What: Class 1A second-round playoff game

When: 1:30 p.m. today

Where: Mount Sterling, Ill.

Records: Tuscola -- 7-3 (4-1, 3-way tie for first in the Okaw Valley Blue). Brown County -- 10-0 (5-0, first in the Western Illinois Valley Conference North).

Coaches: Tuscola -- Rick Reinhart (15-7, second season at Tuscola; 120-96 overall, 21st season). Brown County -- Tom Little (47-33 at Brown County, eighth season).

Postseason history: Tuscola -- 21 appearances, 29-19 record. Brown County -- 8 appearances, 4-7 record.

Best postseason finish: Tuscola -- Won 2006 Class 1A state championship. Brown County -- Lost to East St. Louis Assumption in Class 1A quarterfinal round in 1982.

As the fans see it: According to those registered for the "Are You Smarter Than The Sports Guys?" contest at www.whig.com/smarter, 95 percent favor Brown County.

Scouting Tuscola: Phillip Meyer and Josh Scribner lead the Warriors' rushing attack. Meyer, the team's quarterback, has rushed for 548 yards on 148 carries. Scribner has gained 548 yards on 108 touches. Meyer has thrown for 1,212 yards and completed 90 of his 172 passing attempts. He's thrown 14 touchdowns and only been picked off seven times. Gunnar Edwards is Meyer's favorite target. Edwards has 44 catches for 650 yards and has reached the end zone nine times this year.

Getting defensive: Don't expect many points to be scored today. Brown County's defense has pitched eight shutouts this season and Tuscola has blanked six of its 10 opponents. The Hornets are allowing .9 points per game and the Warriors are allowing 6.1.

"It should be a very low scoring game because both teams have very good defenses and have played solid all year," Little said. "... On the offensive end, we've put up a lot of points -- and they have too. So it might come down to a trick play or a big play from somebody to really break the game open."

On the mend: After not playing last week with a shoulder injury, Jacob Ward will return for the Hornets.

"He looked very good in practice this week," Little said of the running back. "We expect some big things out of him (today)."

Joe Cross also will return after taking a late hit to the leg after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of last week's win against South Piatt.

"We got it X-rayed, and the X-rays came out negative," Little said. "So he's just been trying to get all the stiffness and soreness out of it."

-- Matt Goldberg