn Belt Conference;
U High 1-1, 1-1
FYI: U High has been on the opposite end of two
shutouts, blanking Olympia (21-0) before being held
scoreless by Central Catholic (34-0) ... Pioneers'
quarterback Josh Cox has completed 19 of 44 passes for
226 yards. Josh Huff has nine receptions for 116 yards,
while the leading U High rusher is Josh Maher at 63
yards on just seven carries ... Rochester is 0-2 under
first-year coach Derek Leonard. The Rockets have lost to
Rantoul (35-20) and Eureka (14-7).
Quoting: "We want to come out and prove we're not as
bad as we showed last week. We've been harping on that
and focusing on getting ourselves better. We're focusing
on technique on both sides of the ball, and I think we
made strides this week. They (Rochester) like to throw
the ball around a lot. They have kids with good speed.
They're similar to us as far as size and speed and age
of kids. If we take care of ourselves, we should put
ourselves in position to win this week." -- U High coach
Kurt Olson
