Football Hearts Slip to 0-2 With 37-7 Loss to Mahomet-Seymour

The Effingham Hearts slipped to 0-2 on the young football season with a 37-7 loss to Mahomet-Seymour Friday night. The game, which was the home opener for Effingham, was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Unlike last week's loss to St. Teresa where the Hearts were down 28-0 at the end of the first quarter, this contest was closer with Effingham down just 10-0 at halftime. The Bulldogs struck first with 5:57 remaining in the opening quarter when quarterback Wyatt Bohm hit receiver Dream Eagle with a 49-yard pass play and the extra point made it 7-0. The Bulldogs added a 26-yard Kyle Walmer field goal with 3:50 left in the second quarter to extend their lead to 10-0.

The second half was a different story, though, as Mahomet-Seymour scored four times. Those came just 18 seconds after intermission on a 98-yard kick return by Quent Rogers, a 13-yard run by Valient Walsh with 3:13 left in the third quarter, a 26-yard pass to Rogers from Bohm, 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, and a three-yard run by Luke Johnson with 10:07 left in the contest.

The Hearts' lone score came on a three-yard run by Chris Hemwall with 23 seconds remaining in the game. Osvaldo Angel's extra point accounted for the final score. The touchdown came at the end of a nine-play, 77-yard drive that took five minutes off the clock. 

Effingham totaled just nine first downs, seven on the ground, one through the air, and one on a penalty. The Hearts gained 115 yards rushing on 44 carries, and completed just one pass on 10 attempts for 40 yards with one interception. That's 155 yet yards on 55 plays. Effingham fumbled twice, but got them both back.

Mahomet-Seymour amassed 369 total yards on 55 plays and 15 first downs. 

John Westendorf led Effingham in rushing with 53 net yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Tanner Pontious carried 19 times for 39 yards, Keegan Baker carried seven times for seven yards, Hemwall gained 15 yards on three carries including the touchdown run, and Armando Estrada carried once for one yard.

Pontious completed the 40-yard pass to Dalton Fox in 10 attempts, with an interception. 

Pontious punted four times for 139 yards, while Estrada punted four times for 131 yards. Estrada had two kickoffs for 97 yards. Westendorf returned four kickoffs for 50 yards, while Keegan Baker returned two kicks for 44 yards.

Luke Johnson led Mahomet-Seymour in rushing with 84 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Wyatt Bohm attempted 30 passes and completed 17, good for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Dream Eagle caught nine passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, while Quenton Rogers caught four balls for 57 yards and a score. 

As far as tackles for the Hearts, here's the rundown:

Osvaldo Angel--5; Connor Simmons--6; Edgar Castillo--6; Max Nelson--3; Damon Kalber--4; Dalton Fox--6; Maddox Burner--1; Cohen Woods--1; Logan Heil--3; Connor Thompson--1

Mahomet-Seymour is 2-0 on the season.

The Hearts will head to Charleston next Friday night for more Apollo Conference action. Kickoff will be at 7pm.