Hearts Host Highland to End Regular Season

The Effingham Flaming Hearts play host to the Highland Bulldogs Friday night to conclude the 2021 regular season.

Game time is 7pm at Klosterman Field. It will be Senior Night, with recognition of senior football players and cheerleaders at 6:30pm, and recognition of senior marching band members at halftime.

Hear the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for students.

It's a big game for both teams, as they are each 4-4 on the season. Highland got to .500 last week with a 29-27 win over previously-unbeaten Mascoutah. The Hearts fell to 4-4 with a 41-13 loss to undefeated Breese Mater Dei. 

Junior Travis Porter is a key on offense for Highland, rushing for more than 800 yards and 18 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Brent Wuebbels has thrown for more than 600 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Cade Altadonna has caught more than 500 yards in passes and scored five touchdowns. 

Underclassmen have also provided most of the offense for the Hearts this season. Junior John Westendorf has rushed for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Tanner Pontious has thrown for nine touchdowns. Senior Keegan Baker has rushed for more than 300 yards. 

Still to be decided is whether Effingham will make the playoffs. It's the same story for Highland. If the Hearts win, they'll finish the regular season 5-4 and will likely make the postseason. If they lose, they might still make it as a four-win team since some teams didn't finish their seasons due to COVID and since the Hearts have a bundle of playoff points. The decisions will be announced Saturday night after 8:00. We will let you know whether the Hearts make it, online and on the air, Saturday night.

Here are the Week 9 matchups:

Highland ______ at EFFINGHAM ______

Salem ______ at CHARLESTON ______

Troy Triad ______ at LINCOLN ______

Bloomington ______ at MAHOMET-SEYMOUR ______

MATTOON _______ at Marion _______

Breese Mater Dei ______ at MT. ZION ______

TAYLORVILLE ______ at Bethalto Civic Memorial _______

Cumberland ______ at Sangamon Valley ______

Newton ______ at Marshall ______

Greenville _______ at Vandalia _______

Shelbyville _______ at Central A&M _______

Carmi-White County ______ at Flora _______

Robinson ______ at Olney Richland County _______