Football

Steve Raymond

ET Sport Report

What a great day Saturday was.

For me personally, this year’s Effingham Hearts are now the most successful football team I have ever covered – and I’ve been doing this since 1978.

I also had a lot of fun with my riding companions. I had the opportunity to ride in a van full of football parents that go by the last name of Kalber, Hasty, Jones and Shackelford. Those that know this cast of characters will easily believe that the trip to and from Fairbury was anything but dull.

It was quickly established that I was the senior citizen of the group by nearly 20 years. Showing no sensitivity whatsoever, they began talking about doing Michael Jackson’s Moon Walk and how much they liked the “oldies” from the 1980s. I graduated from high school in 1971. In my world, the 80s aren’t even close to being the “oldies.”

I’m old. I accept that fact and I don’t live in denial.

But you know how they say even an old dog can learn new tricks? I’m living proof that is possible. It happened Saturday.

I learned about some movie character called Marty Higgins; how to negotiate over a missed order of hash browns; and how to perform a two-cheek salute while passing the Effingham adult fan bus.

But that was just the beginning.

Steve Raymond

ET Sport Report

Welcome to the Final Four.

The Effingham Hearts continued their amazing football season Saturday by posting a 27-14 victory over the Prairie Central Hawks in Fairbury.

That win advanced the Hearts into the semifinal round of the Class 4A Playoffs. They will return home next Saturday to face Murphysboro, who knocked off Kankakee Bishop McNamara 35-27. Kickoff at Jack Klosterman Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Effingham has featured a quick-strike, high-powered offense throughout the season. But it was three long, time-consuming drives that proved to be the difference in Saturday’s quarter-final contest.

The Hearts trailed 14-7 when they got the ball at the 8:27 mark of the second quarter. Over the next 23 minutes and 45 seconds, Effingham had possession for 19 minutes and 22 seconds, keeping Prairie Central’s triple option attack off the field.

The Hearts ran 35 plays during that stretch, compared to the Hawks 10; held a 201-8 advantage in offensive yards; racked up 12 first downs to 0; and went on a 20-0 scoring run that sealed their 11th win of the season and a berth in the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in school history.

“To get this far for the first time is special,” EHS coach Brett Hefner said moments after celebrating with his team. “These kids know what’s at stake and they want it so bad. The way they finished today, you gotta love that. I’m just proud of these kids.”

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Leading up to the game, much of the talk was about Benton’s stingy defense.

After all, the Rangers had only allowed 83 points all season and posted four shutouts along the way.

But when the game was over, however, all people wanted to talk about was the defense played by the boys in the red jerseys.

It was the Effingham defensive group that proved to be the best, by far. Other than one fluke play, the Hearts totally throttled Benton, and for the second straight week, posted a playoff romp.

When the final horn sounded at Jack Klosterman Field late Saturday afternoon, the Hearts were celebrating a 42-7 victory and a berth in the third round of the Class 4A Playoffs.

Effingham will return to action next Saturday when it travels to Fairbury to play the 9-2 Prairie Central Hawks. Prairie Central, the No. 10 seed in the Southern Bracket, advanced with a 28-22 win over previously unbeaten and No. 2 seed Columbia.

Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The second round contest was supposed to be a clash between Effingham’s high-powered offense and a Benton defense that gave up just 8 points per game.

The EHS defensive group must have been tired of hearing about that.

Steve Raymond

ET Sport Report

Can the defense get off the field?

That appears to be the question of the week as Effingham strives to accomplish something no other Hearts football team has ever done.

And that’s reaching the fourth round of the playoffs.

That is what’s on the line Saturday when the 10-1 Hearts, seeded No. 3 in the Southern Bracket, travel to Fairbury to face the Prairie Central Hawks, who enter the contest at 9-2 and seeded No. 10 in the Class 4A playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Last week’s concern was the Benton defense. The Rangers had been stingy the entire season, allowing just 8 points a game. But Benton’s defense proved to be no match for Effingham’s dynamic offense, as the Hearts rolled to a 42-7 win.

This week’s match-up is much different. For the Hearts to reach the fourth round, their defense must contain an offense that not many teams run.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

What happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable object?

We’re going to find out Saturday.

This second round game of the Class 4A Playoffs should be quite a match-up -- featuring Effingham’s high-powered offense and Benton’s stingy, at times impenetrable, defense.

Who will prevail?

The Hearts, who like to strike quick and average 40 points a game?

Or the Rangers, who are allowing their opponents just 8 points?

Both teams bring in identical 9-1 records.

Both teams lone loss is to the champion of their respective conferences.

And both teams have dominated most opponents throughout the season.

This is, indeed, an interesting pairing.

And it will kick-off at 3 p.m. Saturday at Jack Klosterman Field.