Mt. Zion opened the season with back-to-back wins – 48-7 over Bartonville Limestone and 42-21 over Mattoon. After dropping a 49-14 decision to Apollo Conference leader Mahomet-Seymour, the Braves have bounced back with a 21-6 victory over Taylorville and a 41-14 decision last week over Lincoln.

The key to this game will be exactly the same as last year’s contest. It will be Mt. Zion’s high-powered passing attack against the Hearts running game.

The Braves come in averaging 33 points and 343 offensive yards a game. Nearly two-thirds of that offense (228 yards) comes through the air.

Those are similar numbers to last year. The Hearts gave up 426 yards to the Braves, but had a 63-37 advantage in offensive plays and possessed the football for 28 of the 48 minutes. Mt. Zion had a 426-294 advantage in total yards – and had two long, but quick scoring drives that took less than 30 seconds -- but EHS managed to control the game on the ground and kept that quick-strike offense off the field.

That ball control formula proved successful. And when the Braves missed a potential game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter, the Hearts controlled the ball the final few minutes and prevailed 28-27.

The names for Mt. Zion may have changed this year, but the style of attack has not. The Braves are a very young squad, with just 11 seniors on the roster. That roster is filled with 21 juniors, 14 sophomores and 6 freshmen, including a couple of key contributors.

Junior quarterback Makobi Adams is completing 61 percent of his passes, connecting on 76-of-125 attempts for 1,139 yards. He has already thrown for 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

His favorite target is sophomore Braydon Trimble. He has 35 catches for 572 yards and 9 TDs. Junior Grant McAtee has hauled in 16 passes for 344 yards and 5 scores and freshman Jacob Harvey had 18 receptions for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

The Braves are also running for 115 yards a game. Junior Bryson Richardson leads the ground game with 233 yards on 47 carries.

“We have to tackle and we can’t give up the big plays,” Hefner noted. “Our defensive line has to play awfully well. They have to get after the quarterback so we don’t have to send extra people and take away from the coverage. With the type of athletes they have, we can’t do that.

“It’s going to be just like last year,” the EHS coach added. “It’s going to boil down to us being able to handle their passing game and them being able to handle our running game. Mt. Zion is always one play from scoring anywhere on the field. They’ll put four guys out wide that can flat out run.”

The Hearts come in averaging 274 yards per game, although they’ve averaged 350 yards the last three games. Sophomore Weldon Dunston and senior Evan Waymoth have helped the Hearts run for 752 yards in those three games, including a 307-yard effort in last week’s 48-13 win over Taylorville.

Quarterback Tanner Pontious has completed 54 percent of his passes, connecting on 43-of-79 attempts. He has thrown for 433 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. His completion percentage the last three weeks has been at 60 percent and have included key completions on third down to keep numerous drives alive.

Junior Andrew Lotz is the Hearts leading receiver. He has hauled in 16 receptions for 241 yards and a pair of TDs.

“We’re doing a good job with throws and catches,” Hefner said. “We’re still waiting to get that explosive play in the passing game. We’re trying to find ways to generate big plays, but we haven’t done that yet.

“Ball control is going to be important,” Hefner added. “If we can possess the ball, they can’t throw it to all their athletes. We’ve got to be able to run the ball. They have a number of guys that play both ways so, hopefully, we can wear them down a little.”

This has become a rivalry game for both schools and between two coaches – Hefner and Mt. Zion’s Patrick Etherton – that are long-time friends.

“This is a good rivalry; a healthy rivalry,” Hefner said. “Both coaches get along very well and have respect for each other. And the kids on both teams have respect for each other.”

So the stage is set for the Homecoming contest at Jack Klosterman Field.

“I told the kids they won’t remember every game,” Hefner said. “But there will be certain games they will always remember and Homecoming is one of those. I want them to enjoy the week, but when it’s time to work, they need to be ready to work.

“This is a very big game,” Hefner added. “A win keeps us in the conference running and it gets us that fourth win. At this stage of the season, they are all important games.”