Bloomington Central Catholic Faces 2–0 Tolono Unity Friday Night

NORMAL, Ill. – Bloomington Central Catholic couldn’t have asked for a better start to its season. After cruising to a 59–0 win in Week 2, the Saints now turn their attention to a Friday night showdown with Tolono Unity, another unbeaten team looking to stay perfect.

The Saints have been sharp on both sides of the ball. Head coach Kevin Braucht credits his team’s work ethic and steady improvement for the early success.

“I think there are multiple keys, but first and foremost it’s our kids’ ability to work and get better every day,” Braucht said. “We focus on daily improvement, not just results. From a football standpoint, both our offensive and defensive lines have been playing really well, and that gives you a great opportunity to succeed.”

Last week, the Saints shut out Illinois Valley Central in dominant fashion. Braucht said that kind of performance doesn’t come easily in their league.

“A shutout is always a good thing, especially in our conference, because they’re very hard to come by,” Braucht said. “We play in a strong league that sends six teams to the playoffs every year, and several of them make deep runs. Every week is a challenge, so a shutout is definitely something we’ll take.”

With the Saints sitting at 2–0, Braucht said his focus is making sure his team stays grounded.

“I think part of it is how our kids handle success,” Braucht said. “Our motto is ‘1-0 every day,’ so we try to carry that mentality throughout the week. Last week is over, and this week presents a new opportunity. We always say the best team we’ll ever play is the next one. It keeps the kids level-headed and focused on the present, and it’s ingrained in our culture.”

Tolono Unity also comes in at 2–0 and is off to a fast start of its own. The Rockets reached the Class 3A state semifinals last fall and are once again expected to contend in the Illini Prairie Conference.

Braucht said for his team to succeed, the focus has to remain internal.

“Our biggest opponent is always ourselves,” he said. “If we play to our potential and stick to our identity, we’ll give ourselves a chance to compete and win in the fourth quarter. From our standpoint, there’s not one game bigger than the next. If you spend too much time worrying about the other team instead of focusing on yourself, you’re not going to play your best football.”

The Saints will look to keep their perfect season alive Friday night when they travel to face Tolono Unity. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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