VIDEO: Hearts Are Playoff Bound Following Win Over Mattoon

The Effingham Hearts are playoff-bound following a 42-0 victory over the Mattoon Green Wave Friday night. The win made it a Happy Homecoming for the Hearts, who improved to 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Apollo Conference. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

It's the third straight season the Hearts have reached the playoffs.

Effingham scored early and often, enough that the game was played with a continuous clock for the entire second half.

The Hearts scored on a 14-yard touchdown grab by Jett Gillum, a 42-yard reception by Tristin Duncan, three straight touchdown runs by Chase Woomer of eight, 12 and five yards, and an eight-yard catch by Holden Lewis.

Effingham racked up 17 first downs to seven for Mattoon, 10 by rushing and seven by passing for the Hearts; two by rushing and five by passing for Mattoon. The Green Wave ran 55 plays for 45 for Effingham, but the Hearts generated 329 yards in offense to 84 yards for Mattoon. 

The Hearts rushed the ball 30 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Mattoon rushed the ball 25 times for -64 yards.

Effingham tried 15 passes and completed 10 for 151 yards and three scores. Mattoon attempted 30 passes and completed 11 for 148 yards.

Woomer, in addition to his three scores, rushed 16 times for 134 yards. Quarterback Nathan Shackelford rushed seven times for 34 yards, Keegan Baker carried five times for 14 yards and Trevor Donsbach rushed twice for -4 yards.

Shackelford had another good night as far as percentage of completions, hitting on 10 of 15 attempts. Duncan had four catches for 92 yards and a touchdown, Cameron Kalber had two grabs for 14 yards, Gillum caught a 14-yard touchdown pass, Jacob Briggerman caught a 13-yard pass, and Lewis had two grabs for 18 yards and a touchdown.

Also for the Hearts: Dawson Whitten punted three times for 85 yards; Ivan Angel had seven kickoffs for 345 yards; and Hayvin Prather recovered a fumble.

Here's a look at the tackle sheet: Austin Herboth had three sacks, four tackles, a forced fumble and 13 yards in lost yardage; Alex Baughman had five tackles and two yards in lost yardage; Gunnar Franklin one tackle; Chase Woomer one tackle; Jacob Stoneburner five tackles; Jakob Logan three tackles; Logan Arend two tackles; Hayvin Prather two tackles; Dawson Whitten two tackles and a sack; Mason Hasty one tackle; Logan Brown one sack for a six-yard loss; Luke Spencer one tackle; Gabe Kihne one sack and one tackle; Parker Wolfe one tackle; Damon Kalber one tackle; Trevon Benavides two tackles; Derek Lemna one tackle; Tristen Elkin one tackle and one sack; Payton Simmons one tackle; Bryce Ikemire one tackle; Zac Slifer one tackle; Shawn Cochran one tackle

The Hearts are in the playoffs, but still have big goals; one of which is an Apollo Conference championship. To assure that, Effingham has to win at Taylorville and at Mt. Zion in the next two weeks. Both Taylorville and Mt. Zion were undefeated until Friday night when Mt. Zion defeated Taylorville 31-14.