Hearts to the Playoffs; Friday Night High School Football Scores 10-12-2018

The Effingham Hearts are playoff-bound for the second straight season after defeating the Green Wave at Mattoon 41-21 Friday night.

The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

After two season opening losses, the Hearts have won six straight, guaranteeing them a spot in the postseason. 

Effingham opened the scoring with 7:48 left in the opening quarter on a seven-yard run by Kendall Ballman, who had a monster night. The Hearts extended their lead to 14-0 on a three-yard run by Logan Brown three seconds into the second quarter.

Mattoon scored their first touchdown with 7:22 left before halftime on an eight-yard run by Tucker Overton to make it 14-7, but then the Hearts staged a massive drive, taking 19 plays to go 91 yards and 7:09 to score on a two-yard pass from Landon Wolfe to Kollin Waymoth with 13 seconds left in the half. The Hearts went to halftime leading 21-7.

Effingham also opened the second half scoring with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter on a 38-yard run by Ballman to make it 28-7.

Mattoon scored again with 1:04 left in the period on a five-yard pass play from Jack Pilson to Caden Price to make it 28-14, but the Hearts bounced back to score with 6:48 left in the final quarter on a two-yard run by Ballman to make it 35-14.

Mattoon's last gasp came with 5:30 left on a three-play, 67-yard drive ending in a Pilson pass to Cameron Knierim from 16 yards out to make it 35-21.

The Hearts got those points back, though, scoring with 3:07 left in the game on a five-yard run by Brown. The kick was blocked, but the Hearts led by 20 points and posted the win.

Effingham had a huge edge in the stats. The Hearts netted 467 yards rushing and receiving to 205 yards for the Green Wave. Effingham generated 27 first downs to 14 for Mattoon. Effingham rushed for 340 yards to 45 yards for the Green Wave. Effingham led in time of possession 29:04 to 18:56. The Green Wave had a narrow edge passing the ball, 160 to 127. Effingham ran a whopping 72 plays to 42 for Mattoon.

Ballman, in a season of great performances, might have had his best night. The senior rushed for 259 yards on 26 carries; that's 10 yards per carry. He scored three touchdowns on runs of seven, 38 and two yards. Logan Brown had a good night, carrying 17 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Landon Wolfe carred seven times for 14 yards, and Nate Shackelford and Jakob Logan each carried once, Shackelford for five yards and Logan for -2 yards.

Landon Wolfe was eight of 19 passing the ball for 101 yards and a touchdown. On one of the more interesting plays, Wolfe threw to Shackelford in the flats and Shackelford passed it back to Wolfe for a 26-yard gain. Dylan Bushur caught two passes for 41 yards, Shackelford had two grabs for 18 yards, Jacob Briggerman caught a 23-yard pass, Jett Gillum had a 15-yard grab, Cam Kalber caught a two-yard pass, Waymoth had a two-yard catch, and Wolfe gained 26 yards on that exchange with Shackelford.

Other stats: Punts--Dawson Whitten twice for -1 yard; Punt Returns--Dylan Bushur 1 for 1; Interception--Nathan Shackelford; Kickoffs--Ivan Angel, 7 for 286 yards; Kickoff Returns--Nate Shackelford two for 20; Fumble Recovery--Kaleb Kihne.

Pilson was 16-of-22 passing for 160 yards for Mattoon, with two touchdowns and one interception.

If the Hearts can win next week against Carterville, they would most likely host a first round playoff game the following week.

Here are the Week 8 scores:

(APOLLO SCHOOLS IN CAPS)

EFFINGHAM 41, MATTOON 21

Quincy Notre Dame 29, CHARLESTON 7

MAHOMET-SEYMOUR 14, LINCOLN 0

TAYLORVILLE 30, MT. ZION 22

Olney Richland County 27, Newton 12

Cumberland 44, Oblong 32

Casey-Westfield 28, Marshall 14

Carlyle 28, Flora 14

Paris 48, Robinson 0

St. Louis Lutheran South 20, Breese Mater Dei 10

Carterville 25, Pinckneyville 3

Pana 46, Litchfield 0

Vandalia 43, Roxana 7

Freeburg 41, Salem 20

Tuscola 49, Shelbyville 0