Hearts Host Charleston Friday Night

The Charleston Trojans will be the Week 3 opponent for the Effingham Hearts on Friday night.

The Apollo Conference clash will be heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. Kickoff will be at 7pm, with pre-game coverage at 6:45pm. It will be Military Appreciation Night at Klosterman Field at Washington Savings Bank Stadium.

Effingham has started their season playing perhaps their two toughest opponents, falling to 2A second-ranked Decatur St. Teresa 18-0 and losing at 5A #3-rated Mahomet-Seymour 35-14. The Hearts have been hampered by injuries in two successive weeks to their top two running backs John Westendorf and Weldon Dunston.

There were signs of hope in last week's game, though; improved defensive play and both passing and rushing touchdowns. 

Senior Tanner Pontious will be running the show again this week at quarterback. Receivers Andrew Lotz and Caden Walls have been getting most of Pontious' attention in the passing game, but the Hearts worked more last week to include tight end Connor Thompson in the offense.

Charleston is also 0-2 out of the gate, losing at Herscher 41-30 and at home in the conference opener to Lincoln 20-0.

The Trojans starting offense is entirely made up of juniors at the skill positions. Brett Spour is the quarterback, joined by running backs Langdon King and Aidan Archibald. The three wide receivers are Chet Schrader, Luke Nelson and Jacob Roe.

Lincoln, Mahomet-Seymour and Mt. Zion are each 2-0 and 1-0 in the Apollo. Taylorville is 1-1, both non-conference games. Effingham, Mattoon and Charleston are each 0-2 and 0-1 in the conference. Worth noting is that Effingham and Mattoon are tied as far as opponents' wins with 11 each.

Here's the Week 3 schedule:

Charleston _____ at Effingham _____

Jerseyville _____ at Lincoln _____

Mahomet-Seymour _____ at Mt. Zion _____

Mattoon _____ at Taylorville _____

Newton _____ at Lawrenceville _____

Sangamon Valley _____ at Cumberland _____

Olney Richland County _____ at Salem _____

Eldorado _____at Flora _____

Belleville Althoff ____ at Breese Mater Dei ____

Marion _____ at Highland _____

Decatur St. Teresa _____ at Central A&M _____