Highland, Lightning Combine to Spoil Hearts' Home Opener

The combination of lightning delays and some big offensive numbers by the Highland Bulldogs combined to spoil the Effingham Hearts' home opener Friday night, 47-14.

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

The start of the game was delayed for two hours by lightning that visited the area. Another stoppage of play occurred early in the second half, pushing the end of the game to after midnight.

(THE HEARTS' NOAH SPENCER ATTEMPTS TO TAKE DOWN HIGHLAND RUNNING BACK TRENT RAKERS...thanks to Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records and Video Production)

Effingham started the game well, forcing a Highland turnover and then scoring on the takeaway, staging a five-play, 37-yard drive culminating in Terrence Hill's three-yard touchdown run and Danny Hortenstine's extra point to give the Hearts at 7-0 lead with 9:16 remaining in the opening quarter.

The lead lasted less than a minute, though, as Highland scored the first of four straight touchdowns to lead 26-7.

Effingham forced another turnover and scored off that play, too, staging a 13-play, 61-yard drive capped by Lucas Vasquez's four-yard touchdown run and Hortenstine's extra point to make it 26-14.

Highland came right back, though, and 20 seconds later posted a score to take a 33-14 lead to the locker room at halftime.

(THE HEARTS' JORDAN McCABE REGISTERS HIS SECOND BLOCKED EXTRA POINT IN AS MANY WEEKS, BLOCKING THE ATTEMPT BY HIGHLAND'S ELLIOTT PROTT)

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Highland punched in two more touchdowns after the final lightning delay to post the 33-point win.

Highland's win was convincing beyond the scoreboard. The Bulldogs amassed 639 yards in total offense, including 491 rushing yards. That came on 59 plays. The Hearts totaled 297 yards, 200 yards of that on the ground.

Highland quarterback Garrett Marti rushed for 200 yards on 18 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Trent Rakers gained 155 yards on 16 carries, scoring three times. Brady Feldman rushed 11 times for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Marti passed for 148 yards, going seven of 14 with one touchdown and one interception. Sam LaPorta caught two passes for 30 yards, Feldman caught two passes for 84 yards and a touchdown, Cameron Altadonna caught two passes for 22 yards, and Trent Rakers caught a 12-yard pass.

Terrence Hill had another big night for the Hearts, rushing for 140 yards and a touchdown. Jordan McCabe carried once for 21 yards, Vasquez rushed eight times for 18 yards and a touchdown, Harrison Smith rushed for once for a one-yard loss, and Tyler Marschewski carried five times for 22 yards.

Vasquez was six of 15 passing for 45 yards and an interception, while Landon Wolfe was six of 14 for 52 yards with an interception. Jacob Miller caught a pass for no gain, Paul Smith caught a five-yard pass, Harrison Smith had four grabs for 45 yards, Terrence Hill caught two passes for 28 yards, Gabe Herron had three catches for 18 yards, and Logan Smith caught a one-yard pass.

Other Effingham stats:

Logan Smith had five punts for 188 yards including a 51-yarder. Danny Hortenstine had three kickoffs for 117 yards, Terrence Hill had four kickoff returns for 86 yards, Gage Franklin ran one back for nine yards, Jordan McCabe had a 22-yard return, and Kody Line returned a kickoff seven yards. McCabe also recovered a fumble, and Alec Morrissey registered an interception.

Effingham picked up 21 first downs, 15 by rushing, five by pass, and one on a penalty. The 200 yards rushing came on 44 carries. Overall, Effingham was 12 of 29 passing for 97 yards with two interceptions. The 297 total yards came on 73 plays. The Hearts fumbled twice and lost one of those. Effingham led in time of possession, 26:33 to 21:27.

The Hearts, now 1-2, will be home next Friday to begin Apollo Conference play, hosting Charleston on what will be Military Appreciation Night. Hear the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.