A week ago, Mahomet-Seymour quarterback Lucas Dyer threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns.

Friday night, it was Mt. Zion’s Keller Stocks that provided the aerial assault. The junior QB completed 17-of-24 attempts for 349 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw one interception, which Effingham defensive back Maxx Kistler recorded.

Stocks has a good corps of receivers to throw to – most notably Jacob Harvey, Brayden Trimble and JC Anderson. That trio combined to haul in 16 of those receptions for 241 yards and three TDs. Owen Sill only had one catch, but it went for a 75-yard score.

“They can put five guys out there that are all quick and they can all catch the ball,” Hefner said. “You can’t double cover everybody.

“They keep you on the edge of your seat,” Hefner added. “They can strike so quickly, you never feel comfortable.”

The Braves scored what proved to be the only touchdown they would need late in the opening period. Starting at their own 34, they took eight plays to move 66 yards. The drive culminated with a short two-yard scoring strike to Harvey to make it 7-0 at the 2:11 mark.

The Hearts put together their best drive of the game late in the first half. A 15-yard run by Nolan Fearday and a 34-yard pass from Jaxon Bridges to Kistler moved the ball to the Mt. Zion 21-yard line. But when trying to avoid pressure on the ensuing play, Bridges was hit from behind, fumbled and the Braves recovered.

It took just four passing plays and 29 seconds to find the end zone. Harvey caught one for 23 yards and then Anderson hauled in a 57-yard reception to give the hosts a 14-0 lead at intermission.

Mt. Zion added two more scores in the third quarter – a 19-yard pass to Harvey and the 75-yard play to Sill.

Meanwhile, the Effingham offense struggled for the second week in a row. A running game that was averaging 275 yards, was limited to just 22 last week against Mahomet-Seymour and only 108 against a Braves defensive front that allowed 359 to Mattoon.

Weldon Dunston IV was a true workhorse. He carried the ball 35 times and gained 84 yards. On 17 of those plays, however, he was held to two yards or less. There simply was nowhere to run.

“We thought we could run the ball, especially considering the yardage Mattoon got on them,” Hefner noted. “But we got whipped pretty good in the box. It was disappointing.”

Bridges completed 4-of-11 passes for 79 yards, giving the Hearts 187 total yards in the contest.

Defensive end Michael Love had a good game. The Hearts recorded four quarterback sacks and Love had three of those.

Now, it all comes down to one game. And the Hearts will face another good offensive football team when Centralia comes to Washington Savings Bank Stadium. The Orphans have already qualified for the postseason, having notched their fifth win Friday night – a 42-16 thumping of Mt. Vernon.

“One game left,” Hefner said. “Win it and we’re in. So, we still have that to play for. We get that win and we get to play another one. It’s that simple.”