Hearts at Mt. Zion Saturday for Playoffs; Other Area Playoff Battles

The Effingham Hearts are gearing up for a rematch with the Mt. Zion Braves Saturday afternooon.

This time, it's a first round playoff battle and, this time, the game will be played in Mt. Zion.

The two teams just played two weeks ago at Effingham with the Hearts coming away a 21-14 winner.

The battle between the two Apollo Conference foes will be heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. Kickoff will begin at 2:30pm, with pregame coverage at 2:15pm.

The win over the Braves was one of the biggest games of the season for the Hearts, as it opened the door for them to qualify for the playoffs. Effingham is 5-4 on the season, while Mt. Zion is 7-2.

The Hearts and the Braves are two of five Apollo teams to reach the playoffs, joining Mahomet-Seymour, Charleston, and Taylorville. Mattoon was the lone conference school to fail to reach the postseason. If the Hearts win, they will take on the winner of the Cahokia at Breese Central game the following week.

Here's the Round 1 playoff schedule for area teams:

EFFINGHAM ______ at MT. ZION ______, 2:30pm Saturday

Freeburg ______ at CHARLESTON ______, 2pm Saturday

TAYLORVILLE ______at Murphysboro _______, 3pm Saturday

Troy Triad ______ at MAHOMET-SEYMOUR _______, 7pm Friday

Benton ______ at Mt. Carmel _______, 2pm Saturday

Trenton Wesclin ______ at Shelbyville _______, 1pm Saturday

Vandalia ______ at Lawrenceville _______, 1pm Saturday

Cumberland _______ at Cumberland ______, 7pm Friday