Published on October 10, 2026 8:16 pm
Last Updated on October 10, 2026 8:16 pm
Bryden Kade ran 30 times for 139 yards and two scores and Luke Harper came up with a huge tackle on a late potentially game-tying two-point conversion as Effingham High School closed out its Apollo Conference football schedule with a 14-12 home victory over Mattoon.
Effingham (2-6, 2-3 Apollo) never trailed but never pulled away from the Green Wave (2-6, 1-4 Apollo).
It was enough to get the win and also enough to vault EHS into Class 4A playoff position in IHSA’s newly expanded postseason format thanks to its massive stockpile of 49 playoff points. Only two other two-win teams are currently projected to infiltrate the 48-team 4A field.
Each squad managed two touchdowns, but Brady Patnaude nailed both extra points while Mattoon’s one PAT try doinked off the upright and its two-point run attempt with 6:15 left in the game was thwarted by Harper’s big stop.
Kade, getting every tailback carry for the Hearts on the night, opened the scoring late in the first quarter when he busted loose for a 36-yard touchdown run. It was the longest play of the night for either squad and came a possession after Mattoon seemed to have taken an early lead only to have a completed pass in the end zone negated by an ineligible receiver downfield.
That was one of nine penalties for 86 yards whistled against the Green Wave; Effingham was more disciplined with 35 yards on five infractions.
Mattoon got within a point early in the second period when quarterback Brayden Hackett found tight end Carson Kimbro in the end zone from 11 yards out; Kimbro got himself an unsportsmanlike conduct flag celebrating his second score of the campaign and the kick was no good to keep EHS out front.
Another Kade TD run, this time from six yard away, gave Effingham a 14-6 lead after the Patnaude kick with 7:51 to go in the third quarter.
Each team punted after that and then Mattoon turned it over when Will Hecht got underneath his man to intercept a badly underthrown pass down the left sideline. The Hearts punted again to set up the final scoring drive of the night.
With 38.9 seconds left in the third quarter, Mattoon began at its own 20 and proceeded to run 16 plays over six minutes and 23 seconds. The Green Wave converted three third downs and a fourth down on the drive and Hackett finally got across the goal line rather easily on a QB keeper.
Earlier in the drive Hackett had picked up five yards on a 4th-and-1 keeper, but when the Green Wave lined up for the two-point conversion they had Hackett in the shotgun and he handed to Harley Pierce. Harper wrapped him up and Mattoon would never possess the football again as the Hearts handed or passed to Kade 10 straight times to move the chains and kill the rest of the clock.
Effingham closes out the regular season at home next week with undefeated Centralia coming to town. The Orphans just handed Breese Central its first loss of the year in a 42-33 shootout. As always, that game is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday with a 6:45 pregame show on Your Home For Hearts Football, 979 XFM.
At Klosterman Field
Washington Savings Bank Stadium
Effingham High School
Mattoon 0 6 0 6 – 12
Effingham 7 0 7 0 – 14
SCORING SUMMARY
1Q, 3:07, EHS (7-0) – 36-yard run, Bryden Kade – Brady Patnaude kick good (8 plays, 70 yds, 3:39)
2Q, 9:22, MHS (7-6) – 11-yard pass, Brayden Hackett to Carson Kimbro – kick no good (12 plays, 72 yds, 5:45)
3Q, 7:51, EHS (14-6) – 6-yard run, Bryden Kade – Brady Patnaude kick good (6 plays, 42 yds, 2:29)
4Q, 6:15, MHS (14-12) – 2-yard run, Brayden Hackett – 2pt conversion no good (16 plays, 80 yds, 6:23)
MATTOON
Rushing: Harley Pierce, 25 for 98 yds; Brayden Hackett, 11 for 13 yds, TD.
Passing: Brayden Hackett, 10-for-19, 88 yds, TD, INT.
Receiving: Knox Hayes, 4 for 20 yds; Brendan Prince, 1 for 1 yd; Carson Kimbro, 1 for 11 yds, TD; Kameron Haws, 2 for 29 yds; Harley Pierce, 1 for 21 yds.
TOTAL OFFENSE: 199 yds on 55 plays (36 rushes for 111 yds; 19 passes for 88 yds).
EFFINGHAM
Rushing: Bryden Kade, 30 for 131 yds, 2 TD; Jenner Keyes, 2 for 0 yds; Jack Hartman, 2 for -2 yds.
Passing: Jack Hartman, 4-for-12, 53 yds.
Receiving: Brayden Baudier, 1 for 15 yds; Gabe Raddatz, 2 for 25 yds; Bryden Kade, 1 for 13 yds.
TOTAL OFFENSE: 182 yds on 46 plays (34 rushes for 129 yds, 12 passes for 53 yds).
TURNOVERS: Mattoon 1, Effingham 0.
PENALTIES: Mattoon: 9 for 86 yds. Effingham: 5 for 35 yds.
FIRST DOWNS: Mattoon 16 (10 rushing, 4 passing, 2 by penalty), Effingham 14 (9 rushing, 2 passing, 3 by penalty).