Heartbreaking End to Effingham's Great Football Season

A touchdown pass by Murphysboro in overtime gave the Red Devils a 20-17 victory over the Effingham Flaming Hearts to spell the end to Effingham's tremendous season.

Effingham had pulled ahead in the overtime period 17-14 on a 23-yard field goal by Ivan Angel before Red Devils quarterback Jamarr McZeke found Jake Hoppenstedt in the corner of the end zone with a pass for the win.

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

The loss leaves Effingham with a final season record of 11-2, while Murphysboro is now 11-2 and will play Richmond-Burton Friday at 7pm at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb for the 4A state championship.

The Hearts close the season with the first trip ever to the fourth round of the playoffs and with 11 wins, the most ever in a season.

Effingham's offense struggled mightily in the first half, netting just 18 yards and -9 rushing yards. The Hearts managed just one first down before halftime. 

Meanwhile, Murphysboro scored on a safety with 4:21 left in the first quarter when a punt snap went well over Dawson Whitten's head and out of the back of the end zone to lead 2-0. The Red Devils scored at the end of an 11-play, 49-yard drive with 11:50 remaining in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Aiden McNitt to make it 8-0. The Red Devils also scored as time ran out in the first half on a five-yard run by Dezmond Clark to conclude a 12-play, 63-yard drive and make it 14-0 as the teams headed for the locker room.

Photo by Riviera Records and Video Production

The halftime came at just the right time for Effingham, as the Hearts looked like a different ballclub in the second half. 

The Hearts took the second half kickoff and marched the ball 77 yards on nine plays highlighted by a 33-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Shackelford to Tristin Duncan. The extra point brought the Hearts within 14-7 with 8:00 left in the third quarter.

Effingham staged a game-tying drive in the fourth quarter, going 69 yards on three plays in 54 seconds, capped by a 60-yard touchdown pass from Shackelford to Duncan with 8:40 remaining. The extra point, which was kicked first by Beau Hefner, but called back on a penalty, then was kicked by Ivan Angel to knot the game at 14-14.

A crucial play came toward the end of the game. The Hearts were driving and had the ball inside Murphysboro's 10-yard line when a fumble turned the ball over to Murphysboro. The Red Devils ran the ball twice to run out the clock and then won the contest in overtime.

As slim as the pickings were on offense for Effingham in the first half, they were plentiful in the second half. Effingham picked up 13 second half first downs, five on the ground and eight through the air. The Hearts gained 63 yards on the ground after intermission and 204 yards through the air with two touchdowns.

For the game, Effingham rushed 30 times for 54 net yards and completed 12 passes for 231 yards. Murphysboro rushed 44 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns and completed eight of 12 passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Murphysboro ran 56 plays to 48 for Effingham and had a 27:31 to 20:29 time-of-possession edge, but the Hearts had 285 yards in total yardage to 242 yards for Murphysboro.

Effingham committed seven fumbles and lost two of them to just one fumble for Murphysboro.

Each team was penalized just three times.

Chase Woomer carried the ball nine times for 33 yards, Logan Brown had five carries for 13 yards, and Nathan Shackelford had 16 rushes for eight yards.

Shackelford attempted 18 passes and completed 12 for 231 yards and two touchdowns with no picks.

Tristin Duncan had a monster game with seven catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Cameron Kalber grabbed three passes for 38 yards. Jett Gillum had two grabs for 29 yards.

Dawson Whitten punted twice for 43 yards, Gunnar Franklin had an interception. Ivan Angel had four kickoffs for 195 yards. Keegan Baker and Chase Woomer each had a kickoff return, Baker for three yards, Woomer for six yards.

For Murphysboro, Dezmond Clark carried 11 times for 25 yards and a touchdown, Jake Hopperstedt had 10 rushes for nine yards, Kevin Kirkwood carried nine times for 30 yards, Zane Caraway had four rushes for seven yards, Aiden McNitt had seven rushes for 22 yards and a touchdown, and Jamarr McZeke carried three times for 18 yards.

McZeke hit on eight of 12 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Logan Sullivan caught a 21-yard pass, Hunter Meade had two catches for 45 yards, Dezmond Clark grabbed two passes for 45 yards, Ryan Finke caught a six-yard pass, and Jake Hopperstedt had two catches for 14 yards including the game-winning touchdown reception.

For Murphysboro, Ryan Finke punted three times for 73 yards. Jameirr Frazier had two kickoffs for 88 yards. Dezmond Clark had three kickoff returns for 59 yards and Jake Hoppenstedt had a 12-yard return. Aiden McNitt had a fumble recovery.

Here's the tackle sheet: Luke Spencer one; Hayvin Prather four; Logan Arend three; Parker Wolfe four; Jakob Logan five; Logan Brown five; Dawson Whitten four; Mason Hasty nine with one for loss; Austin Herboth seven; Jacob Stoneburner nine with one for loss; Alex Baughman three; Shawn Cochran one.

The Hearts bid farewell and say thanks to 20 seniors. They are Nate Shackelford, Jack Matteson, Jarrett Goeckner, Seth McMurray, Dawson Whitten, Luke Spencer, Logan Brown, Cameron Kalber, Logan Arend, Payton Simmons, Bryce Ikemire, Mason Hasty, Ivan Angel, Hayvin Prather, Marcus Hites, Justin Baker, Stetson Green, Stiles Crowe, Jett Gillum, and Kollin Waymoth.