Intercity match-up highlights Week 6 of high school football

Posted on September 28, 2017
Bloomington hosts Normal West in a Week 6 Intercity and Big Twelve Conference game. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

The final Intercity meeting of the 2017 regular season highlights the Week 6 schedule for the WJBC Friday Night High School Football Extravaganza.

Normal West (4-1, 3-1 Big Twelve) visits Bloomington (3-2, 2-2 Big Twelve) one week after both participated in games with single-game school scoring records. West put a school-record 76 points on their own scoreboard in a 41-point victory over Danville, but Bloomington gave up a Peoria High record in a 94-54 loss at Peoria Stadium.

West coach Darren Hess is prepared for the host Purple Raiders.

“They still have size. I think they do a good job up front,” Hess said. “I think the equalizer for them is their quarterback, (Colton) Sandage. If he does well, they do well, and if they give him time and let him do his work, he can be very dangerous.”

Raiders coach Joe Walters is telling his team to enjoy the game.

“It’s an exciting game for the kids. We always play well in this game,” Walters said. “Last year it came down to a play, the year before it was a close, and the year before that we beat them right at the end of the game. It’s a good game for us.”

U-High (2-2) hosts winless Jacksonville at Hancock Stadium. Pioneers coach John Johnson believes his team gained confidence in playing undefeated Decatur MacArthur tough last week.

“We held them,” Johnson reminded. “It was 7-0 at the half, 14-7 at the end of the third quarter. We got a lot better. We played a lot better football and the kids are enthused about that.”

In other games covered by the Extravaganza, Normal Community (5-0) steps out of conference play to host Bradley-Bourbonnais (1-4), Central Catholic (4-1) hosts St. Thomas More (1-4) in Illini Prairie Conference play, and two contests in the Heart of Illinois Conference Large Division include Tri-Valley (4-1) at El Paso-Gridley (2-3) and Deer Creek-Mackinaw at Fieldcrest in a battle of 4-1 teams in Minonk.

Pre-game scene-setters begin at 6:10 on WJBC-AM 1230 and WJBC.com, with updates from all reporters and other scores every quarter hour and post-game until 11:00. Follow @SportsWJBC on Twitter with #WJBCHSFB to view results and contribute scores and photos.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

 

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