Hearts Fall to Mattoon in Apollo Action

The Mattoon Green Wave defeated the Effingham Hearts 24-21 Friday night in high school football action.

Below is video of the game. Keep scrolling for video from the Senior Night ceremony and the Red Regiment's halftime peformance.

The contest was close throughout. Mattoon took a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, with Zachary Lensink kicking a 25-yard second quarter field goal following Nick Poorman's 26-yard touchdown catch.

(EFFINGHAM'S DREW VASQUEZ SPEEDS TOWARD THE END ZONE FOR ONE OF HIS THREE TOUCHDOWNS FRIDAY NIGHT)

Photo by Gary Standfield of Riviera Records. See more of Gary's work from the game here.

Effingham finally got on the board with less than a minute remaining before halftime, completing a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run by Drew Vasquez. Sean Zerrusen's extra point kick brought the Hearts back to within 10-7.

The second half was busier.

Mattoon scored with 9:41 left in the third quarter on a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13-7, and then scored on a 19-yard Garrett Rice run to make it 21-7 with 5:20 left in the period.

(EFFINGHAM'S CORY OSBORN GOES UP AGAINST TWO MATTOON DEFENDERS FOR ANOTHER RECEPTION)

Photo by Gary Standfield of Riviera Records. See more of Gary's work from the game here.

The Hearts scored with 2:53 left in the third at the end of a seven-play, 74-yard drive when Vasquez carried it into the end zone on a six-yard score to make it 21-14.

Mattoon came back and scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on Lensink's third field goal of the game, from 37 yards out, to push the lead back to 24-14, but Effingham wasn't done yet. The Hearts put together a five-play, 65-yard drive capped by Vasquez's third touchdown run of the night, from 33 yards out to account for the final score.

Both teams had chances for more points, but neither could cash in.

Below is video from the Senior Night ceremony

Effingham ended with 379 total net yards, 193 in the first half, 186 in the second half; 297 on the ground, 82 through the air. Mattoon finished with 337 total net yards, 180 in the first half, 157 in the second half, 215 on the ground, 122 through the air. The Hearts had 19 first downs to 13 for Mattoon. Effingham also had the edge in time of possession, 26:28 to 21:32. 

Hearts quarterback Hudson Graham passed for just 82 yards, going six for 16 with three interceptions. Cory Osborn caught two passes for 51 yards, Trevor Kreke grabbed two for 24 yards, Tucker Denton caught a four-yard pass, and Joe Nieman had a three-yard grab.

Effingham's ground game shone throughout the night, though. Drew Vasquez carried 16 times for 131 yards and his three touchdowns. Terrence Hill had 21 rushes for 123 yards, and Graham had 10 rushes for 39 yards. Cory Osborn carried once for four yards.

In addition to leading in rushing, Vasquez also led in tackles with 11. Griffin Paige had eight, Grant Wolfe and Parker Seachrist six each, Hunter Diveley and Jordan McCabe four apiece, Frank Schneiderjon three, Jarrett Jones and Caleb Martin two each, and one apiece for Tristen Rhodes, Ryan Hails, Blake White, Logan Smith and Kody Line.

Below is video of the EHS Red Regiment's halftime performance

Other stats: kickoffs--Sean Zerrusen had four for 173 yards; punts--Logan Smith had two for 68 yards...kickoff returns--Terrence Hill, one for 14 yards, Cory Osborn--three for 84 yards.

For Mattoon--quarterback Braden Smith passed for 122 yards and a touchdown. Reece Prior caught three balls for 64 yards, Alec Raboin had a 12-yard reception, Garrett Rice caught two passes for 1 yard, and Nick Poorman four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Garrett Rice continues to chew up yardage for the Green Wave. After two straight weeks of better than 200 yard rushing performances, he carried 24 times for 182 yards including a touchdown.

Mattoon won their fourth straight after starting with three losses, and all four wins are in conference play, leaving the Green Wave and Taylorville undefeated in the conference and playing each other next Friday night. The Hearts are 3-4 overall, and 2-2 in the Apollo Conference. Effingham heads to Mt. Zion next week to close out conference play. The Hearts need to win both of their last two evening to have a shot at making the state football championship.