Hearts Complete Undefeated Conference Season

The Effingham Hearts won their seventh straight football game Friday night, completing an undefeated run through the Apollo Conference, and setting or tying several records.

The Hearts defeated Mattoon 55-13, marking the first time Effingham has defeated Mattoon in varsity football since the Green Wave joined the conference in 2012.

In the process, senior running back Terrence Hill set a season touchdown record, scoring six times and bringing his season total to 29 touchdowns. The previous record of 28 was held by Nick Jones and Zach Miller. Jones scored 28 touchdowns in 2007 and Zach Miller scored 28 times in 2014.

Hill's six touchdowns ties the single game record established by Josh Douthit in 1999 and tied by Phil Freimuth in 2001, Brandon Pankau in 2005, Nick Jones in both 2007 and 2008, and Zach Miller in 2014.

Also Friday, Hearts' kicker Danny Hortenstine tied the season points after touchdowns record. Hortenstine made seven extra point tries to bring his season total to 38, tying the mark set by Michael Carie in 2014.

Hearts fans didn't have to wait long to see some scoring. Hill took the opening kickoff and returned the ball 68 yards for a touchdown. Hill also had touchdown runs of 11, 3, 65, 24 and 9 yards.

Effingham also scored on a five-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Shackelford to Logan Smith and on a one-yard run late in the game by Ethan Kiser.

Effingham racked up 18 first downs, six in the second half. 15 were by rushing, 3 by passing. The Hearts rushed the ball 40 times for 258 yards, and hit on 5 of 9 pass attempts for 68 yards. That's a net of 49 plays for 326 yards of offense.

Mattoon was held to eight first downs, four on the ground, four through the air. They ran 29 times for 69 yards and completed 7 of 19 pass attempts for 111 yards. That's a net of 48 plays for 180 yards.

Mattoon scored on a 47-yard run by Tucker Overton and a 30-yard run by Julian Gittens.

Here's the Effingham tackle sheet: Frank Schneiderjon 4, 2 for a total of 16 yards lost, and 1 sack; Kendall Ballman 7, 5 solos; Parker Seachrist 4, 1 for a loss of 2 yards; Noah Spencer, 2, one for a 10-yard loss and 1 sack; Braden Hasty 2, 1 for a loss of 11 yards and a sack; Gage Franklin 3; Logan Brown 1; Jarrett Jones 4; Jordan McCabe 2; Alec Morrissey 1; Matthew Robinson 4; Kody Line 1; Mason Hasty 2; Jakob Conrad 1; Jett Gillum 1; Hayvin Prather 1; Kaleb Kihne 1; and Ben Schuette 1.

The win guaranteed Effingham its first outright Apollo Conference championship since 2007.

Effingham will close out the regular season next Friday hosting the Salem Wildcats on Senior Night. Salem is now a non-conference opponent, having joined the Cahokia Conference after many seasons in the Apollo. 

The Hearts will also find out next weekend more about their first round playoff prospects, when, who and where the Round 1 game will be played, although the Hearts should be a cinch to get a first round playoff game if they win next Friday night.