Hearts Go For Seventh in a Row to Close Regular Season, Possible Home Playoff Berth

The Effingham Hearts' 2018 football season started rough, but it sure has been a sweet ride since then.

The Hearts will go for their seventh straight victory when they host Carterville to close out the regular season Friday night at Klosterman Field. It'll be Senior Night, with the seniors to be honored in ceremonies before the game at 6:30pm. Kickoff is 7pm. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Effingham lost its first two games to Breese Mater Dei and Taylorville, but has since reeled off wins over Mt. Zion, Lincoln, Macomb, Mahomet-Seymour, Charleston and Mattoon. The Hearts followed last season's Apollo Conference championship with a second place finish this season, going 5-1 with the only loss to conference champion Taylorville.

The Hearts have variety in their offensive attack. Senior quarterback Landon Wolfe has had a great season throwing the football, setting EHS single game, season and career records for passing yardage. Three other passing records could fall by season's end.

Wolfe is not the only weapon. Running backs Kendall Ballman and Logan Brown have had big seasons rushing the ball and scoring plenty of points in the process, and Ballman has had a year incorporating the running game, pass catching and special teams success. Wolfe has a stable of receivers who have been keys to his success.

Speaking of special teams, that portion of the Hearts game has rounded into shape including kickers Ivan Angel and Beau Hefner and punter Dawson Whitten.

Two receiving records were reached earlier this season by injured sophomore Tristin Duncan, who will be out for the second straight week. Duncan caught passes totaling 264 yards in the win at Macomb, breaking Logan Ellington's record of 180 yards receiving. Duncan also caught four touchdown passes against Macomb, tying the record shared by Gale Lister, Mike Tegeler and Jared Holtz.

We had told you earlier that the Hearts set a record for most points scored in a game with 64 in the victory at Mahomet-Seymour.

Right now, the Hearts are hoping for at least one more home game, and that would be likely with a win over Carterville.

The Lions are 3-5 on the season, but have won their last two games. Carterville beat Benton in their opener, then lost five straight games to Herrin, Murphysboro, DuQuoin, Anna-Jonesboro and Nashville before winning over Sparta and Pinckneyville.

Carterville favors a running game. Quarterback Keaton Pestka threw just three passes last week, but ran for 159 yards.

Carterville is a member of the Mississippi Division of the River-to-River Conference.

To make for easy admission, please take along exact change to tonight's game.

Here's a look at the regional matchups for Week 9:

Carterville _____ at Effingham _____

Marshall _____ at Newton _____

Cumberland _____ at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond _____

Charleston _____ at Highland _____

Lincoln _____ at Freeburg _____

Macomb _____ at Mahomet-Seymour _____

Marion _____ at Mattoon _____

Mt. Zion _____ at Troy Triad _____

Bethalto Civic Memorial _____ at Taylorville _____

Waterloo _____ at Breese Mater Dei _____

Red Hill _____ at Casey-Westfield _____

Paris _____ at Flora _____

Olney Richland County _____ at Robinson _____

Pana _____ at Vandalia _____

Shelbyville _____ at St. Teresa _____

Massac County _____ at Salem _____