Hearts Finish Regular Season at 5-4 w/61-34 Win Over Centralia; Playoff Announcements Set for Saturday Night

The Effingham Hearts are playoff-eligible after a 61-34 victory over the Centralia Orphans Friday night. The game was heard on Classic Hits 979XFM.

Effingham finished the regular season at 5-4 after wins over Mt. Zion and Centralia. The number of playoff points amassed by the Hearts should get them into the postseason, but the official word won't come until tonight when the first round pairings are announced by the IHSA. We will have the information on the radio and on our website as soon as it's available.

Centralia scored on their first possession, but the game was controlled by the Hearts from that point.

Effingham junior running back Weldon Dunston scored six touchdowns, tying the school record. Phil Freimuth, Nick Jones and Zach Miller also scored six touchdowns in a game, with Jones doing it twice.

Dunston scored on runs of 16, eight, 31, 33, two, and two yards on his way to 301 total yards on 38 carries. Dunston now has a reasonable shot at 1,500 yards rushing this season.

The other Hearts scores were on a 28-yard pass play from Gaige Gillum to Andrew Lotz, a 38-yard pass play from Gillum to Brodie Belcher, and a 17-yard run by sophomore Hunter Holland. 

Effingham registered 28 first downs, 22 on the ground, for total yardage of 580 yards, 370 rushing and 210 yards through the air.

Also on the ground for the Hearts: Gillum rushed nine times for 33 yards, and Dalton Buckels carried twice for 19 yards.

Gillum was 11 of 13 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Andrew Lotz had two catches for 62 yards and one score, Hunter Reed had three catches for 71 yards, Brodie Belcher had four receptions for 76 yards and one score, Colton Webb caught a nine-yard pass, and Brock Meltabarger caught a two-yard pass

Centralia picked up 405 yards in total offense with Orphans quarterback Daryle Jones throwing for 336 yards on 15 of 23 passing.

Also for Effingham: Maicol Sefton punted twice for 68 yards and had nine kickoffs for 368 yards; Jacob Weaver had a 43-yard kickoff return; and Kayden Mietzner and Zach Donaldson each had a fumble recovery.

On the tackle sheet for Effingham: Michael Love three, Logan Kessler five, Eli Middendorff one, Jacob Weaver six, D.J. Latham one, Zach Donaldson four, Charlie Ring two, Kaden Koeberlein one, Kaden Koeberlein one, Spencer Fox five, Wade Bushur two, Tyson Seibert one, Kayden Mietzner one, Nick Martin two, Aiden McCarty one, Hayden Wendling one, Logan Jones one, Dalton Buckles two, and Will Hecht one. 

The announcement regarding the playoffs should be made by the IHSA sometime around 8:20 or 8:30pm tonight.