Hearts Finally Home

The Effingham Hearts finally will play their home opener Friday night, hosting the Highland Bulldogs.

Game time is 7pm at Klosterman Field. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

Effingham took two long road trips to open the season, losing at Breese to Mater Dei 27-13 and then eking out a 35-34 win at Jerseyville where a blocked extra point made the difference.

Now, it's home to a Bulldogs' ballclub that also has begun its season 1-1. Highland lost its opener at Cahokia, 25-24, then returned home to defeat Mt. Zion 28-21.

Highland returns junior quarterback Garrett Marti, who threw for 921 yards and nine touchdowns his sophomore season. Marti and senior running back Trent Rakers combined for almost 1,600 yards rushing last season along with 21 touchdowns. So far this season, Marti has gone 40 of 56 for 517 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite receiving target is sophomore wide receiver Sam LaPorta, who has caught 15 passes for 293 yards.

Highland finished 8-2 last season.

Effingham also has a young offense, what with junior Lucas Vasquez and sophomore Landon Wolfe sharing time at quarterback and junior running back Terrence Hill doing the vast majority of carrying the ball. Vasquez has gone eight for 18 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Wolfe has completed seven of 21 attempts for 181 yards and one touchdown. Hill has rushed for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

There will be a theme for each Hearts' home game this season. Tonight it's Unit 40 Employee Appreciation Night.

Effingham will begin Apollo Conference play next week.

Here's the schedule for Friday night:

Highland 47  at Effingham  14,   FINAL

Centralia 41 at Charleston  8, FINAL

Jerseyville 33 at Mattoon  50, FINAL

Bethalto Civic Memorial 6 at Mt. Zion  40, FINAL

Mascoutah ____ at Salem  ____ POSTPONED TILL SATURDAY

Rantoul ____ at Taylorville  ____

Flora ____ at Casey-Westfield  ____POSTPONED TILL SATURDAY

Newton 51 at Lawrenceville  12, FINAL

Robinson 0 at Marshall 48, FINAL

Olney Richland County 0 at Monticello  43, FINAL

Paris ____ at Bridgeport Red Hill  ____, POSTPONED TILL SATURDAY

Decatur Lutheran ____ at Oakland Tri County  ____

Niantic Sangamon Valley 26 at Cumberland 12, FINAL

Pana 37 at Gillespie  0, FINAL

Carlinville ____ at Greenville  ____

Vandalia 42 at Staunton  0, FINAL