Bloomington moved its record to 4-2 with a convincing win at Champaign on Friday. (YouNameItSports photo/Brian Brakebill)

By Craig Bertsche

CHAMPAIGN - Bloomington junior running back Kendrick Cooley rushed for 317 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Purple Raiders to a 42-27 Big 12 Conference victory over Champaign Centennial at Tommy Stewart Field.

Cooley, who was filling in for the injured Emerson Evans, scored on the Purple Raiders' first play from scrimmage on a 65-yard run. John Kissell added the conversion kick.

Centennial tied the score on a 10-yard pass from Jimmy Fitzgerald to Dustin Walls before BHS regained the lead on a pair of Jake Romani scoring strikes.

His first touchdown pass was for 22 yards to Devaughn Dix and the second one was for 6 yards to McLean Funk. BHS led, 27-14, at halftime.

Romani hit Josh Hoye with a 20-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for a 33-14 advantage. Dix caught a 26-yard touchdown pass, while Cooley scored on a 58-yard run for the Purple Raiders. BHS final points came on a safety when Robert Hooker tackled Fitzgerald in the end zone.

The triumph moved BHS' record to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference ahead of next week's showdown against Normal West at Fred Carlton Field in Bloomington. Centennial dropped to a 1-5 overall and in the Big 12.

BHS - Kendrick Cooley 65-yd. run (John Kissell kick)

C - Walls 10-yd. pass from Fitzgerald (Morris kick)

BHS - Devaughn Dix 22-yd. pass from Jake Romani (Kissell kick)

BHS - McLean Funk 6-yd. pass from Romani (Kissell kick)

C - Crosby 49-yd. run (Morris kick)

BHS - Josh Hoye 20-yd. pass from Romani (run failed)

C - Walls 7-yd. pass from Fitzgerald (Morris kick)

BHS - Dix 26-yd. pass from Romani (pass failed)

BHS - Cooley 58-yd. run (Kissell kick)

BHS - Safety (Hooker tackled Fitzgerald in end zone)

C - Walls 2-yd. pass from Fitzgerald (pass failed)