Taylorville Holds Off Hearts 14-7, Other Friday Scores

The Effingham Hearts battled hard, but came up short in a 14-7 football loss at Taylorville to the Tornadoes Friday night. The game was heard on 979XFM.

Note: This week's video is a bit bouncy/shaky, as we had to shoot from the bleachers

Taylorville opened the scoring with 1:40 left in the opening quarter to cap a 14-play, 67-yard drive that took 6:51 off the clock. Quarterback Blake Heimsness scored from three yards out and the kick was good to make it 7-0.

The Tornadoes scored once again with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter. Heimsness scored from the six to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive that 4:31 to complete.

Effingham scored its only touchdown with 3:24 left in the third. A five-play, 73-yard drive concluded when running back Terrence Hill took the handoff and threw a 16-yard pass to quarterback Hudson Graham. The touchdown made it 14-7, but the Hearts could draw no closer.

Hill had his third straight 100+ rushing game for the Hearts, picking up 114 yards on 20 carries. It was tough sledding for Drew Vasquez, who was held to 20 yards on 12 carries. 

Graham attempted 16 passes, completing seven for 97 yards. Besides Hill's touchdown pass to Graham, Graham completed four passes to Cory Osborn for 87 yards, Trevor Kreke caught one for eight yards, Joe Niemann caught one for four yards, and Vasquez caught one for a two-yard loss.

For Taylorville, Tyler Gist gained 82 yards on 26 carries, Heimsness rushed 13 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns, and Louis DePaepe carried four times for 43 yards. 

Heimsness completed three of seven passes for 62 yards, two to Michael Durbin for 53 yards, and one to Shawn Hammers for nine yards.

Other stats: Logan Smith punted three times for 103 yards, Drew Vasquez had two punt returns for 21 yards, Sean Zerrusen had two kickoffs for 98 yards, and Cory Osborn had an eight-yard kickoff return.

For Taylorville, Brett Langen punted five times for 182 yards, Jimmy Barry returned a punt for 16 yards, Cole Owens had three kickoffs for 94 yards and missed a 23-yard field goal try, and Shawn Hammers had two kickoff returns for 50 yards.

Effingham ran 57 plays, picking up 13 first downs, while Taylorville ran 51 plays, picking up 16 first downs. The Hearts gained 123 yards rushing and 113 yards through the air for 236 total yards. Taylorville gained 254 total yards, 192 on the ground, and 62 through the air.

Taylorville improved to 6-0 on the season, 3-0 in the Apollo, while Effingham is even on the season at 3-3, 2-1 in the Apollo.

Effingham plays its final home game of the regular season next week, hosting Mattoon. It'll be Senior Night. 

Here are other scores from Friday night:

APOLLO CONFERENCE

Taylorville 14, Effingham 7 FINAL

Mt. Zion 53, Charleston 13 FINAL

Salem 14, Mattoon 21 4th Q

ELSEWHERE

Shelbyville 47, Macon Meridian 7 FINAL 

Mahomet-Seymour at Fairbury Prairie Central

Casey-Westfield 35, Edwards Co 14 FINAL

Newton 47, Flora 7 FINAL

Lawrenceville 55, Robinson 6 FINAL

Paris at Olney East Richland

Cumberland 46, Palestine 0 FINAL

Highland at Bethalto Civic Memorial

Troy Triad at Mascoutah

Pana 56, Greenville 8

Vandalia 35, Hillsboro 28

Quincy Notre Dame at Breese Mater Dei