Hearts Travel to Charleston Friday Night

The Effingham Hearts will work to stay undefeated in Apollo Conference play when they travel to Charleston Friday night to take on the Trojans.

Kickoff is at 7pm. Our pregame coverage will begin at 6:45pm. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Effingham is coming off a 42-21 win over the Green Wave in Mattoon last Friday in their Apollo Conference opener. The Hearts are 2-2 for all games. Effingham opened the season with a 31-7 win at Robinson, then lost 36-30 in overtime against Mt. Carmel and 36-14 against Breese Mater Dei.

Charleston is 3-1 for all games. The Trojans won their opener over Herscher 42-13, beat Paris 56-20, and won against Jerseyville 30-18, but lost their conference opener last Friday against Mahomet-Seymour 49-21. 

Junior tailback Weldon Dunston IV is the leading offensive player for the Hearts with more than 500 yards rushing this season. Senior quarterback Gaige Gillum's favorite target has been senior wide receiver Andrew Lotz, with Brodie Belcher, Colton Webb and Hunter Reed also busy in the receiving corps. 

For the Trojans, junior Luke Bonnstetter is the quarterback. Running backs include Alex Matheny, Cody Bell and Aidan Burnett. Receivers include Luke Nelson, Chet Shrader and Brett Spour. 

Next week, Effingham will host Taylorville for Homecoming.

Here are the Week 5 matchups in the region:

EFFINGHAM ______ at CHARLESTON ______

TAYLORVILLE _____ at MAHOMET-SEYMOUR ______

MATTOON _____ at MT. ZION _______

Robinson ______ at Marshall ______

Paris ______ at Mt. Carmel ______

Macomb ______ at Breese Mater Dei ______

Centralia ______ at Carbondale ______

Olney Richland County ______ at Newton ______

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond ______ at Cumberland ______

Casey-Westfield ______ at Lawrenceville _______

Johnston City ______ at Flora ______

Virden North Mac ______ at Vandalia ______