Hearts Win Third Straight; Other Week Five Area Football Scores

The Effingham Hearts pounded the Taylorville Tornadoes 48-13 Friday night in Apollo Conference football action. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Hearts improved to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference play. Taylorville is now 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

Evan Waymoth and Weldon Dunston each scored three touchdowns for the Hearts. Waymoth scored the first three touchdowns, from nine, one and three yards out, while Dunston scored from 18, six and 12 yards out. Muhammad Freeman scored the final touchdown on a one-yard run.

Effingham was in front 27-0 early in the second quarter. The game eventually went to a continuous clock after the Hearts' final scoring drive put them up by more than 40 points.

Effingham registered 22 first downs to 10 for Taylorville, and rolled up 326 net yards on offense, 297 of that via the rush. Effingham ran 62 plays to 52 for the Tornadoes. The running game was so dominant that Effingham only attempted 10 passes and completed just three, good for 29 yards.

Waymoth rushed 15 times for 88 yards and the three scores, while Dunston carried 19 times for 149 yards and his three scores. Freeman rushed 11 times for 49 yards and one score. Quarterback Tanner Pontious rushed four times for 10 yards, Kaden Koeberlein had a three-yard carry, and Gaige Gillum took a knee twice at the end of the game to run out the clock.

Andrew Lotz caught two passes for 29 yards, while Garrett Wolfe caught a five-yard pass. Also, Armando Estrada made six of seven extra point tries and kicked off eight times for 392 yards, Dunston had two kickoff returns totaling 34 yards and Connor Thompson had a five yard return. London Rinkel had a 17-yard interception.

Here's the tackle sheet: London Rinkel 7, Spencer Fox 4, Logan Heil 12, Connor Simmons 6, Zach Donaldson 2, Michael Love 8, Josh Kelley 5, Jack Harper 3, Charlie Ring 3, Carter Bushue 1, Evan Waymoth 2, Gaige Gillum 1, Colton Webb 1, Hunter Reed 1, Max Seachrist 2. 

Next week is Homecoming Week at EHS and they will take on the team with which they're tied, the Mt. Zion Braves, next Friday night.

Effingham 48, Taylorville 13 (F)

Mahomet-Seymour 55, Charleston 14 (F)

Collinsville 43, Mattoon 3 (F)

Robinson 27, Newton 14 (F)

Cumberland 38, Arcola 28 (F)

Johnston City 43, Flora 7 (F)

Decatur St. Teresa 49, Clinton 7 (F)

Highland 35, Triad 0 (F)

Mt Zion 41, Lincoln 14 (F)