VIDEO: Hearts Open Conference Play in Style, Win Third Straight

Video: EHS vs Charleston (direct link) 

The Effingham Hearts rolled to a 34-0 halftime lead and finished with a 41-7 victory over the Charleston Trojans Friday night. It was the Apollo Conference opener for the Hearts, and their third straight win. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

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

Effingham won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, as they always do. Charleston couldn't get much going and punted. The Hearts took the ball at their own five-yard line and then proceeded to roll 95 yards in five plays highlighted by Billy Arndt's 66-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead.

Effingham then scored four times in the second quarter to put the game away. The Hearts scored on a one-yard run by Zach Miller, a 40-yard run by Miller, a two-yard run by Arndt and a 22-yard pass from Kevin Daugherty to Travis Durbin with 1.8 seconds left in the half. The drives covered 63, 86, 68 and 22 yards.

Effingham's Travis Durbin catches a pass in the endzone. Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See additional game photos and more on their Facebook page.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. The Hearts got their final points with 11:01 left in the game on a four-play, 30-yard drive capped by Miller's eight-yard touchdown run and Michael Carie's kick to make it 41-0. That kicked in the continuous clock and the Hearts began substituting. Charleston scored their only points with 3:41 left in the game at the conclusion of an eight-play, 61-yard drive on a five-yard run by Tony Gilbert. The touchdown marked Charleston's first points since the fourth quarter of their season opening game.

Effingham finished 474 net yards of offense, 324 on the ground, 150 through the air. The Hearts picked up 25 first downs to eight for Charleston. The Trojans gained just 57 yards rushing and 99 yards through the air for 156 yards of offense.

Effingham's Billy Arndt blocks a pass by Charleston quarterback Ridge Boyer. Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See additional game photos and more on their Facebook page.

Despite a seven-minute drive for Charleston toward the end of the game, the Hearts still had the ball five minutes more than the Trojans.

Zach Miller had his third straight 200+ yard game for Effingham, rushing 26 times for 201 yards and three more touchdowns. Billy Arndt picked up 89 yards on seven carries and two more touchdowns. Travis Durbin had four rushes for 15 yards, Drew Vasquez one rush for 19 yards, and Kevin Daugherty three carries for one yard.

Daugherty was eight of 17 passing for 150 yards and one touchdown. Vasquez had five catches for 108 yards.

Durbin led the Hearts with seven tackles, while Evan Boggs, Khole Moran and Joe Nieman each had four stops. Wyatt Kahley, Arndt, Carter Hayes, Griffin Paige, and Hudson Graham each three tackles. Two tackles apiece were credited to Jordan Coleman, Daugherty, Blake White, Vasquez, and Carter Kistler. Caleb Martin, Alex Ramos, Hunter Diveley, Gabe Herron and Isaac Heischmidt each had one tackle. Nieman had two interceptions and Daugherty had one pick.

The Hearts are 3-1 on the season, 1-0 in the Apollo Conference. Effingham is back on the road next Friday at Salem. Game time is 7pm. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  Take your radio. A reminder you'll be able to find our broadcast on your radio at the game site.