Mater Dei Edges Hearts in Football Opener

VIDEO: EHS vs Breese (direct link)

The Effingham Hearts played what Coach Mike McDonald termed their best game ever at Breese, but fell to the Mater Dei Knights, 22-17 Friday night in the season opener for both squads. The football contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  

It was all Hearts in the early part of the game. After forcing a Mater Dei punt, Effingham staged a 15-play, 79-yard drive capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by Zach Miller. Michael Carie's extra point made it 7-0 following the Hearts' 9:32 drive.

Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See additional game photos and more on their Facebook page.

The Hearts then extended the lead to 10-0, completing a seven-play, 50-yard drive with 5:36 left in the second quarter with a 30-yard Michael Carie field goal.

Mater Dei finally got on the board with 4:29 remaining until halftime, concluding a seven-play, 65-yard drive that only took 1:07 to complete. Knights' quarterback Sam Toennies took the ball in from the four-yard line to make it 10-6, but the try for two was unsuccessful.

Mater Dei also scored with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter, staging a six-play, 67-yard drive culminating with a 54-yard pass play to Brady Rakers and a successful two-point conversion on a pass play from Toennies to Brady Rakers. That pushed Mater Dei ahead 14-10. 

The Knights also staged a three-play, 80-yard drive just before the end of the third quarter to make it 22-10.

The Hearts final score came with 3:48 left in the fourth quarter when Effingham ran off a seven-play, 66-yard drive, highlighted by Billy Arndt's one-yard touchdown run and Carie's kick to pull within five points, but they couldn't get closer.

Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See additional game photos and more on their Facebook page.

Effingham had the edge in most stats, just not in points. The Hearts picked up 14 first downs to 10 for Mater Dei, ran 57 plays to 42 for Mater Dei, and amassed 291 yards in total offense to Mater Dei's 278 yards.

Senior running back Zach Miller led Effingham with 110 yards rushing on 23 carries. Billy Arndt added 48 yards in eight carries, Drew Vasquez 23 yards on three totes, and Travis Durbin two carries for six yards. Daugherty was sacked five times for two yards. He completed six of 16 passes for 106 yards and one interception, two completions for 34 yards to Billy Arndt, two passes for 18 yards to Vasquez, one for 40 yards to Miller, and one for 14 yards to Noah Lohman.

For Mater Dei, Toennies carried for 80 yards, and Rakers added 43 yards. Toennies was 10 of 16 passing for 128 yards and one touchdown.

Travis Durbin led the Hearts with eight tackles, while Billy Arndt had seven stops.

Other Hearts' stats: 

Punts--Michael Carie, one for 51; Kevin Daugherty, two for 70 yards

Punt Returns--Zach Miller, two for seven yards

Kickoffs--Michael Carie, four for 170 yards

Kickof Returns--Drew Vasquez, one for 21; Travis Durbin, one for no gain

Last night's game was the season opener for both squads; the Hearts travel to Mascoutah next Friday evening.