Hearts Host BMD Friday Night; First Week Schedule

The Effingham Hearts football team is familiar with the fact that 19 seniors graduated off last year's squad, including 15 starters. They might've heard it a little too often.

They've tried to make the point that they are ready to make their own mark this year, after a season that saw the Hearts go 9-2 and advance to the second round of the playoffs.

The 2018 squad has its first opportunity Friday night, as they host Breese Mater Dei in Opening Night action. Kickoff is at 7pm at Klosterman Field. Hear the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

It's no secret that the Knights have had the Hearts' number through the years, and Mater Dei handed Effingham its only regular season loss last year, scoring the first 27 points of the game and then hanging on for a 27-26 win.

Do you get the idea that there's plenty of reason for motivation for this year's Hearts team?

Here's a look at the Week 1 schedule in the area:

APOLLO CONFERENCE MEMBER GAMES:

Breese Mater Dei _____ at EFFINGHAM _____

Canton _____ at CHARLESTON _____

Macomb _____ at LINCOLN ______

MAHOMET-SEYMOUR _____ at Washington _____

Troy Triad _____ at MATTOON _____

Bartonville Limestone _____ at MT. ZION _____

TAYLORVILLE _____ AT Mt. Vernon _____

OTHER GAMES:

Niantic Sangamon Valley _____ at Cumberland _____

Paris _____ at Newton _____

Benton _____ at Carterville _____

Red Hill _____ at Flora _____

Olney Richland County _____ at Casey-Westfield _____

Argenta-Oreana _____ at Robinson _____

Salem _____ at Centralia _____

Pawnee _____ at Shelbyville _____

Gillespie _____ at Vandalia _____

Greenville _____ at Pana ______