VIDEO: Hearts Reach Final Four w/Win Over Prairie Central

The Effingham Hearts reached the Final Four in Class 4A football with a 27-14 victory over the Prairie Central Hawks Saturday. The game at Fairbury was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

This marks the first time the Hearts have reached the semi-finals in Class 4A play. The Hearts advanced to the Class 3A semi-finals in 1980.

Effingham will be back home for the Final Four contest vs. Murphysboro. The Red Devils advanced with a 35-27 win over Kankakee McNamara. Game time is 2pm Saturday.

Effingham got the ball to start the game and promptly staged a six-play, 72-yard drive highlighted by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Shackelford to Jett Gillum. Ivan Angel's extra point made it 7-0.

No one scored again until Prairie Central went on a six-play, 52-yard drive capped by a 24-yard touchdown run by Hawks quarterback Kaden King with 9:42 remaining in the second quarter. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Hearts' lead had been cut to 7-6. 

A fumble by Chase Woomer gave the ball right back to Prairie Central and on the first play of the drive, King completed a 51-yard pass to Corbin Moser for a touchdown and a two-point conversion put the Hawks on top 14-7 with 8:31 left in the first half.

No one could know then, but that was the last time Prairie Central scored in the game.

Photo by Riviera Records & Video Production

Effingham tied the game by staging a 13-play, 67-yard drive capped by Logan Brown's five-yard touchdown run. The extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 1:15 remaining before halftime.

The Hearts pulled back in front with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter at the end of a 12-play, 83-yard drive highlighted by a beautiful 23-yard pass from Shackelford to Tristin Duncan. The extra point try was blocked but Effingham was back in front 20-14.

The Hearts gave themselves some breathing room by scoring with 8:42 left in the game on an 11-play, 49-yard drive capped by Brown's four-yard touchdown run. The extra point accounted for the 13-point win.

Photo by Todd Daily

Effingham rolled up 17 first downs to 11 for Prairie Central. The Hearts recorded 10 rushing first downs and seven through the air. The Hawks had eight rushing first downs, one on a pass and two via penalties. Effingham held Prairie Central to four first downs in the second half. 

Prairie Central outrushed Effingham gaining 167 yards on 29 attempts to 129 yards for the Hearts on 47 tries. Through the air, Effingham racked up 192 yards to 51 yards for Prairie Central on their only completion of the game.

Effingham's time of possession totaled 29:42 to 18:18 for Prairie Central.

Chase Woomer led the Hearts with 57 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Logan Brown had 14 carries for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Nathan Shackelford rushed 12 times for 29 yards.

Shackelford was 12-for-13 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Cameron Kalber had four catches for 95 yards. Tristin Duncan had four receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Jett Gillum caught two balls for 30 yards and a score. Chase Woomer caught a four-yard pass. Parker Wolfe had an 18-yard grab.

Dawson Whitten had to punt just two times for a total of 76 yards. Ivan Angel had five kickoffs for a total of 232 yards. As far as kickoff returns, Chase Woomer had a 14-yard return, Jett Gillum a one-yard return, and Gabe Kihne a six-yard return.

For Prairie Central, Kaden King rushed 14 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. Connor Casner carried nine times for 42 yards. Corbin Moser had four carries for 23 yards. Dailen Loveless rushed twice for seven yards. 

Kaden King tried nine passes and completed one for 51 yards and a touchdown to Corbin Moser. He also threw two picks. One was grabbed by Luke Spencer, while the other was grabbed by Parker Wolfe, giving him a school-record 11 picks on the season, breaking a tie with Mike Tegeler from 1970 and Tim Stewart from 1980. Wolfe was able to return his pick 21 yards.

Also for Prairie Central, Kaden King punted twice for 68 yards, Clare Strong had three kickoffs for 103 yards, and as far as kickoff returns, Jacob Niffen had one for 23 yards, Kaden King had two for 34 yards, and Austin Sweich had one for 20 yards. Sweich also recovered a fumble.

As far as the tackle sheet, Dawson Whitten three; Austin Herboth five, one for loss; Hayvin Prather two; Alex Baughman seven; Jacob Stoneburner four; Jakob Logan one; Mason Hasty three, one for loss and one sack; Gunnar Franklin one; Logan Brown one; Chase Woomer one; Luke Spencer two; Logan Arend two.

Effingham is now 11-1 on the season, while Prairie Central finishes their campaign with a 9-3 mark.

Murphysboro improved to 10-2 with their victory. Admission to next week's contest, set by the IHSA, is $8/person. We will have the contest on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.