Hearts Lose Homecoming Game in Overtime; Other Week Six Football Scores

Mt. Zion Braves quarterback Makobi Adams threw his fifth touchdown pass of the night to Grant McAtee to give the Braves a 39-36 victory over the Effingham Hearts in overtime in the Homecoming game at Klosterman Field at Washington Savings Bank Stadium. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The Mt. Zion touchdown came after Effingham took a 36-33 lead on a field goal by Armando Estrada as the Hearts got the ball first in the extra period. It was Estrada's third field goal of the game and came after Estrada had tied the game and sent it into overtime, hitting from 35 yards out with three seconds remaining in regulation. Estrada also hit a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter.

The Braves took a 13-0 lead in the early part of the game on drives of 80 and 68 yards. Effingham bounced back with a 16-play, 82-yard drive capped by a five-yard Evan Waymoth touchdown run and then getting the ball back on Mt. Zion's 32-yard line and scoring on the first play on a pass from Tanner Pontious to Connor Thompson. Estrada hit his first field goal and the Hearts took a 17-13 lead.

Mt. Zion scored on a five-yard run to move back in front 19-17, but the Hearts scored on a five-yard run by Pontious to move back in front 23-19. The Braves though scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to pull back ahead 26-23. Effingham, though, staged a mammoth 16-play, 95-yard drive that took over eight minutes off the clock highlighted by Pontious' one-yard run to move back ahead 30-26.

Mt. Zion wasn't done, though, as they went 80 yards in four plays to score on a 10-yard run by Adams retake the lead 33-30. The Hearts tried to score and retake the lead but tied the game with Estrada's second field goal to send it to overtime.

There were 13 scoring plays in the game. Effingham ran 87 plays in the game to 44 for Mt. Zion, and the Hearts' time of possession advantage was eye-popping, 36:41 to 11:19. The Hearts rolled up 461 yards in total offense, 314 yards on the ground, 147 yards through the air. Mt. Zion gained 387 yards, all but 19 of those through the air.

Hearts' quarterback Tanner Pontious rushed 28 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Weldon Dunston rushed 20 times for 81 yards. Evan Waymoth carried the ball 24 times for 62 yards and a score. Caden Walls had a 14-yard carry.

Pontious completed 9 of 14 pass attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Lotz caught two passes for 15 yards, Garrett Wolfe one catch for nine yards, Kaden Koeberlein two catches for 31 yards, Caden Walls three receptions for 60 yards, and Connor Thompson the 32-yard touchdown catch.

For Mt. Zion, Adams was remarkable, completing 21 of 33 pass attempts for 368 yards and five touchdowns. Brayden Trimble had 11 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown, Jacob Harvey had two catches for 66 yards and a score, Grant McAtee three grabs for 96 yards including two touchdowns, and J.C. Anderson four catches for 32 yards and a score. Adams had 13 of Mt. Zion's 19 rushing yards.

Estrada had six kickoffs totaling 286 yards, Pontious had a 22-yard punt, Weldon Dunston returned five kickoffs for 73 yards and Caden Walls had an eight-yard return.

As far as the tackle sheet, here are the numbers: Connor Simmons 1, Chris Hemwall 2, Michael Love 4, Spencer Fox 3, Logan Heil 2, London Rinkel 2, Armando Estrada 4, Josh Kelley 1, Zach Donaldson 1, Ethan Jones 1, Charlie Ring 2.

The tough loss leaves the Hearts at 3-3 on the season and 3-2 in the Apollo Conference, while Mt. Zion is 5-1 and 4-1 in the conference. Effingham needs five wins to qualify for the football playoffs with a trip to Lincoln next Friday, the Senior Night game against Breese Mater Dei, and the closing contest at Highland.

Last night's contest was the Homecoming game. The Homecoming King and Queen announced at halftime are Muhammad Freeman and Ella Seaman. The Homecoming Dance will be from 8 to 11pm tonight in Gym A at the high school.

Here are the Week 6 scores from the area:

Mt. Zion 39, Effingham 36 (OT)

Lincoln 27, Mattoon 7

Charleston 27, Taylorville 8

Mahomet-Seymour 35, Quincy Notre Dame 10

Mt. Carmel 42, Newton 7

Cumberland 42, Villa Grove 14 

Decatur St. Teresa 63, Sullivan-Okaw Valley 12

Vandalia 48, Staunton 12

Shelbyville 43, Macon Meridian 0 

McLeansboro Hamilton County 15, Flora 13 

Olney Richland County 27, Paris 14