Hearts Fall at Mattoon; Other Friday Scores

The Effingham Hearts have their work cut out for them in their battle to make the playoffs this football season.

With a 41-19 loss at Mattoon Friday night, the Hearts slipped to 3-4 on the season, meaning they have to win their final two games to become playoff-eligible. The contest at Mattoon was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The halves in the game couldn't have been more different. After a 7-0 first half, Mattoon outscored the Hearts 34-19 in the second half.

The only first half score came with 7:09 left in the second quarter on a 40-yard pass play from Nick Poorman to Michael Smith.

The second half, though, saw eight touchdowns, four each quarter.

Mattoon scored with 10:05 left on a seven-yard pass play to Alec Raboin and then scored with 6:56 remaining in the period on an 18-yard pass play to Raboin. When Mattoon scored again with 2:00 left in the quarter on a nine-yard run by Julian Gittons, the Hearts were suddenly down 27-0.

Effingham got a little momentum back with 15 seconds left in the quarter on a two-yard run by Terrence Hill to pull within 27-6, but Mattoon came right back to score with 10:45 left in the game on a one-yard run by Poorman to move ahead 34-6.

Effingham scored with 6:02 left on a three-yard run by Hill to make it 34-12 and then got a score when Hill recovered a fumble and ran it in from 46 yards out to pull within 34-19 with 5:40 remaining.

The Hearts were marching again until Mattoon picked off a pass for an interception and a 92-yard touchdown to end the scoring with 2:32 left in the contest.

Effingham ended with five turnovers on the night; three interceptions and two lost fumbles.

Effingham actually had the edge in time of possession, 24:09 to 23:21. Each team had 17 first downs. Effingham outgained Mattoon on the ground, 197 to 87, but Mattoon had the edge in the passing game, 255 to 110. That means Mattoon had a narrow 342-307 total yardage edge.

Points is what counts, though, and that's where Mattoon had a decided advantage.

Terrence Hill had another big night for the Hearts, picking up 180 yards on 35 carries in addition to three touchdowns. That brings Hill to 1460 yards rushing on the season along with 18 touchdowns. Lucas Vasquez was sacked four times for -13 yards, while Zane Thilker finished up the game at Hill's spot, gaining 30 yards on six carries.

Vasquez quarterbacked most of the game, completing 10 of 17 passes for 110 yards, but two interceptions. Landon Wolfe was oh for seven with an interception.

Gabe Herron caught four passes for 44 yards, Hill four catches for 36 yards, and Harrison Smith two catches for 30 yards.

Poorman completed 15 of 25 passes for 255 yards for Mattoon, including three touchdowns. Michael Smith caught seven balls for 186 yards and a touchdown, while Reece Pryor had four catches for 27 yards, and Alec Raboin caught four passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Effingham is now even on the season in the Apollo Conference at 2-2 with its final conference game next Friday night, hosting Mt. Zion, the probable conference champion who sits 4-0 in conference play after a win over Salem.

Other stats: Effingham--45 rushes for 197 yards, two touchdowns; 10 for 24 passing, two touchdowns; 69 plays for 307 yards; five punts for 162 yards; four penalties for 30 yards; fumble recoveries--Terrence Hill and Grant Wolfe...Mattoon--36 rushes for 87 yards; 15 of 25 passes for 255 yards; 144 yards from three interceptions; six penalties for 50 yards.

FRIDAY SCORES:

Mattoon 41, Effingham 19

Taylorville 40, Charleston 0

Mt. Zion 48, Salem 14

Newton 43, Marshall 27 (Newton is 7-0)

Cumberland 46, Oakland Tri-County 6

Red Hill 56, Casey-Westfield 0

Flora 50, Paris 40

Olney Richland County 27, Robinson 14

Pana 42, Litchfield 0

Vandalia 62, Piasa Southwestern 12

Highland 24, Troy Triad 0

Breese Mater Dei 33, St. Louis Lutheran North 25

Shelbyville 26, Clinton 0

Jerseyville 63, Mascoutah 51

Mahomet-Seymour 25, Normal U High 20