Hearts Open Season w/Victory Over Mahomet-Seymour

The Effingham Hearts had waited since the fall of 2019 to play high school football, and they made the wait worth their while as they posted a 21-7 victory over the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs. The contest at Mahomet was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The game was a scoreless tie until the Hearts scored with 2:59 left in the third quarter. Effingham concluded a 14-play, 83-yard drive that took 5:18 to complete, and ended with Chase Woomer carrying the ball into the end zone from 11 yards out. Beau Hefner's extra point try was good and the Hearts led 7-0. 

Effingham scored twice in the fourth quarter, with Trevor Donsbach scoring from nine yards out to cap a six-play, 42-yard drive that took 1:31 to complete, the score coming with 10:53 left in the game. The Hearts scored their final touchdown with 48 seconds left in the game, as Keegan Baker scored from 10 yards out to complete an eight-play, 71-yard drive that took 5:14 off the clock.

Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. Additional game photos can be found here

Mahomet-Seymour scored on a 49-yard pass play to Clay Hubble with 23 seconds left to spoil the Hearts' shutdown.

Effingham picked up 227 yards on the ground and 128 yards through the air, garnering 19 first downs in the process. Mahomet-Seymour registered 17 first downs, 180 yards rushing and 138 yards passing.

Woomer had a big night for the Hearts, rushing 31 times for 154 yards and a touchdown. Donsbach rushed eight times for 63 yards and a score, while Baker carried three times for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Nathan Thompson, making his first start as the Hearts' quarterback, went 7-for-20 passing the ball for 128 yards. Thompson completed three passes for 67 yards to Tristin Duncan, one pass for five yards to Holden Lewis, an eight-yard pass to Woomer, a 25-yard pass to Austin Herboth, and a 23-yard pass to Parker Wolfe.

Photo by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records. Additional game photos can be found here

Mahomet-Seymour got 53 yards rushing from Skyler Yancy, 62 yards from quarterback Braden Finch, 46 yards from Clay Hubble, and 21 yards from Nolan Nierenhausen. Finch went 7 of 21 passing for 138 yards and one touchdown. Clay Hubble caught seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.

When it came to tackles, Jacob Stoneburner was the man for Effingham, racking up 18 tackles...Austin Herboth had nine tackles and a sack...Trevon Benavides six tackles...Gunnar Franklin one...Jakob Logan four...Zac Slifer six tackles and a sack...Gabe Kihne three tackles...Logan Heil three tackles...Shawn Cochran one tackle...Alex Baughman three tackles...Keegan Baker two tackles...and Kalen Reardon three tackles

Other Effingham stats: Punts--Trevon Benavides 1 for 36 yards...Kickoffs--Armando Estrada 4 for 207 yards...Kickoff Returns--Evan Waymoth and Chase Woomer...Interception--Gunnar Franklin...Fumble Recovery--Kalen Reardon

Effingham plays its home opener next Friday night hosting Charleston. Kickoff at Klosterman Field will be 7pm. It will be Homecoming.