Hearts Post Impressive Road Win at Taylorville

The Effingham Hearts posted an impressive 27-7 football win Friday night over the Taylorville Tornadoes. The game, at Taylorville, was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Effingham led start to finish, but didn't pull away until the second half.

The Hearts scored on the first play of the second quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by John Westendorf. The Hearts missed the extra point, but still led the contest 6-0 after concluding a nine-play, 47-yard drive and that took 4:03 off the clock.

After really good defensive play throughout the first half, Effingham's offense kicked into gear after intermission. 

The Hearts staged a four-play, 70-yard drive highlighted by a 59-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Pontious to Armando Estrada with 10:26 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point made it 13-0 at the conclusion of a 1:34 drive.

Effingham scored again with 3:13 remaining in the period at the end of a 10-play, 48-yard drive. Pontious threw a pretty 27-yard pass to Evan Waymoth for the score and the extra point made it 20-0 Hearts.

The Hearts scored again with 10:48 left in the game at the conclusion of a nine-play, 56-yard drive that took 3:57 off the clock. This time, it was Westendorf with a 25-yard run. The extra point made it 27-0 and it looked like the Hearts had the game locked up. 

Taylorville tried a little chicanery to cover 75 yards in two plays including a 35-yard touchdown pass from Kamren Heimsness to Jaden Mathon. The extra point made it 27-7 and Taylorville staged another drive that showed some promise until the Tornadoes were called for a series of penalties that drove them back far down the field, and that was the ballgame. 

The Hearts rolled up 387 yards to 188 yards for the Tornadoes. Effingham generated 278 rushing yards and 109 yards through the air, scoring twice on the ground and twice through the air. Effingham also had a huge edge in time of possession, 31:33 to 16:27. 

Effingham had 21 first downs to six for Taylorville. 17 of the Hearts' first downs were on the ground. Effingham ran 65 plays to 34 for Taylorville.

The Hearts did commit five fumbles, but lost just two, had no interceptions, and were only penalized once for 10 yards.

John Westendorf led the Hearts with 150 yards rushing on 26 carries and two touchdowns. Keegan Baker carried 20 times for 84 yards, Tanner Pontious 10 times for 40 yards, and Evan Waymoth and Armando Estrada each a two-yard carry. Pontious attempted seven passes and completed five for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Estrada had three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, Waymoth had the 27-yard touchdown catch, and Caden Walls had a 15-yard reception.

As far as special teams, Westtendorf had three punt returns for 19 yards, and Estrada had four kickoffs for 227 yards. Westendorf had a three-yard kickoff return and Dalton Fox returned one for no gain.

For Taylorville, Heimsness rushed 12 times for 32 yards, Karter Ostermeier rushed five times for 10 yards, Jackson Myers carried once for two yards, and Seth Hughes had two rushes for 38 yards. Heimsness was five of 14 passing for 106 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Mathon caught the 35-yard touchdown pass, and Joe Lyons caught two passes for 71 yards.

On the tackle sheet for Effingham: Chris Hemwall 1, Connor Thompson 1, Logan Heil 5, Dalton Fox 5, Connor Simmons 5, Charlie Ring 4, Armando Estrada 1, Damon Kalber 1, Max Nelson 1, for a loss, Maddox Burner 2, one for loss, Blake Bushue 2, Edgar Castillo 1, Keegan Baker 1, Osvaldo Angel 2.

Effingham is now 2-3 on the season, 2-2 in the Apollo Conference. Next week, the Hearts head to Mt. Zion. Kickoff at 7pm on 979XFM.