VIDEO: St. Teresa Blanks Hearts 18-0; Other High School Football 8-26

The Decatur St. Teresa Bulldogs blanked the Effingham Hearts 18-0 Friday night in the season opener for both ballclubs. The game at Klosterman Field at Washington Savings Bank Stadium was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

St. Teresa scored with 7:44 left in the first quarter when Royce Harper intercepted Tanner Pontious and ran it back 27 yards to make it 6-0. 

There was no further scoring until 1:43 left until halftime when the Bulldogs ended a six-play, 40-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Joe Brummer to Brycen Hendrix to take a 12-0 lead. The Bulldogs scored one more time with 11:26 left in the fourth quarter. After a loss dropped St. Teresa back to their 20-yard line, two straight passes from Brummer to Jeremy Walker covered 80 yards and a touchdown.

Photos by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records and Video Production. Additional game photos are located here

St. Teresa failed to convert on any of their three touchdowns.

St. Teresa finished with 12 first downs to eight for the Hearts. The Hearts rushed 39 times for 104 yards, and completed 11 passes in 20 attempts for another 64 yards. St. Teresa rushed for 107 yards on 31 carries and completed 15 passes in 21 attempts for 164 yards. Effingham ran 59 plays to 52 for St. Teresa.

John Westendorf led the Hearts with 60 yards rushing on nine attempts, but was injured twice with the second injury putting him out of the game. Quarterback Tanner Pontious at one point had rushed 10 times for 35 yards, but finished with 18 carries for 10 yards. Weldon Dunston carried 10 times for 31 yards. Caden Walls carried twice for three yards. 

Photos by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records and Video Production. Additional game photos are located here

Pontious attempted 20 passes, usually under duress, and completed 10 for 64 yards. Receivers were Andrew Lotz, 3 for 24; Caden Walls, 2 for 25; Evan Waymoth, 1 for 6; Jacob Weaver, 2 for 3; Weldon Dunston, 2 for -3; Carter Bushue, 1 for 9. 

Other Hearts stats: Tanner Pontious punted five times for 204 yards; John Westendorf returned a punt for two yards; Armando Estrada returned a kickoff for 55 yards; and as far as kickoff returns, Weldon Dunston had two for 29 yards, John Westendorf returned a kickoff for 13 yards, and Caden Walls returned a kickoff fr 29 yards.

Photos by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records and Video Production. Additional game photos are located here

Royce Harper led St. Teresa with 76 yards rushing on 12 carries. Quarterback Joe Brummer completed 15 of 21 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

As far as the tackle sheet for the Hearts: Michael Love 9, 1 solo; Spencer Fox 6, 1 solo; Logan Heil 4, 2 solos; Jack Harper 5, 2 solos; Connor Simmons 6, 1 solo; Myles Maxedon 3, 2 solos; Charlie Ring 5, 1 solo; Armando Estrada 1; London Rinkel 9, 3 solos, 1 tackle for loss; Chris Hemwall 4, 2 solos; Maddox Burner 1; Blake Bushue 2; Caden Walls 2, 1 solo

Photos by Gary Stanfield of Riviera Records and Video Production. Additional game photos are located here

The Hearts will travel to Mahomet-Seymour next Friday night at 7:00 to start Apollo Conference play. We will have the game on 979XFM.

OTHER FRIDAY SCORES:

Mahomet-Seymour 51, Morton 14

Mt. Vernon 40, Taylorville 0

Shelbyville 38,  Cumberland 14 

Vandalia 34, Pana 10

Lincoln 28, Clinton 0

Sullivan 33, Newton 27

Olney Richland County 36, Lawrenceville 34

Flora 47, Christopher-Ziegler-Royalton 14

Mt. Zion 48, Bartonville Limestone 7

Triad  41,  Mattoon  22

Martinsville  54,  Edwardsville  6

Mt Carmel  53,  Marshall  0

Casey-Westfield  19,  Paris 7