Hearts Hit the Road for Mahomet-Seymour in Week 2 Tilt

The Effingham Hearts travel to Mahomet Friday night to take on the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs. It's the Apollo Conference opener for both teams. Due to a special event known as "Dog-a-Palooza", the game will not start until 7:30pm. Pre-game coverage will begin at 7:15pm on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Mahomet-Seymour is the third-rated team in the state in Class 5A. The Bulldogs avenged a quarterfinal loss in the State 5A playoffs last season with a 51-14 win over Morton last Friday.

The Hearts opened their season at home against second-seeded in Class 2A Decatur St. Teresa and lost 18-0. Not only that, EHS lost their starting running back John Westendorf to injury. Westendorf had rushed for 60 yards before he had to leave the game for good. Sophomore Weldon Dunston will get the start at running back this week.

Mahomet-Seymour is led by senior quarterback Wyatt Bohm, listed among the Top 10 quarterbacks in the state this season. Bohm threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns in last week's win over Morton. Senior Quenton Rogers is Bohm's chief target, catching five passes for 78 yards. Senior Valient Walsh caught five passes for 66 yards. The Bulldogs do have a ground game, though, as Luke Johnson rushed 22 times for 90 yards. On defense, the Bulldogs' Nick Golden led the state in sacks last season.

Effingham will be led by senior quarterback Tanner Pontious, who threw for 64 yards, finding six different receivers with pass completions. Fullback Evan Waymoth will join Dunston in the backfield for the Hearts. Andrew Lotz and Caden Walls are Pontious' chief receiving threats.

Here's the Week 2 schedule:

EFFINGHAM _____ at Mahomet-Seymour _____

Lincoln _____ at Charleston _____

Mattoon _____ at Mt. Zion _____

Elgin St. Edward ____ at Taylorville _____

Casey-Westfield _____ at Newton _____

Cumberland _____ at Tuscola _____

Vandalia _____ at Carlinville _____

Hillsboro _____ at Pana _____

Shelbyville _____ at Red Hill _____

Flora _____ at Albion (Edwards County) _____

Centralia _____ at Olney Richland County _____

Belleville Althoff _____ at Decatur St. Teresa _____

Highland _____ at Edwardsville _____

Breese Central _____ at Breese Mater Dei _____