Hearts Shutout Trojans for First Win of Season

The Effingham Hearts posted their first win of the football season Friday night, shutting out the Trojans 42-0 at Charleston. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

Better line play on both sides of the ball was a key for the Hearts, who improved to 1-2 on the season and 1-1 in Apollo Conference play.

The Hearts scored with 4:16 remaining in the second half to conclude a monster 14-play, 90-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock. Hearts quarterback Tanner Pontious took the ball into the end zone from the two-yard line and Osvaldo Angel's extra point made it 7-0. 

The score gave Effingham its first lead of the season, but they added to that in short order.

Effingham scored again with 10:47 remaining in the third quarter to conclude a four-play, 60-yard drive. John Westendorf rolled into the end zone from the seven-yard line and Armando Estrada's extra point made it 14-0. 

The Hearts scored again with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter at the end of an 11-play, 64-yard drive when Connor Thompson caught a six-yard pass from Pontious for the score. The 4:37 drive was capped by Angel's extra point to make it 21-0.

Photos by Riviera Records & Video Production. View more game photos here

Effingham scored with 11:36 remaining in the game when Westendorf scored from the two at the conclusion of a 12-play, 48-yard drive that took 3:31 off the clock and Estrada's kick made it 28-0. 

After Charleston went three-and-out, the Hearts blocked Charleston's punt and Chris Hemwall scooped the ball up and ran 22 yards to pay dirt. Angel's extra point made it 35-0 with 9:40 remaining.

The Hearts final score came with 1:55 remaining at the end of a six-play, 34-yard drive that took 2:09 off the clock when Hemwall scored from one yard out and Estrada's extra point accounted for the final score.

Effingham picked up 22 first downs to seven for Charleston. 18 of the Hearts' first downs were via the rush to five for Charleston.

The Hearts rushed the ball 50 times for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Effingham caught eight passes for 66 yards and a score. Charleston rushed 25 times for 43 yards and completed 10 of 25 passes for 110 yards.

The Hearts did not have to punt and returned just one kickoff for 36 yards and just one punt for no return. Effingham fumbled three times, but did not lose the ball. The Hearts were penalized six times for 60 yards.

Photos by Riviera Records & Video Production. View more game photos here

Individually, John Westendorf rushed for 179 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns. Keegan Baker carried 16 times for 56 yards, Pontious carried five times for 33 yards, Estrada had two carries for 16 yards, and Chris Hemwall had six carries for 34 yards and a score, plus the score he had on the punt block return.

Pontious attempted 12 passes and completed seven for 61 yards and a touchdown. Connor Simmons completed one pass for five yards.

Evan Waymoth caught three passes for 23 yards, Estrada had two catches for 21 yards, Myley Maxedon caught Simmons' five-yard pass, Connor Thompson had a six-yard touchdown reception, and Caden Walls caught an 11-yard pass.

Estrada had five kickoffs for 243 yards, Westendorf had a 36-yard kickoff return, Hemwall had the punt block return for a touchdown, and Damon Kalber had a punt return for no gain.

For Charleston, Jack Nelson completed seven of 19 pass attempts for 63 yards, while Nate Shrader completed three of six passes for 47 yards. Nelson gained 22 yards on seven carries, Shrader rushed seven times for -4 yards, and Zayvion Johnson-Mitchel carried nine times for 27 yards.

Charleston is now 1-2 on the season, 0-2 in the Apollo.

Effingham is home next Friday to the Mattoon Green Wave in Apollo Conference action. Kickoff at Klosterman Field will be at 7pm. It will be Military Appreciation Night, and we will have the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.