Hearts Win Fifth Straight; Other Friday Scores

The Effingham Hearts posted their fifth straight victory Friday night and remained undefeated in Apollo Conference play with a 41-6 win over the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs. The Homecoming game at Klosterman Field was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Effingham, with a fifth win, is now playoff-eligible, but needs one more win to guarantee a playoff spot. Of course, a conference championship would mean an automatic playoff berth.

The Hearts' defense kept Bulldogs quarterback Dawson Finch on the run all night. Meanwhile, the Hearts offense cranked out six touchdowns.

After Mahomet-Seymour failed to convert on its first possession, the Hearts got the ball on the Bulldogs' 11-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Terrence Hill took the ball across the goal line. Danny Hortenstine's first of five extra points gave Effingham a 7-0 with 11:04 still remaining in the first quarter.

Effngham grinded out a 17 play, 82 yard drive to score with 10:26 left in the second period on a three-yard run by Hill. The extra point made it 14-0.

The Hearts scored again with 7:12 left in the second quarter at the end of a four play, 72 yard drive capped by a 65-yard touchdown run by Hill and an extra point to make it 21-0.

Effingham scored again with 6:21 left in the third quarter at the end of a 12 play, 59 yard drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Landon Wolfe to Logan Smith and the extra point to make it 28-0. 

Three minutes later, Hill scored on a 14-yard run to cap a four play, 20 yard drive and an extra point to make it 35-0.

Effingham scored one last touchdown iwth 10:47 left in the game on a two-yard run by Hill to cap a six play, 28 yard drive to make it 41-0.

The continuous clock kicked in for the third straight week. Mahomet-Seymour finally scored on the last play of the game on a one yard run by Lucas Morgan as time expired.

Effingham racked up 20 first downs, 15 on the ground and five through the air. The Hearts rushed the ball 48 times for 269 yards and scored five of the six touchdowns on the ground. 

The Hearts were 11 of 16 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Effingham ran 64 plays to 48 for Mahomet-Seymour, but Effingham had 377 net yards to 60 for the Bulldogs. Mahomet-Seymour had four net yards at halftime. 

It was another big night for Hill, who rushed for 267 yards on 38 carries with five touchdowns. Also rushing for Effingham: Nathan Shackelford: 2 carries for 7 yards; Landon Wolfe: 5 for -9; and Dante Latham: 3 for 4 yards.

Wolfe quarterbacked a majority of the contest, hitting on 11 of 15 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Shackelford missed on his only attempt.

Logan Smith caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown; Dylan Bushur: 2 catches for 17 yards; Jordan McCabe: 3 for 21; Terrence Hill: 1 for 11; and Cameron Kalber; 1 for 9.

Logan Smith punted four times for 137 yards. Dylan Bushur had a six yard punt return. Jordan McCabe had two interceptions; one for 3 yards, another for 10 yards. Danny Hortenstine kicked off 7 times for 364 yards. Frank Schneiderjon had a fumble recovery.

For Mahomet-Seymour, Lucas Morgan rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, and Dylan Gates rushed 10 times for 24 yards. Dawson Finch was 5 for 23 passing for 30 yards and two interceptions.

Here's the tackle sheet; Jarrett Jones--4, three solos; Parker Seachrist--2, plus a sack; Kendall Ballman--3, two solos; Braden Hasty--4, three solos; Jordan McCabe--2, one solo; Kody Line--1, solo; Frank Schneiderjon--5, all solos, plus a sack; Logan Brown--2, both solos; Alec Morrissey--1, solo; Mason Hasty--4, three solos; Ben Schuette--2, both solos; Luke Spencer--1, solo; Hayvin Prather--1, solo; Logan Arend--1, solo.

Effingham is now 5-1 on the season, 4-0 in the Apollo Conference. Mahomet-Seymour is now 3-3 and 2-2 in the Apollo. The Hearts travel to Charleston for their final regular season road game next Friday night. Mahomet-Seymour will play host to Mt. Zion next Friday in conference action.

Here's a look at Friday night's matchups:

EFFINGHAM 41, Mahomet-Seymour 6

Lincoln 40, Charleston 14 

Mt. Zion 26, Mattoon 17

Taylorville 28, Alton Marquette 7

Newton 50, Flora 7

Cumberland 41, Oblong 6

Salem 56, Casey-Westfield 30

Quincy Notre Dame 49, Breese Mater Dei 14

Hamilton West Hancock 68, Macomb 20

Red Hill 32, Marshall 6

Robinson 35, Lawrenceville 9

Paris 42, Olney Richland County 20

Pana 48, Hillsboro 34

Vandalia 76, Staunton 29

Shelbyville 44, Macon Meridian 7