The ninth-seeded Generals (8-2) will travel to face the eighth-seeded Braves (7-2) in one of the area’s most anticipated first-round matchups.

The two programs last met on November 2, 2019, when Mt. Zion escaped with a 31-30 overtime victory.

MacArthur enters Friday’s contest coming off a 35-6 playoff-opening victory over Effingham, while Mt. Zion received a first-round bye after finishing the regular season with four consecutive wins.

The winner will advance to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

106.3 The Game will have live coverage of Friday night’s matchup, continuing its coverage of MacArthur football. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

Fans can listen on 106.3 FM or online at DecaturRadio.com.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture selected a regional partnership led by the City of Decatur to receive the funding through its 2026 Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The grant will help farmers use conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till farming and grassy waterways to reduce soil erosion and keep pollutants out of local waterways.

The project will focus on Big Creek, Long Creek, Sand Creek and Finley Creek.

The new funding builds on a $9.88 million grant awarded in 2022. That project helped prevent 22,000 pounds of nitrogen, 3,160 pounds of phosphorus and 2,940 tons of sediment from entering Lake Decatur.

The latest round of funding was competitive, with just 42 projects selected from 179 applications nationwide. Decatur’s partnership was the only project selected in Illinois.

City officials say the strong partnership between the City of Decatur and the Sanitary District of Decatur was a factor in the selection, particularly efforts to reduce phosphorus levels affecting the Sangamon River.

For more information about the program and local watershed protection efforts, visit DecaturIL.gov.

Photo courtesy: DecaturIL.gov