Hearts Fall in Overtime at Taylorville, 42-41, Friday

The Effingham Hearts suffered a crushing loss 42-41 in overtime to the Taylorville Tornadoes Friday night. The game at Taylorville was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The game was tied at 34-34 at the end of regulation. The Hearts got the ball first and scored on a one-yard Weldon Dunston run. Maicol Sefton's extra point kick made it 41-34. Then, it was Taylorville's turn. The Tornadoes lost their starting quarterback Baron Odam on the first play, then got called for a holding penalty, pushing Taylorville back to the 20 yard line.

So what happened? The Tornadoes backup quarterback Malique Pearse threw a touchdown pass to make it 41-40 and then Odam re-entered the game and threw a completed pass for the two-point conversion to win the game for Taylorville.

The loss was the first in the conference for Effingham and just their second of the season opposed to four wins. Taylorville is now 2-4 on the season.

Prior to the overtime, it was a see-saw game. Effingham got a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jaxon Bridges to Wade Bushur, a 75-yard touchdown run by Weldon Dunston, a three-yard run by Dunston, and a one-yard run by Dunston. Every time the Hearts scored, though, Taylorville bounced right back with a score of their own.

Effingham rolled up 386 yards in total offense to 250 yards for Taylorville, and the Hearts had 21 first downs to 13 for the Tornadoes. Effingham had 264 rushing yards and 122 yards through the air.

Weldon Dunston rushed for 278 yards Friday for the Hearts to go with five touchdowns. Also for the Hearts: Max Buzzard two carries for 29 yards; Kaden Koeberlein one for seven yards; Nolan Fearday two for eight yards; and Maxx Kistler two for -10 yards.

Jaxon Bridges was 11 for 16 passing the ball for 122 yards and a touchdown. Max Buzzard attempted three passes and threw for an interception. As far as receivers: Maxx Kistler four for 43 yards; Weldon Dunston four for 29 yards; Wade Bushur the 15-yard touchdown catch; Hayden Wendling one for 32 yards; and Nolan Fearday one for three yards.

Also for the Hearts, Hunter Holland had an interception; Maicol Sefton had four kickoffs for 212 yards; Dunston had two kickoff returns for 14 yards, Hunter Holland one for 19 yards; and Chase Starkey and Hayden Wendling one apiece.

Baron Odam led Taylorville with 32 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Owen Mateer rushed 14 times for 52 yards. Odam was also 8 for 18 passing for 146 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

The Hearts return home next Friday night to host Mahomet-Seymour in Apollo Conference action. It will be "Real Men Wear Pink Night" to support the battle against cancer.