Effingham looks to bounce back from their 64-20 blowout loss last week against Taylorville. This week they host Apollo conference rival Mt. Zion. Mt. Zion is 2-0 and are coming off a 13-3 win against Lincoln. The Braves are led by junior running back Sage Davis, who missed the first game of the year with an ankle injury, had a nice week totaling 215 yards rushing. The offense is young with 3 sophomores starting but the defense is not to be overlooked giving up only one touchdown so far this season.
The road to an Apollo conference championship in recent years have traveled thru these two schools. In the past 11 seasons either Effingham or Mt. Zion have won 8 Apollo conference titles. In fact except in the years either team didn’t win the overall Apollo title, the winner of this game has gone on to win the Apollo except once. In the 2011-2012 season Effingham won the game but Mt. Zion would go on to win the conference. This is a must win game for Effingham as they go on the road for the next three games.
This game is being highlighted as WCIA 3’s “Game of the Week” and fans are encouraged to bring some non perishable food items(Canned meats, Canned complete meals , Canned beans and other vegetables, Canned fruit, Boxed meals, Peanut butter). The campaign benefits the “Eastern Illinois Foodbank” and “Central Illinois Foodbank”. This game is also in what has become a new tradition for the Hearts Military Appreciation Night.