Published on October 15, 2026 4:55 pm
Last Updated on October 15, 2026 4:55 pm
With a shot at the Class 4A playoff field seemingly solidified after last week’s victory over Mattoon, Effingham High School faces one final regular season test … and what a test it is.
Undefeated Centralia will occupy the western sideline at Klosterman Field Friday night. Effingham’s varsity football schedule has been a season-long walk through fire and the Orphans’ embers are glowing red-hot after handing Breese Central its first loss of the year by a 42-33 final a week prior.
IHSA’s most recent playoff outlook projects Centralia as the No. 2 seed in Class 4A after a triumph in its first legitimate test of the fall. Prior to knocking off the Cougars, the Orphans’ closest matchup was a 35-17 decision at Freeburg back in Week 4. They’ve outscored opponents by an average of better than 30 points per game and haven’t put fewer than 35 on the board all season.
Senior running back Ja’Shawn Staples, a Mt. Vernon transfer who compiled nearly 2,000 yards in a Rams uniform, has found the end zone 27 times this year. Rushing, receiving, defensive, kick returns … he’s scored in pretty much every way you can imagine. Quite an addition to a roster that already had Archie Goewey, a junior and third-year starting quarterback, and a whole host of talented and accomplished receivers set to return.
So Centralia is awfully good. One of the best teams in the state. What else is new?
Effingham (2-6) has had to hear that about a bunch of the teams it’s faced since the season kicked off two months ago at Breese Central. Mt. Carmel hasn’t lost and will get a single-digit seed in Class 3A. Mahomet hasn’t lost and has a shot at the top seed in 5A.
Even with last week’s loss, Central will likely handle Herrin this week and be a top ten seed in 4A. Mt. Zion may or may not get a first-round bye in 4A but, if it plays, would be one of the better teams in action when postseason games kick off next weekend. Taylorville and Mater Dei will be playoff teams as well.
The gauntlet hasn’t produced many victories, but it has left the Hearts with 49 playoff points heading into Week 9 and a very real chance to get a foot in the door of IHSA’s new expanded playoff format despite a record that never would’ve found its way to Week 10 in previous years.
The Hearts started Bryden Kade at running back in the 14-12 Apollo Conference finale over Mattoon and handed him the ball 30 times for 134 yards and both scores in his first varsity start. Kicking ended up being the difference in that win; Brady Patnaude hit both his extra points, while Mattoon missed a PAT and then couldn’t convert for two points late … Luke Harper has probably replayed his game-winning tackle a time or two in his head this week. Who could blame him?
Last year Effingham went to Centralia and dropped a 21-16 decision; it last beat the Orphans in 2024 – Centralia’s first season on Effingham’s schedule – by a 61-34 tally.
Game time, as always, is set for 7 p.m. at Washington Savings Bank Stadium at Effingham High School. The pregame show this week will begin at 6:40 p.m. on Your Home For Hearts Football, 979 XFM.
The rest of the Apollo is also in non-conference action. Mahomet (8-0) hosts Bloomington (4-4), Mt. Zion (6-2) welcomes Breese Mater Dei (5-3) and Taylorville (5-3) is home against Bethalto Civic Memorial (4-4).
Charleston (0-8) will try to avoid its first winless season since 2019 when it travels to Salem (4-4). The Trojans went 0-9 three times between 2016 and 2019. Mattoon (2-6) still has a glimmer of hope at the Class 4A playoff field but needs a home win over Marion (3-5).
In the Lincoln Prairie Conference, Cumberland and Nokomis both sport 4-4 records as they head into their matchup in Toledo; both are locks for the Class 2A postseason but a fifth win would improve their positioning and ensure a finish in the top half of the LPC standings.
In the Little Illini Conference, Newton (5-3, 4-2 LIC) closes with a road trip to Marshall (3-5, 2-4). The Eagles will also be a part of that 2A field and have a shot at finishing alone in second behind undefeated Mt. Carmel in the LIC if they win coupled with Olney and Paris losses. Newton beat both teams head-to-head, so even if all three were to win the Eagles would have second place bragging rights.