VIDEO: Effingham Improves to 3-0 w/Win at Jerseyville

It's a two-hour drive to Jerseyville, but the trip home was nicer after Effingham defeated the Panthers 34-28 Friday night. The Hearts are now 3-0 on the season.

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

The game began as a slugfest, with seven touchdowns scored in the first half. Just two touchdowns were scored after intermission, however, and the Hearts' defense held onto the lead after the offense scored the final points of the game with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter.

The teams pretty much traded touchdowns in the first half. Jerseyville halted the Hearts' opening drive and then went 43 yards on a drive capped with a two-yard touchdown run by fullback Brian McDonald with 5:50 left in the period.

The Hearts bounced back with a six-play, 77-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Shackelford to Jett Gillum with 3:16 left in the opening quarter. Effingham missed the extra point try, but were within 7-6.

Jerseyville scored with 2:42 left in the first quarter on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Jackson to Zeke Waltz to make it 14-6, but the Hearts scored 25 seconds later on a 73-yard touchdown run by Logan Brown to pull within 14-13.

Effingham took its first lead with 10:17 left in the second quarter to cap a six-play, 53-yard drive on a 12-yard run by Chase Woomer to move ahead 20-14.

Jerseyville pulled back in front 21-20 on a 72-yard drive capped by Jackson's 13-yard run, but Effingham again responded with a massive 13-play, 79-yard drive that took 5:46 to complete highlighted by Shackelford's 23-yard pass to Tristin Duncan to give Effingham a 27-21 lead with 41 seconds left before halftime.

Jerseyville took its last lead with 8:11 left in the third quarter on an eight-yard run by Carter Quinn to move ahead 28-27, but Effingham again replied with a five-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Shackelford's 11-yard touchdown pass to Duncan with 5:14 left in the third quarter take the 34-28 lead but no one present would have guessed that those were the last points to be scored in the game.

Effingham gained 370 yards to 269 yards for Jerseyville, and 17 first downs to 15 for the Panthers. Nine of the Hearts' first downs were on rushing plays. The Hearts carried the ball 43 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Shackelford had his lowest yardage output to date, but was complete on 10-of-10 passes, gaining 147 yards with three touchdowns.

Jerseyville rushed for 184 yards and passed for 85 yards.

Logan Brown injured an ankle in the second half and did not return. Before he left, though, Brown rolled up 128 yards on just 14 carries with a touchdown. Chase Woomer carried the ball 16 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. Shackelford rushed 12 times for 34 yards and Jakob Logan gained five yards.

As far as catching the football, Effingham saw Tristin Duncan with six receptions for 92 yards and two scored; Jett Gillum with two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown; Cameron Kalber caught a 20-yard pass, and Holden Lewis had a one-yard reception.

Here's the tackle sheet: Mason Hasty--nine tackles, five solos; Jakob Logan--two solo tackles, interception; Logan Arend--three tackles, one solo; Austin Herboth--six tackles, five solos; Dawson Whitten--four tackles, three solos; Jacob Stoneburner--seven tackles, six solos; Hayvin Prather--five tackles, half a sack; Luke Spencer--one tackle; Alex Baughman--one tackle, half a sack; Logan Brown--four tackles, two solos, half a sack, interception; Chase Woomer--two tackles, one solo; Gunnar Franklin--two solo tackles.

Also for Effingham: Dawson Whitten--two punts for 46 yards total; Ivan Angel--seven kickoffs for 338 yards; Cam Kalber--punt return for nine yards; Chase Woomer--four kickoff returns for 69 yards total

For Jersey, Carter Quinn led the way carrying the ball with 105 yards rushing on 13 plays. Jackson threw for 85 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Jerseyville dropped 1-2 on the season, while the Hearts are now 3-0 and heading back home to Klosterman Field for Apollo Conference action against Mahomet-Seymour. 

Watch for video on Friday's game later this weekend in this story.