Hearts Open Apollo Play Hosting Taylorville Friday; Week 2 Schedule

Two teams coming off great seasons face each other at Klosterman Field Friday night in the Apollo Conference opener for both squads.

The Effingham Hearts and the Taylorville Tornadoes each finished 9-2 last season. The Hearts game against the Tornadoes last season marked the turning point in Effingham's season.

Effingham fell behind early in the contest, but began to battle back. The game was a wild one from that point, with Effingham storming back to a 50-37 win at Taylorville. The Hearts swept the rest of their regular season games and won a first round playoff game before falling to Highland in a second round contest. 

That loss to the Hearts was Taylorville's only regular season defeat and Effingham won the conference championship.

Effingham lost to Breese Mater Dei 26-19 last week, while Taylorville defeated Mt. Vernon 20-8.

The Tornadoes are led by third-year varsity starting quarterback Brandon Odam. Senior Justin Wright caught two passes for touchdowns last week, while senior Riley Buschon rushed for a score.

Effingham also scored three times last week; twice on short runs by Logan Brown and Kendall Ballman, once on a 55-yard touchdown pass from the Hearts' own third-year starting quarterback Landon Wolfe to Tristin Duncan.

Kickoff is at 7pm. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Here's the schedule for this Friday night (Apollo Conference schools in CAPS):

TAYLORVILLE _____ at EFFINGHAM _____

CHARLESTON _____ at MAHOMET-SEYMOUR _____

LINCOLN _____ at MT. ZION _____

MATTOON _____ at Mascoutah _____

Newton _____ at Sullivan-Okaw Valley _____

Cumberland _____ at Fithian Oakwood _____

Shelbyville _____ at Cerro Gordo-Bement _____

Paris _____ at Casey-Westfield _____

Marshall _____ at Flora _____

Olney Richland County _____ at Lawrenceville _____

Hillsboro _____ at Vandalia _____

Pana _____ at Roxana _____

Breese Mater Dei _____ at Alton Marquette _____

Canton _____ at Macomb _____

Carterville _____ at Herrin _____