Hill Sets Career Rushing Record, Hearts Smash Lincoln

(PASSING THE TORCH, FORMER RECORD HOLDER BOB DEVALL CONGRATULATES NEW CAREER RUSHING RECORD HOLDER TERRENCE HILL AFTER FRIDAY NIGHT'S HEARTS GAME...photo courtesy of Kurt Roberts)

Running back Terrence Hill broke Effingham's career rushing record Friday night as the Hearts smashed the Lincoln Railsplitters 63-14 in Apollo Conference football action.

The game, the home opener for the Hearts, was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Hearts' senior broke the record set 45 years ago by Bob Devall, who was on hand for the game and met with Hill following the contest. 

Hill rushed for 204 yards in about half a game's playing time. That gives him 3,137 yards with five games left in the regular season. Devall's previous record was 3,060 yards. Hill is already over 900 yards rushing this season.

The 63 points scored by the Hearts ties the single game record set by Effingham against the Flora Wolves in 1987.

Effingham scored in its first two possessions and led 14-0 with 8:30 left in the first quarter. Hill rushed for four touchdowns, Noah Spencer and Kameron Kalber each caught a touchdown pass, Logan Brown scored on an 81-yard kickoff return and on a fumble return, and Ethan Kiser rushed for a score. The Hearts also scored on a safety. Danny Hortenstine was good on seven of nine extra point tries.

Effingham totaled 19 first downs. The Hearts rushed 33 times for 238 yards and five touchdowns. The passing game engineered by Landon Wolfe and Nathan Shackelford was five for seven for 78 yards and two touchdowns...Wolfe three of five for 59 yards and the two scores, and Shackelford two for two for 19 yards.

Effingham rolled up 316 total yards to 174 yards for the Railsplitters.

Hill's 204 yards came on just 18 carries. Dante Latham carried seven times for 39 yards.

Effingham improved to 3-1 on the season, 3-0 in the Apollo Conference, with their third win in a row. Lincoln is 1-3, 0-3 in the Apollo.

The Hearts will host Macomb next Friday night. It'll be Military Appreciation Night.

FOOTBALL SCORES

Effingham 63, Lincoln 14

Mattoon 41, Charleston 21

Taylorville 31, Mahomet-Seymour 12

Mt. Zion 36, Macomb 0

Red Bud 47, Salem 6

Red Hill 42, Newton 31

Vandalia 58, Litchfield 30

Tuscola 47, Shelbyville 44

Robinson 33, Casey-Westfield 20

Carlinville 55, Pana 39

Paris 42, Freeburg 19

Marshall 28, Olney 20

Oblong 15, Palestine-Hutsonville 6

Warrensburg-Latham 66, Sullivan Okaw-Valley 6

Belleville Althoff 55, Mt. Vernon 6