For the second straight week, and the third time this season, the Mt. Carmel Golden Aces football team will face a team from the Corn Belt Conference.

And for the second straight week that foe will be in the Illinois High School Association's Class 4A Playoffs.

The Golden Aces will travel to Rochester, the top-rated team in Class 4A, for a 4 p.m. game Saturday in the Playoff's second round.

Rochester, like last week's foe, Mahomet-Seymour, wears orange and blue.

The easiest way to get to Rochester High School is to take Interstate 72 west out of Decatur to Springfield, go south on Interstate 55 to Illinois 29, then take that exit toward Taylorville. Rochester is about five miles down the road. The school is about a mile to 1.5 miles past the stop light, on the left. The field is behind the school.

"There is a major misconception that they're a finesse and passing team, but they run the ball extremely well," said MCHS Coach Darren Peach. "Their offense, in general, is well coached; they never seem to miss a block."

Sean Robinson is the Rockets' quarterback. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior has committed to Purdue.

"He is a very good athlete," said Peach, who noted Robinson threw for 1,300 yards this season.

Robinson, a two-year starter, and Colten Glazebrook, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior running back, are both very good at finding the crease, according to Peach.

"We must stop the run to have a chance," the Mt. Carmel coach added.

Peach said the Rockets run a no-huddle, up-tempo offense, sort of like using the two-minute drill the entire game. They have a 70:30 ratio on run to pass offense. When they do throw the ball, Robinson's primary target has been Matt Bane, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior.

He will also throw it to Kyle Brozka, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior, as well as Dylan McKinney, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior, and Matt Riechers, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior. McKinney and Riechers are slot backs.

To stop that tactic, Peach said, "You've got to sub on first downs, when they moved the chains, or when they are on the hash mark on your side."

Peach added the Rockets defense is "impressive."

He said they will line up in an even front with four down linemen, or an odd front, with three.

"They're good hitters and have good team speed," added.

The Mt. Carmel coach noted that Alex Haire, a 5-foot-6, 180-pound senior, is a defensive tackle that can penetrate. Jake Bivens, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior, is the middle linebacker and is, as Peach says, "very good."

Another linebacker is Tyler Donaldson, a 6-foot-, 220-pound senior.

"The defensive ends appear to be tall and rangy, similar to those of Bloomington Central Catholic's," Peach said.

One of those is Riley McMinn, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound junior.

"They're a very impressive team; the fewest points they have scored this season has been 38," Peach noted.

That came in the season-opening game against Mahomet-Seymour, a 38-22 decision.

After the opener, Rochester defeated Rantoul, 57-35, took Jerseyville, 49-14, dropped a 49-7 decision on Pontiac, crushed Fairbury Prairie Central, 48-14, demolished Normal University High, 56-14, thumped Eureka, 44-0, handed Bloomington Central Catholic a 49-12 loss, handled Stanford Olympia, 48-20, and, last week in the Playoffs, won over Mascoutah, 57-32.

Peach added that Rochester's special teams are also impressive. They ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown against Bloomington Central Catholic.

"We'll run our option," he said. "We'll use different formations, give them different looks."

For the Aces, Steven Zimmer now has 863 yards and 10 touchdowns on 140 carries. Shawn Bumpus, who sprained an ankle late in the first half last week, has 662 yards and six touchdowns on 74 yards. If Bumpus plays this Saturday, Peach said, it will be a game time decision.

Alex Hale, running out of the option, has 899 yards and 19 touchdowns on 144 carries. Mitch McPherson had 141 yards on 23 carries.

Hale has thrown the ball 59 times, completed 28 of those, and gained 593 yards.