Effingham Improves to 2-0 w/Big Home Win Over Lincoln

The Effingham Hearts improved to 2-0 on the young football season with a 46-7 win over the Lincoln Railsplitters. The game at Klosterman Field Friday night was the home opener and Apollo Conference opener for the Hearts, and was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The Hearts scored on their first four possessions to take a 27-0 lead before halftime. Effingham scored on a six-yard run by Logan Brown at the end of a 10-play, 68-yard drive and then scored on a nine-yard run by Chase Woomer to close out an eight-play, 57-yard drive.

Effingham then got the ball at Lincoln's 47-yard line and scored on a touchdown strike from Nathan Shackelford to Tristan Duncan on the first play of the series and led 20-0 after one quarter.

The Hearts scored on a 39-yard pass to Duncan to end an eight-play, 96-yard drive to make it 27-0, but Lincoln pulled one big play and that led to their only score of the night to make it 27-7. Lincoln then got the ball back but a fumble was gathered up by Brown who ran 61 yards for a score to make it 33-7 just before halftime.

Effingham scored on a one-yard run by Brown and a three-yard run by Woomer to account for the final two scores.

Lincoln actually had the ball for about 1:30 more in the game, but that was the only area in which they led.

Effingham totaled 490 yards in offense to 133 yards for Lincoln. As a measure of the Hearts' success, they didn't have to punt the ball in the game. Effingham rushed the ball 41 times for 202 yards and four touchdowns. Shackelford hit on 16 of 20 passes for 288 yards and two scores and one pick.

The Hearts' defense held Lincoln to just 63 yards rushing on 34 carries and 70 yards passing on two of five tries.

Logan Brown led the Effingham running attack with 88 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. Chase Woomer carried 14 times for 76 yards and two scores. Shackelford carried four times for 29 yards. Also for Effingham: Trevor Donsbach had four carries for 11 yards, Nate Thompson three for -6 yards, and Keegan Baker three carries for four yards.

As far as who caught the ball for Effingham, Tristin Duncan had nine catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns, Jett Gillum had six receptions for 92 yards, and Holden Lewis caught a four-yard pass.

Other stats: Cam Kalber returned three punts for 22 yards; Ivan Angel had eight kickoffs for 383 yards; Chase Woomer returned a kickoff for 13 yards; Jacob Stoneburner had an interception; Keegan Baker returned a kickoff for no gain, and Logan Brown had the 61-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.

As far as the tackle sheet: Shawn Cochran five, three solos; Jacob Stoneburner four, two solos; Dawson Whitten seven, four solos, one sack for a four-yard loss; Hayvin Prather four, two solos, one sack for a four-yard loss; Logan Brown five, four solos, fumble recovery; Mason Hasty six, four solos; Austin Herboth five, three solos, one sack for a five-yard loss; Jakob Logan two, one solo; Gunnar Franklin two; Gabe Kihne three; Alex Baughman two, one for a two-yard loss; Zac Slifer two; Bryce Ikemire one; Emma Kessler one.

Effingham for Jerseyville next Friday night at 7:00. Hear the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.