Effingham Travels to Mahomet as High School Football Resumes in Illinois

For the first time since the fall of 2019, it'll be a Football Friday Night as the Effingham Flaming Hearts travel to Mahomet to take on the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs in Apollo Conference action. Kickoff is 7pm. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. We will be videotaping the contest; watch for it online this weekend.

The Hearts will be playing a six-game season, all against conference opponents. 

Effingham will start senior Nathan Thompson at quarterback. Thompson, who is just coming off scoring his 1,000th career point in basketball last week, will now switch to signal calling, stepping in for the graduated Nathan Shackelford. Senior Chase Woomer is back at tailback and junior Edgar Castillo will start at fullback. The wide receivers include senior Tristin Duncan and senior Holden Lewis. Lewis got considerable playing time last season, and Duncan is a wonder, coming back from a serious auto accident in the fall as good as ever and committed to Truman State for his collegiate career. A sophomore, Connor Thompson, will get the start at tight end, filling the spot for Jacob Briggerman, who is continuing his battle with cancer in his lower leg. The offensive line includes: left tackle Cohen Woods, left guard Riley Crain, center Jacob Foster, right guard Ethan Huss, and right tackle Nathan Barnes.

On defense, the cast will feature ends Kalen Reardon and Austin Herboth, tackles Alex Baughman and Zac Slifer, linebackers Jacob Stoneburner and Gabe Kihne, and backs Parker Wolfe, Gunnar Franklin, Shawn Cochran, Trevon Benavides and Jakob Logan. 

On special teams, Austin Herboth will be long snapper, Trevon Benavides the punter, Beau Hefner and Osvaldo Angel the kickers, Armando Estrada will handle kickoffs, and Parker Wolfe and Garrett Wolfe will be the holders. Parker Wolfe will be punt returner, and Keegan Baker, Trevor Donsbach, Chase Woomer and John Westendorf will return kickoffs.

The Hearts are coming off a 2019 season that saw them reach the Final Four, but that's been well over a year ago. It's this squad's opportunity to prove themselves.

WEEK 1 GAMES: 

Effingham _____ at Mahomet-Seymour _____

Lincoln _____ at Charleston _____

Mattoon _____ at Mt. Zion _____

Pontiac _____ at Taylorville _____

Red Hill _____ at Newton _____

Casey-Westfield _____ at Robinson _____

Lawrenceville _____ at Flora _____

Marshall _____ at Olney Richland County _____

Paris _____ at Mt. Carmel _____

ALAH _____ at Cumberland _____

Warrensburg-Latham _____ at Shelbyville _____

Vandalia _____ at Staunton _____

Pana _____ at Gillespie _____