Hearts Win Apollo Conference Opener Over Charleston

The Effingham Hearts won their Apollo Conference opener Friday night, defeating the Charleston Trojans, 27-7.

The win, on Military Appreciation Night at Klosterman Field, was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

Effingham performed well on both sides of the ball, stifling the Trojans defensively and scoring four touchdowns in the process.

The Hearts took the opening kickoff 70 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead. The 4:15 drive was capped by Terrence Hill's one-yard touchdown run with Danny Hortenstine adding the extra point. Hill carried all 12 plays on the drive.

The Hearts added to the lead with a four-play, 47-yard drive highlighted by a 39-yard touchdown run by Hill. The extra point try was unsuccessful but the Hearts led 13-0 at the end of the first quarter. That was the halftime score, as well, as neither team scored in the second quarter.

Effingham added to its lead with 10:57 remaining in the third quarter, though, when Alec Morrissey picked off a Charleston pass and took it back close to 60 yards for a touchdown that made it 19-0. Morrissey had a second interception later in the second half.

The Hearts' final touchdown came with 1:59 left in the third quarter at the conclusion of a nine-play, 46-yard drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Hill and a two-point conversion pass from Landon Wolfe to Logan Smith.

Charleston broke away for a big run on the way to their only touchdown with five seconds left in the game on a four-year run by Tony Gilbert.

Effingham, meanwhile, held Charleston to 155 total yards, half of that on Bryce Frederick's 68-yard run to set up the Trojans' touchdown. Charleston rang up just eight first downs on the night, six of those on the ground and one via penalty.

Effingham garnered 316 total yards and 20 first downs, 18 on the ground. 301 yards of the Hearts' total was on the ground, led by Hill's 244 yards and three touchdowns. Hill has now rushed for 750 yards in just four games.

The Hearts continue to add some variety to their offense, with Jordan McCabe rushing for 15 yards on three carries, Tyler Marschewski with 32 yards on six rushes, Zane Thilker 11 yards on five carries, Paul Smith with a yard on two rushes, Landon Wolfe with no net yards on two carries, and Nathan Shackelford -2 yards when he took a knee in the victory formation at the end of the game.

Frederick ended up with 126 yards to lead the Trojans.

In the passing department, Wolfe missed on four attempts, while Lucas Vasquez was three for seven for 15 yards with two interceptions. Receptions included one for nine yards by Dylan Bushur, one for four yards for Harrison Smith, and one for two yards by Terrence Hill.

The Hearts are now even on the season at 2-2, 1-0 in the Apollo, while Charleston falls to 2-2, 0-1 in the conference. The Hearts head to Salem next Friday night at 7:00, a game you can hear on 979XFM, while Charleston takes on arch-rival Mattoon on neutral ground at Eastern Illinois University.