Hearts Travel to Lincoln Friday

The Effingham Flaming Hearts travel to Lincoln to take on the Railsplitters in Apollo Conference football action Friday night. Kickoff is 7pm. You can hear the game on Classic Hits 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:45pm.

The Hearts need to win at least two of their last three games to qualify for the playoffs, with no guarantee that they'll make the post-season, just that they'd be eligible.

Effingham lost its first two games to Top 5 rated St. Teresa and Mahomet-Seymour, then won three straight over Charleston, Mattoon and Taylorville. The Hearts lost in overtime last week in a classic struggle against Mt. Zion, 39-36, to fall to 3-3 on the season.

Lincoln is also 3-3 this season and is entertaining a trip to the post-season for the first time since the 1980s.  The Railers won at Clinton and at Charleston to start their season, posting shutouts in both games. Then came three straight losses to Jerseyville, Mahomet-Seymour and Mt. Zion, before beating Mattoon last week 27-7 to get back to .500.

Junior Darren Stevens is the Lincoln quarterback, while senior Isaac Decker and junior Ki'on Carson carry the ball. Gabe Smith, Colbie Glenn and Jaden Leadley are among the Lincoln receivers.

Senior Tanner Pontious quarterbacks the Hearts, while Evan Waymoth and Weldon Dunston do the bulk of the rushing. Andrew Lotz, Caden Walls and Connor Thompson are Effingham's leading receivers. Armando Estrada is becoming more of a weapon for the Hearts, kicking two field goals last week.

Following the Lincoln contest, the Hearts head for home to play their Senior Night game against Breese Mater Dei, then close out the regular season at Highland. 

Here are the Week 7 matchups:

Effingham _____ at Lincoln _____

Mattoon _____ vs Charleston _____ (at EIU)

Taylorville ______ at Mahomet-Seymour _____

Collinsville _____ at Mt. Zion _____

Marshall _____ at Newton _____

Oakland Tri-County _____ at Cumberland _____

Vandalia _____ at Piasa Southwestern _____

Sullivan-Okaw Valley _____ at Shelbyville _____

Flora _____ at Vienna _____

Olney Richand County _____ at Robinson _____

Tuscola _____ at Decatur St. Teresa _____

Granite City _____ at Breese Mater Dei _____

Highland _____ at Mascoutah ______