EFFINGHAM — Brett Hefner enters his 10th season with the Effingham football team, looking to make a third-straight trip to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Playoffs.
The Flaming Hearts have finished each of the last two seasons at 5-5, losing in the first round of the postseason in both years. EHS fell to Rochester two years ago and Mt. Zion last season, both contests away from Klosterman Field at Washington Savings Bank Stadium.
Hefner believes the returners will have to be the key this season in order to hear their name called when the pairings are out.
"I think the big thing is we have some people returning — who have been really good players for us — returning in some key spots," Hefner said. "I like that we have four guys back upfront that played a lot last year. We've added two that we're getting back: Rylan (Pals) and Chase Smith. I like how that group's coming together and having Weldon (Dunston) back is big."
Dunston was the workhorse for the Hearts last year, racking up a whopping 1,510 rushing yards on 258 carries and scoring 17 times. He averaged 151 yards per contest.
Attendants will see a different form of Dunston this year, too.
"If anyone looks at him, you can tell the work he's put in," Hefner said. "He's done a good job of continuing to improve his body and put on a lot of strength; put on some size, and he's up to about 200 pounds now. He had a really good year in track and added some speed, so he put in a ton of work. You would know that by looking at him and watching him."
Fans will also watch a different quarterback.
However, that isn't anything new.
EHS has trotted out three different signal callers in each of the last two seasons. Two years ago, it was Tanner Pontious. Last year, Gaige Gillum.
Last year, Gillum completed 74 of his 147 passes for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns to seven interceptions.
"We have a couple of guys right now and we'll probably end up playing both of them and see if one jumps up and takes it," Hefner said. "They each have their strengths, and we'll need them for that position. I would imagine they'd both end up playing."
Defensively, Hefner also likes what he has on that side of the field.
The Hearts' defense allowed 25 points per game last year.
EHS does lose its three top tacklers: Zach Donaldson (73 total tackles), Charlie Ring (67 total tackles) and Spencer Fox (54 total tackles). Michael Love (52 total tackles), Kaden Koeberlein (50 total tackles), Kayden Mietzner (42 total tackles), Wade Bushur (28 total tackles) and Nick Martin (13 total tackles) are the only varsity members returning who had 10 total tackles-or-more last year.
"Having some people back in some key spots. Having Michael and Kayden Mietzner back, those guys have played a lot of football. Having Wade back at free safety — that's another key position for us. (Bushur) has to communicate a lot of coverage things, and then having Nick back at cornerback. We've got some guys in each position group who played 10 football games last year. That, coupled with communicating with the new guys, is what we want."
Hefner knows the defense will need to be solid week in and week out, especially in the Apollo Conference this year.
"I said it last year; the league was better and would be even better again this year," Hefner said. "Mahomet-Seymour, we got to start with them, and Mt. Zion has a ton of talent. Then, you look at everybody else; Charleston will be the second year with their new coach, and you figure they'll be even better. Mattoon is working on the third year with (Jarad) Kimbro, so they'll improve. Taylorville returns everybody from a junior class they thought was pretty good. So, the conference will be very competitive."
Before the Hearts think about league play, they will focus on Robinson in Week 1. EHS beat the Maroons last year, 31-7, in Week 1.
"First games are hard because of roster turnover," Hefner said. "You look at what they have back, but you need to know if they have kids joining them who didn't play last year or if they had kids who decided not to play. So, we'll have a general idea of what they're gonna try and do schematically based on what we saw last year, and that's what we'll plan for and go from there."
Quarterback Reese Johnson returns for Robinson. Last year, he completed 80 of his 143 passes for 1,102 yards and 14 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
All three leading rushers are back from one year ago. AJ Knoblett led the team with 422 rushing yards on 72 carries and two scores. Blake Green has 121 rushing yards on 35 carries and three scores and Johnson ran for 116 yards on 105 carries and two touchdowns.
Leading receiver Judson Pinkston and second-leading receiver Julian Parker graduated. But, the Maroons return Knoblett, who caught 21 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns and Khyzaiah Poole, who caught 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
