Breese Mater Dei Downs Hearts in 2018 Opener; Other Week One Scores

Breese Mater Dei defeated the Effingham Hearts 26-19 in the 2018 season opener for both football teams. The game at Klosterman Field was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Knights scored on their first possession, the touchdown coming with 9:51 remaining in the first quarter. Mater Dei capped a six-play, 70-yard drive that took just over two minutes off the clock when Logan Ratermann scored from four yards out to make it 6-0 Knights.

Effingham responded with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that took just over five minutes, scoring with 2:47 left in the period on a three-yard touchdown run by Logan Brown to tie the game 6-6.

The Hearts pulled ahead 12-6 with 5:39 remaining in the second quarter at the end of a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:56 to complete. Kendall Ballman scored from two yards out.

Mater Dei tied the game with just 36 seconds left before halftime with an 11-play, 63-yard drive highlighted by a six-yard run by Ratermann to tie it 12-12.

A short period of time in the third quarter turned the game, though. With 8:12 left in the third quarter, Mater Dei completed a three-play, 50-yard scoring drive on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Travis Jasper to Zach Napovanice. The Hearts were intercepted two minutes later with Jasper, also playing at defensive back, picking off a pass and running it back 26 yards for another score, and that was the difference in the game, Mater Dei leading 26-12.

The Hearts didn't quit, though. Effingham staged a six-play, 84-yard drive highlighted by a 55-yard touchdown pass from Landon Wolfe to Tristin Duncan, and then hit their extra point to pull within 26-19, but the rally ended there. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

Effingham gained 235 yards rushing and receiving, 116 yards in the first half, 119 yards in the second half. 158 yards was gained through the air, while 77 yards was gained on the ground. Mater Dei gained 283 yards, 142 yards on passing, 141 yards on the ground.

Effingham picked up 16 first downs to 13 for Mater Dei, and ran 62 plays to 55 for Mater Dei. Effingham had a two-minute edge in time of possession, 25:30 to 22:30.

Kendall Ballman led Effingham in rushing with 32 yards on eight carries and one touchdown. Logan Brown carried 15 times for 28 yards  and a touchdown. Landon Wolfe rushed 11 times for 17 yards.

Wolfe attempted 28 passes and completed 13 for 158 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. 

Duncan caught six passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Bushur had two catches for 20 yards, Nathan Shackleford two for 10, and Jacob Briggerman two for seven yards.

For Mater Dei, Ratermann finished with 105 yards on 20 carries. Mater Dei quarterback Jasper finished with 142 yards and one touchdown.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

High School Football

APOLLO CONFERENCE MEMBER GAMES:

Breese Mater Dei 26, EFFINGHAM 19

Canton 14, CHARLESTON 6

LINCOLN 20, Macomb 13

MATTOON 28, Troy Triad 23

MT. ZION 12, Bartonville Limestone 6

TAYLORVILLE 20, Mt. Vernon 8

OTHER GAMES:

Paris 26, Newton 14

Red Hill 42, Flora 13

Olney Richland County 37, Casey-Westfield 21

Argenta-Oreana 40, Robinson 7

Salem 21, Centralia 0

Shelbyville 38, Pawnee 20

Vandalia 30, Gillespie 21

Pana 28, Greenville 21

Nokomis 22, Sullivan 13