Hearts Host an Old Foe in Second Round Playoff Action Saturday

A former Apollo Conference foe visits Effingham Saturday to take on the Hearts in second round Class 4A football playoff action.

The Paris Tigers come to call at Klosterman Field for a 2pm contest. Hear the game on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Paris was a member of the Apollo for many years until switching to the Little Illini Conference. This season's squad comes into Saturday's game with a 10-0 record. The Tigers defeated Newton 26-14, Casey-Westfield 33-9, Lawrenceville 63-0, Red Hill 34-14, Farmer City Blue Ridge 63-0, Marshall 49-14, Olney Richland County 42-27, Robinson 46-0, and Flora 58-16 before defeating another former Apollo Conference foe Salem in the first round of the playoffs last weekend 42-14.

This is the second straight season that Coach Jeremy Clodfelder's crew has reached the playoffs. Paris' opponents this season had a combined record of 35-46.

The Hearts' season has been told many times. After opening with a narrow 26-19 loss to Breese Mater Dei and a 64-20 drubbing by Taylorville, the Hearts have reeled off eight straight wins, winning over Mt. Zion 41-14, Lincoln 36-0, Macomb 54-19, Mahomet-Seymour 64-28, Charleston 56-34, Mattoon 41-21, and Carterville 46-26 before gaining a large measure of revenge by winning at Breese over Mater Dei 21-6 in first round playoff action last Saturday.

This is also the second straight season that Coach Brett Hefner's crew has reached the playoffs. Effingham's opponents this season had a combined record of 38-43.

Four of the Hearts' opponents this season made the playoffs, to three teams for Paris.

Gates will open at noon Saturday at Klosterman Field for the 2pm game. Admission is $5 per person, and passes are not valid for playoff games. Please take along exact change. 

The winner of the Effingham/Paris game will take on the winner of the Kankakee McNamara/Murphysboro game next weekend. If the Hearts and Kankakee McNamara win, the game will be played at Effingham. If the Hearts and Murphysboro win, the game will be played at Murphysboro.

Again, a reminder that the Hearts/Paris game will be heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. Our NASCAR race will be heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com starting at 3pm, and a special broadcast from Gabby Goat will also be heard on 979XFM from 3-5pm. The Sunday NASCAR race will be back on KJ Country 102.3.

Here's the schedule of Week 11 matchups:

Class 4A--

Paris _____ at Effingham _____

Murphysboro _____ at Kankakee McNamara _____

Columbia _____ at Taylorville _____

Pontiac _____ at Rochester _____

Class 1A--

Central A&M _____ at Albion Edwards County _____

Arcola _____ at Concord Triopia _____

Class 2A--

Pana _____ at Downs Tri-Valley _____

Bismarck/Henning-Rossville/Alvin _____ at Tuscola _____

Class 3A--

Greenville _____ at Pleasant Plains _____

Class 5A--

Mattoon _____ at Highland _____