Hearts Reach 4A Quarterfinals for Second Straight Season, Reach 10-Win Mark First Time Ever

(THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSET DID NOT SIGNAL AN END TO THE EFFINGHAM HEARTS' FOOTBALL SEASON. THE HEARTS ROLLED TO A 42-7 WIN OVER THE BENTON RANGERS TO ADVANCE TO THE CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON. THANKS TO TODD DAILY FOR THE PHOTO)

The Effingham Hearts have reached the quarterfinals of the State Class 4A football playoffs for the second straight season, downing Benton 42-7 Saturday afternoon in second round action at Klosterman Field. The victory made this year's squad the first Effingham football team ever to win 10 games in a season.

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

Effingham will take on Fairbury Prairie Central next Saturday at 2pm in Elite Eight action. Prairie Central defeated Columbia 28-22. Fairbury is 36 miles northeast of Bloomington, about a two-hour drive from Effingham. Admission price is $7, as set by the IHSA.

The game started inauspiciously for the Hearts. After forcing a fumble by Benton quarterback Keegan Glover inside the Rangers' 20-yard line, Glover recovered the fumble and scampered 84 yards down the sideline to put Benton ahead 7-0 following the conversion.

The Hearts took over from there, though.

Effingham repeatedly stopped Benton and, as a result, ended up with good field position throughout the contest. The Hearts started a series at the Benton 24-yard line and scored on a 10-yard pass play from Nathan Shackelford to Holden Lewis. Following the conversion with 20 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, the Hearts had tied the game 7-7.

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Effingham scored three times in the second quarter, on a three-yard run by Logan Brown at the end of an eight-play, 49-yard drive with 7:03 left in the first half; on a 25-yard run up the middle by Shackelford to cap a three-play, 30-yard drive with 3:33 left in the half; and on an eight-yard pass to Kollin Waymoth at the end of a four-play, 35-yard drive with 57 seconds left before halftime. Add three successful conversions, and the Hearts led 28-7 at halftime.

Effingham scored twice in the second half; with 3:39 left in the third quarter on a 44-yard run by Shackelford to cap a five-play, 66-yard drive; and with 7:35 left in the game on a 22-yard pass to Jacob Briggerman who danced along the sideline to stay in bounds and score at the end of a six-play, 63-yard drive.

Effingham generated 19 first downs to five for Benton and netted 383 yards for 117 yards for the Rangers. Effingham gained 160 yards through the air, while Benton netted just three yards passing. The Hearts rushed 52 times for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Benton rushed 32 times for 114 yards and their only score.

Shackelford led the Hearts in rushing with 110 yards and two touchdowns on 12 rushes. Chase Woomer gained 58 yards on 19 carries. Logan Brown rushed the ball nine times for 36 yards and a score. Keegan Baker had five carries for 23 yards. Trevor Donsbach rushed five times for 19 yards. Punter Dawson Whitten had to cover a snap over his head for a 23-yard loss.

Shackelford attempted 16 passes and completed nine for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Briggerman had two catches for 35 yards and a score, Jett Gillum had three receptions for 54 yards, Lewis had a 10-yard touchdown catch, Kollin Waymoth had two catches for 33 yards and a touchdown, and Tristin Duncan had a 28-yard reception including a dandy run after the catch.

Photo by Riviera Records & Video Production

Benton quarterback Keegan Glover was three for nine passing for three yards and an interception. Ayden Newcomb caught a seven-yard pass, Tyler Butler caught a pass for no gain, and Chase Thomas caught a pass for a four-yard loss.

Glover carried the ball 14 times for 60 yards, but that included the 84-yard touchdown run. Tyler Butler rushed 11 times for 34 yards, Basin Davis had two carries for six yards, and Peyton Swigonski rushed five times for 14 yards.

Parker Wolfe tied an Effingham season record with his 10th interception of the campaign. That's eight picks in the last four games for Wolfe. The 10 interceptions tie Mike Tegeler's record set in 1970 and equaled by Tim Stewart in 1980.

Other numbers for the Hearts: Dawson Whitten had two successful punts for a total of 61 yards; Ivan Angel had seven kickoffs for a total of 346 yards; and Chase Woomer returned a kickoff 27 yards.

As for the tackle sheet, here's the rundown: Mason Hasty six, one for a loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery; Jacob Stoneburner five; Dawson Whitten three; Austin Herboth seven; Logan Arend two; Hayvin Prather six, one for loss, and a sack; Trevon Benavides one; Jakob Logan one; Tristen Elkin two, one for loss; Gunnar Franklin two; Parker Wolfe two; Alex Baughman one for loss and a sack; Shawn Cochran one; Riley Crain one; and Zac Slifer one.

The Hearts fumbled twice and lost one, and were penalized six times for 50 yards. Benton fumbled twice and lost one, and were penalized five times for 35 yards. Effingham had the edge in time of possession, 29:21 to 18:39.