Hearts Close Out Regular Season w/Big Win Over Salem

The Effingham Hearts closed out the regular portion of their 2017 schedule with a 48-15 win over the Salem Wildcats Friday night. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The game didn't start well, as the Hearts lost the ball on fumbles on their first two possessions. Salem scored off the first fumble to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Hearts soon righted the ship, though, tying the game with 1:02 left in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Landon Wolfe to Logan Smith. Danny Hortenstine's extra point not only knotted the game at 7-7, it gave him the single-season record for most PATs, snapping Michael Carie's record of 38 set in 2014.

Effingham went on to score five times in the second quarter; on a 68-yard punt return by Dylan Bushur, on a three-yard run by Wolfe, on a 24-yard run by Terrence Hill, on a six-yard run by Hill, and on a 55-yard pass play from Wolfe to Jordan McCabe.

The Hearts scored on a one-yard run by Paul Smith with 9:31 left in the third quarter and the extra point to put the Hearts up 48-7 and start a running clock against a Hearts' opponent for the fifth time this season.

Salem scored a touchdown with 4:06 remaining in the game and ran for a two-point conversion to account for the final score.

Effingham amassed 18 first downs, 16 in the first half; 12 on the ground, five through the air and one on a penalty. Salem generated nine first downs on the night. 

The Hearts rushed the ball 31 times to gain 209 yards on the ground, 20 of that after intermission, along with four touchdowns. Effingham also gained 150 yards through the air on seven-of-10 passing by Wolfe and Nathan Shackelford, including two touchdowns.

Salem gained 127 yards total, most of that on a long drive in the fourth quarter, 84 yards on the ground, just 43 yards rushing on the night.

Hill led the Hearts with 156 yards rushing on 20 attempts with two touchdowns. Landon Wolfe rushed twice for -3 but scored a touchdown, Shackelford rushed for 36 yards on three attempts, Paul Smith finished with two carries for one yard and a touchdown, Dante Latham carried twice for 19 yards, and Dawson Whitten gained zero yards on two carries.

As far as the passing game, Wolfe was four-of-seven for 106 yards and two touchdowns, while Shackelford was three-for--three for 44 yards. Smith had four catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns, McCabe had two for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Hill had a grab for 17 yards.

Logan Smith did not have to punt in the contest; Bushur had the punt return for a score, and Hill returned a punt 20 yards; Danny Hortenstine produced eight kickoffs totaling 306 yards. Kendall Ballman returned a kickoff return 17 yards, and Donte Latham returned a kick 35 yards.

Here's the Hearts' tackle sheet: Kendall Ballman two solos; Parker Seachrist two solos; Frank Schneiderjon four, three for losses totaling 12 yards; Noah Spencer two; Jordan McCabe one; Braden Hasty one, for a loss of one yard; Logan Brown one, for a loss of nine yards; Alec Morrissey five, one for a loss of a yard; Jarrett Jones two, one solo; Luke Spencer three; Matthew Robinson three; Gage Franklin four, one solo; Kaleb Kihne one; Jett Gillum one; Jakob Konrad three; Justin Baker one; Ben Schuette one sack; and Logan Arend one.

For Salem, Eric Brubaker rushed for 29 yards, while Andew Allison gained 27 yards. Nathan Roth passed for 84 yards, finishing seven of 21 with two touchdowns. Kaden Wayer caught two passes for 34 yards and a touchdown while Jacob Harkness caught a 19-yard touchdown pass.

It was another night for the record books. The Hearts' 48 points gives the club 398 points this season, eclipsing even the Hearts' 12-game record of 368 points. Terrence Hill set a record for most points by an individual in a season with 186, breaking Nick Jones' previous record of 175. Hill's two touchdowns also tied him with Jones' 52 for his career.

The win pushes Effingham's season record to 8-1 including an eight-game winning streak with the one loss by one point at Breese Mater Dei.

We will find out who Effingham will play in the first round next weekend tonight. The IHSA Selection Show will air at 8pm. Hearts Coach Brett Hefner will be among the guests. Class 4A schools like Effingham should find out about their opponent Saturday about 8:40 or so.