Mater Dei Downs Hearts in 2016 Opener

(TERRENCE HILL RUSHED FOR 163 YARDS FOR THE HEARTS FRIDAY IN THEIR OPENER AGAINST BREESE MATER DEI...photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records)

Breese Mater Dei defeated the Effingham Hearts 27-13 in the 2016 high school football season opener Friday night.

The game at Breese was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The first quarter did the Hearts in. 

Mater Dei scored at the end of a six-play, 63-yard drive on a two-yard run by Lucas Theising with 6:29 remaining. The kick made it 7-0.

The painful part of the period was what followed.

There was no further scoring until 1:56 remained in the period. The Hearts defense stopped Mater Dei and then a penalty on the Knights sent them back to their six-yard line. The hope was that the Hearts could force a punt and get the ball in good field position. Instead, Jake Timmerman broke loose around the right side and scampered 94 yards for a touchdown. The extra point kick made it 14-0.

Then, on the ensuing kickoff, the Hearts fumbled the catch and Mater Dei recovered the ball at the Hearts' 28-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Colin Schuetz broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run and the extra kick put Mater Dei in front 21-0 before the first period was over.

(HARRISON SMITH'S CATCH AFTER WRESTLING THE PASS AWAY FROM A MATER DEI DEFENDER WAS A KEY PLAY ON THE HEARTS' FIRST SCORING DRIVE...photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records)

The Hearts could've folded their tent but, instead, came out with a resolve to turn the game around and very nearly succeeded.

Effingham did not allow Mater Dei a touchdown in either the second or third quarters and just one first down in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the Hearts did what they could to generate some offense. It finally paid off with 1:43 remaining before halftime. Effingham completed a seven-play, 63-yard drive on a one-yard touchdown run by Terrence Hill to pull the Hearts within 21-7 following Danny Hortenstine's extra point. A key to the success of the drive was a 34-yard pass play from Lucas Vasquez to Harrison Smith when Smith went up with the Mater Dei defender and came away with the catch.

(THE HEARTS' TERRENCE HILL POURS DOWN THE FLUIDS ON A STEAMY STICKY NIGHT IN BREESE...photo courtesy of C.J. Schmidt)

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Effingham closed the gap in the fourth period.

Effingham staged an eight-play, 68-yard drive highlighted by a six-yard touchdown run by Hill. Hortenstine's extra point try was no good, but the Hearts were back within 21-13 and it looked like anybody's game.

Mater Dei, though, responded like a champion coming off the deck in a boxing match. Led by running back Jake Wieter, the Knights went 77 yards on nine plays to score. After repeatedly utilizing Wieter on the drive, Mater Dei Coach Jim Stiebel had Schuetz fake to Wieter, and then roll out to the right and pass the ball to Timmerman for a 21-yard touchdown reception. The extra point kick accounted for the final score.

The Hearts had one more chance, but an interception ended the threat.

Terrence Hill was the star on offense for Effingham, gaining 163 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Jordan McCabe carried once for two yards and that was the ground game for the Hearts.

The Hearts as was expected played both Lucas Vasquez and Landon Wolfe at quarterback. Vasquez, a junior, attempted six passes and completed two for 42 yards. Sophomore Landon Wolfe completed three passes in 15 attempts for 60 yards with one interception.

Smith caught three passes for 48 yards, while Gabe Herron had two catches for 54 yards.

Jake Wieter led Mater Dei with 113 yards rushing on 22 attempts. Schuetz rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown in 14 attempts. Theising carried twice for eight yards and a touchdown, Timmerman had the 94-yard touchdown run, and Trevor Johnson had a negative five yards rushing on three attempts.

Schuetz attempted 21 passes and completed eight for 84 yards and a touchdown. Lucas Theising caught four passes for 46 yards, Trevor Johnson had two catches for eight yards, Travis Jasper had a nine-yard reception, and Jake Timmerman had the 21-yard touchdown catch.

Other stats: Mater Dei punts--Jake Timmerman six for 167...Mater Dei punt returns--Lucas Theising three for 13 yards, Jake Timmerman one for seven yards...Mater Dei interception--Lucas Theising one for six yards...Mater Dei kickoffs--Matt Spears four for 147 yards...Mater Dei kickoff returns--Jake Wieter one for 11, Lucas Theising one for 17.

Effingham punts--Logan Smith five for 173 yards...Effingham punt returns--Harrison Smith--two for 14 yards...Effingham interception--Kody Line for zero yards...Effingham kickoffs--Danny Hortenstine--three for 133 yards...Effingham kickoff returns--Jordan McCabe--one for 10 yards, Dylan Bushur--one for zero yards

Team Stats:

First Downs--Effingham 11, Mater Dei 17...Rushes--Effingham 32 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, Mater Dei 42 for 278 yards and three touchdowns...Pass Attempts--Effingham five of 21 for 102 yards, Mater Dei--eight of 21 for 84 yards and one touchdown...Total Plays--Effingham 53 for 267 yards, Mater Dei 63 for 362 yards...Punts--Effingham five for 173 yards, Mater Dei six for 167 yards...Interceptions--one for each team...Interceptions--each team with one...Fumbles--Effingham two, one lost, Mater Dei none...Penalties--Effingham four for 30 yards, Mater Dei three for 25 yards...Time of Possession--Effingham 21:01, Mater Dei 26:59