VIDEO: Hearts Post First Win for Coach Hefner; Other Week 2 Friday Night Football Scores

The Effingham Hearts gave new football coach Brett Hefner his first win Friday night, defeating the Mascoutah Indians 28-20 at Klosterman Field.

Effingham scored first in the contest. Jordan McCabe intercepted an A.J. Albers pass and returned the ball to the Mascoutah one-yard line. Two plays later, Drew Vasquez crossed the goal line to give the Hearts a 6-0 lead. Effingham failed to convert on the extra point, but held their first lead of the season on their first points of the season with 5:41 remaining in the period.

Mascoutah also capitalized on a turnover to score their first points of the night and of the season, when Christian Lugo intercepted a Hudson Graham pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. The extra point gave Mascoutah a 7-6 lead with 9:02 left in the second period.

Photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records. View more of Gary's work here.

The Indians scored again with 4:21 remaining until halftime on a three-play, 59-yard drive highlighted by a 56-yard touchdown from Albers to Jasaun King. The extra point gave Mascoutah a 14-6 lead that they held at halftime.

Effingham really asserted themselves in the second half, though, staging a 12-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by a five-yard touchdown run by Drew Vasquez and a two-point conversion on a pass from Graham to Tucker Denton to tie the game at 14-14 with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Effingham regained the lead with 7:58 left in the fourth quarter when Vasquez took a punt back 32 yards for a touchdown. Sean Zerrusen's extra point kick made it 21-14 Hearts.

The Hearts' last points came with 1:55 remaining when Mascoutah fumbled in their own end zone and Caleb Martin recovered the ball for the touchdown. Zerrusen's kick made it 28-14 and it looked like the Hearts were a lock for their first win.

Mascoutah had a little left in the tank, scoring on a 45-yard pass play from Albers to Devantre Machado to make it 28-20 with 51 seconds left. The Indians tried an onside kick, but the Hearts recovered. Graham took a knee twice and the Hearts headed home winners.

Effingham racked up 266 total yards, 153 yards in the first half, 113 yards after intermission. The Hearts gained 164 yards rushing, 102 yards passing. Mascoutah gained 272 yards, 233 yards through the air, just 39 yards rushing. Effingham ran 59 plays to 52 for Mascoutah, and the Hearts picked up 15 first downs to just eight for Mascoutah.

Photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records. View more of Gary's work here.

For Effingham, Drew Vasquez rushed 25 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan McCabe carried 11 times for 28 yards, Graham rushed seven times for 24 yards and Parker Seachrist gained one yard on one carry. 

Jacob Williams rushed for 37 yards to lead Mascoutah.

Graham completed five of 15 passes for 102 yards for the Hearts with two picks. Cory Osborn caught two passes for 57 yards, Wyatt Keith caught a 19-yard pass, Parker Seachrist caught a five-yard pass, and Kody Line caught a 21-yard pass.

A.J. Albers completed 12 of 23 passes for Mascoutah for 233 yards and two interceptions. Devantre Machado had seven catches for 98 yards.

Logan Smith played an important role punting the ball, with three punts for 129 yards, burying Mascoutah deep in their own territory.

On the tackle sheet, Vasquez led the Hearts with eight stops, Griffin Paige had seven, Hunter Diveley seven including three for losses, Blake White six, Alec Morrissey five, Grant Wolfe and Jarrett Jones four each, Jordan McCabe three, Caleb Martin, Logan Smith, and Frank Schneiderjon two each, and Kody Line, Sean Zerrusen, and Hudson Graham one each, with Smith having two tackles for losses and Schneiderjon one tackle for loss.

The Hearts finish their opening two-game homestand with a 1-1 record, while Mascoutah is 0-2. Effingham hits the road for the first time this season next Friday night at Bethalto to take on Civic Memorial. Game time is 7pm. Hear the action on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com and watch a video replay following the game.

Here's a look at other Week 2 scores from the region:

APOLLO CONFERENCE

Effingham 28  Mascoutah 20 Final   

Mt. Vernon 40 Charleston 6  Final (Called with 9:35 in the 4th, Lightning)

Bethalto Civic Memorial 27 Mattoon 26 (Lightning Delay, to be completed at 1pm Saturday)

Mt Zion 53  Jerseyville 34  Final

Highland 48, Salem 6 Final

Taylorville 14 Bartonville Limestone 7 Final

LITTLE ILLINI

Marshall 56 Albion (Edwards County) [Coop] 0

Newton 47 Casey (C.-Westfield) 7 Final

Olney (Richland County) 45  Bridgeport (Red Hill) 43  Final 

Lawrenceville 50 Paris 0 Final

Flora 34  Robinson 22  Final

SOUTH CENTRAL

Gillespie 27 Litchfield [Coop] 14 Final 

Piasa (Southwestern) 52  Greenville 44  Final

Hillsboro 49 Staunton 6 Final

Pana (H.S.) 27 Roxana 6 Final

Vandalia 27 Carlinville 18 Final

NON-CONFERENCE

Arcola 42 Cumberland 0  Final 

Mahomet-Seymour 31, Eureka 7 Final

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond 24 Martinsville 0 Final

Williamsville 35, Breese Mater Dei 34 Final

Shelbyville 29  Rantoul 16 Final