Mt. Zion Wins Battle of Unbeatens

The Mt. Zion Braves built a three-touchdown lead by halftime and won the battle of unbeatens, defeating the Effingham Hearts, 37-23. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The game was played in a playoff-like atmosphere, with big crowds in Mt. Zion for both teams and a large media contingent.

Mt. Zion started the scoring with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter on a 21-yard run by Sage Davis, capping a 10-play, 71-yard drive. 

Effingham rebounded and tied the game at 7-7 with 1:04 left in the period on a 20-yard run by Hearts quarterback Nathan Shackelford.

Mt. Zion, though, scored three times on big plays to take the halftime lead. The Braves scored on an 82-yard pass play from Ashton Summers to Christian Keyhea with :40 left in the first quarter to take a 14-7 lead, scored on a 76-yard pass play from Summers to Drew London with 10:24 left in the second period, and scored on a 58-yard run by Sage Davis with 2:03 left before halftime.

Thus, the Hearts found themselves down 28-7 at halftime, but Effingham responded well.

Effingham ended up with the ball on the Mt. Zion 32-yard line via a turnover. At the end of a five-play drive, Shackelford ran it in from the 10-yard line with 11:49 left in the fourth to make it 28-14. 

Two minutes later, Mt. Zion responded with a 39-yard field goal by Jonathan Oliger to push the Braves' win to 17 points, but the Hearts still weren't done.

Effingham got the ball at their 35-yard line with 6:53 left and took it to the house with the scoring capped by a pretty 32-yard pass from Shackelford to Jett Gillum. That made it 31-20. 

Ivan Angel then hit a big field goal for the Hearts to make it 31-23, but Mt. Zion scored on a 15-yard run by Davis with 1:49 to seal the deal. The Hearts did block the extra point, but couldn't mount a rally in time.

Effingham generated 21 first downs, 10 rushing and nine passing. They rushed 47 times for 170 yards and two scores. Shackelford tried 28 passes and completed 12 for 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Mt. Zion picked up 20 first downs, 14 rushing and five passing. The Braves rushed 31 times for 296 yards and three touchdowns, and Ashton Summers completed eight of 22 passes for 287 yards and two scores.

Mt. Zion generated 583 total net yards, to 432 for Effingham, but the discrepancy was reduced greatly in the second half.

Nate Shackelford had a good game for the Hearts despite being hassled all night by the Mt. Zion Boraves, going 12 of 28 for 262 yards and a touchdown. As far as receiving, Tristin Duncan had four catches for 118 yards, Jett Gillum had three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, Cam Kalber had two catches for 39 yards, Holden Lewis caught an 18-yard pass, Chase Woomer had two catches for 16 yards, and Parker Wolfe had a three-yard grab.

Rushing the football was a tough chore for the Hearts: Woomer had 20 carries for 51 yards, Shackelford had 20 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns, Logan Brown rushed four times for 10 yards, Trevor Donsbach carried twice for 31 yards, and Keegan Baker had a three-yard rush.

Also for Effingham: Dawson Whitten had seven punts for 256 yards; Ivan Angel had five kickoffs for 249 yards.

Davis had a massive game for Mt. Zion, rushing the ball 22 times for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Mt. Zion quarterback Ashton Summers was just 8 for 22 passing, but that was good for 287 yards and two touchdowns.

Christian Keyhea caught four passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, and Drew London caught a touchdown pass.

As far as the tackle sheet for Effingham: Austin Herboth 9, Mason Hasty 10, Gunnar Franklin 1, Alex Baughman 5, Jacob Stoneburner 9, Tristen Elkin 1, Parker Wolfe 4, Jakob Logan 3, Dawson Whitten 1, Logan Arend 2, Luke Spencer 2, and Hayvin Prather 1.

The contest leaves Mt. Zion with a 8-0 record heading into the final week of regular season play. The Hearts are now 7-1. 

Effingham will host Freeburg next Friday on Senior Night at Klosterman, Senior football players, cheerleaders and pom pon squad members will be addressed at 6:30pm while senior band members will be introduced at halftime.