Hearts Claim Share of Conference Title, Clinch Playoff Berth

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The Effingham Hearts defeated the Mt. Zion Braves 44-41 Friday night to claim a share of the Apollo Conference championship and a berth in the football playoffs. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  

The contest also saw running back Zach Miller break Effingham's single season rushing record, picking up 278 yards rushing to push his season's mark to 1,532 yards. Toby Randolph set the previous record of 1,395 yards in 1994. The 278 yards approached the record for a single game of 310 yards, set by Grant Johnson against Salem in 2011.

Effingham's Zach Miller gets a block on his way to the end zone in Friday night's win over Mt. Zion. Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See more of Gary's work on his Facebook page.

The game opened eerily similar to last week's loss at Mattoon. The Braves tried an option play on the first play of the game and scored on a 57-yard pass to Mason Bruce to take a 7-0 lead.

Effingham bounced right back, though, scoring on a nine play, 52-yard drive capped by Miller's three-yard touchdown run to make it 7-6.

Mt. Zion scored on a 53-yard pass play to Bruce to pull ahead 14-6, but Effingham came back with a nine play, 70-yard drive capped by a 46-yard touchdown run by Miller and a two-point conversion by Miller to tie the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter. Effingham then pulled ahead 21-14 on a 51-yard run by Miller, and made it 24-14 on a 33-yard field goal by Michael Carie. Up 24-14 with less than three minutes left to halftime, the Hearts seemed to self-destruct. Personal fouls were called on almost every play, and that put Mt. Zion in position to score on a 14-yard pass play, and then to socre on a 39-yard pass play to the end zone with no time left on the clock to leave Mt. Zion ahead at the half 27-24.

A halftime chat, though, with Coach Mac seemed to eliminate the foolish fouls  and the Hearts scored on a 54-yard run by Bill Arndt to regain the lead 31-27. Mt. Zion responded one more time on an 11-yard run to move ahead 33-31, but the Hearts scored with 2:02 left in the third quarter on a seven-yard run by Miller to regain the lead 37-33 and Effingham was never again headed.

The Hearts extended the lead to 44-33 on a 21-yard pass from Kevin Daugherty to Arndt to make it 44-33. Mt. Zion scored with 4:56 left on a 23-yard pass play, but could get no closer.

Hearts quarterback Kevin Daugherty taking a snap in Friday night's game against Mt. Zion. Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See more of Gary's work on his Facebook page.

Effingham finished with 411 yards rushing and 48 yards passing for a total of 459 yards. Mt. Zion finished with 404 yards including 345 yards through the air and 59 yards rushing. The Hearts had 24 first downs to 18 for the Braves.

About the penalties; the Hearts were hit with 11 penalties for 145 yards. They pretty much cleaned it up in the second half, picking up just 40 yards in penalties. Mt. Zion was called for just penalties in the game.

Miller's 278 yards rushing came on 43 carries. His four touchdowns give him 22 on the season. Nick Jones holds the record with 28 in 2007. Arndt carried eight times for 82 yards on a touchdown, while Travis Durbin picked up 49 yards on 12 carries.

Hearts quarterback Kevin Daugherty was three for eight passing, good for 48 yards and a touchdown. Arndt had a 21-yard touchdown reception, Carter Hayes had a pretty rolling catch for 17 yards, and Drew Vasquez had a 14-yard reception.

The Hearts tackle sheet was balanced. Travis Durbin led the way with seven stops including four solo tackles. Jordan Coleman and Drew Vasquez each had six tackles, five solos for Coleman, four for Vasquez. Carter Hayes, Griffin Paige, Billy Arndt and Kevin Daugherty each had four tackles, three solos for Hayes, two apiece for Arndt and Daugherty, and one for Paige. Khole Moran had three tackles, two solos, Michael Carie, Carter Kistler, Blake White, and Evan Boggs had two tackles, and Alex Ramos, Hunter Diveley, Zach Miller, Joe Niemann, Wyatt Kahley and Noah Lohman had one stop each.

Defensive back Jordan Coleman wraps up a ball carrier for Mt. Zion en route to the Hearts win over the Braves Friday night. Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. See more of Gary's work on his Facebook page.

Michael Carie two interceptions and Drew Vasquez also grabbed one.

Effingham improved to 6-2 on the season and finished 4-1 in the Apollo Conference. The Hearts wrap up the regular season next Friday night playing host to the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs. It'll be Senior Night and special recognition will be paid Coach Mac in his final regular season game as coach. All of his former players are encouraged to come out for his final regular season game in appreciation for his loyalty and commitment to the school and the football program since 1981 as a coach and since 1992 as the Hearts head coach.