VIDEO: Hearts Edge Braves 28-27 in Exciting Contest at Mt. Zion

The Effingham Hearts won on the road for the second straight week Friday night, winning 28-27 over the Braves in Mt. Zion. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com

What might have been the most exciting game of the season for the Hearts began with Effingham controlling the contest. After the Braves were forced to punt, Effingham staged a nine-play, 45-yard drive capped by John Westendorf's 14-yard touchdown run and the Hearts grabbed a 7-0 lead. 

Effingham scored again with 10:19 left in the second quarter at the end of a 13-play, 82-yard drive when Westendorf carried the ball in from the eight-yard line. The extra point made it 14-0.

The rest of the second quarter, though, was all Mt. Zion. The Braves scored on an 87-yard touchdown pass play to Christian Keyhea, then on a seven-yard run by Keyhea, and finally on a 34-yard run by Adam Lutz and the Braves headed for the locker room at halftime up 21-14.

Effingham got the ball to start the second half and staged an 11-play, 71-yard drive that took five minutes and ended with Westendorf scoring from three yards out. The extra point tied the game 21-21.

Photos by Riviera Records & Video Production. Additional photos are available here

Mt. Zion scored their last points with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter at the end of a seven-play, 80-yard drive on a 46-yard pass play to Chiren Petty, but the extra point try was no good, leaving the Braves in front 27-21.

The Hearts weren't done, though, staging a 12-play, 69-yard drive culminating with a nine-yard touchdown run by Westendorf, his fourth score of the night, with 11:26 remaining and Armando Estrada hit the extra point to put the Hearts back on top 28-27.

It looked like the lead would evaporate again, but the Hearts' Max Nelson staged a heroic play to run down a Braves back headed for the end zone, spin the player around and strip him of the ball, then recover it for the Hearts, and it changed the whole complexion of the game. 

The Hearts ran off as much time as possible, but were forced to punt and Mt. Zion had the ball back with one more chance to score. The Braves moved inside the Hearts' 10-yard line and decided to try a field goal rather than try for the end zone one more time and the kick hit the left upright, then the crossbar and then bounced back onto the field. The Hearts had the ball back, ran out the clock and rejoiced in a hard-fought one-point victory.

Effingham posted 23 first downs to 14 for Mt. Zion, 16 on the ground, four by passing, and three via penalties. 

Effingham rushed the ball 50 times for 225 yards to 27 rushes for Mt. Zion for 131 yards.

Photos by Riviera Records & Video Production. Additional photos are available here

Effingham attempted 14 passes and completed eight for 74 yards, to eight of 10 passing for Mt. Zion for 298 yards.

Among many keys to victory for Effingham was zero turnovers. Also, the Hearts time of possession was 28:44 to 19:16 for Mt. Zion.

Individually for Effingham, John Westendorf rushed for 133 yards on 31 carries with four touchdowns. Keegan Baker rushed 13 times for 64 yards, Tanner Pontious rushed five times for 27 yards, and Armando Estrada carried once for one yard.

Tanner Pontious was eight for 13 passing for 74 yards. Caden Walls caught three balls for 17 yards, Armando Estrada two catches for 13 yards, and Evan Waymoth had three catches for 44 yards.

Pontious punted twice for 74 yards, Westendorf had a seven-yard punt return and three kickoff returns for 66 yards, Estrada had five kickoffs totaling 269 yards, and Max Nelson had the seven-yard fumble recovery.

For Mt.Zion, Zac Girard rushed 10 times for 50 yards and quarterback Tyson Evans six carries for 36 yards. Evans threw four balls to Christian Keyhea for 144 yards and a score, and Chisen Petty caught two passes for 116 yards.

Here's the tackle sheet: Keegan Baker one, Blake Bushue six, Max Nelson three, Damon Kalber one, Edgar Castillo six, Dalton Fox nine, Connor Simmons two, Maddox Burner one, Logan Heil four, Noah Jones three, Charlie Ring four, London Rinkel one.

The win gets the Hearts to the .500 mark for the first time this season at 3-3, and their Apollo Conference mark at 3-2. 

Mt. Zion is now 4-2, 3-2 in the Apollo. 

The Hearts are at Klosterman Field next Friday night, playing their Homecoming game against Lincoln. Kickoff is at 7pm with pregame coverage at 6:45pm on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com