Football

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Like virtually every other team in the southern portion of the Class 4A playoffs, the Effingham Hearts are excited and optimistic about making a deep run.

“I’m sure all 16 teams think they have a chance to get out of the South and reach the finals,” said EHS coach Brett Hefner. “I think the South is pretty wide open for everybody.”

The Hearts were assigned the No. 3 seed in the South bracket. They will open the playoffs at home Saturday against Breese Central. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. at Jack Klosterman Field.

The Cougars finished the season with a 5-4 record overall and 4-2 in the Cahokia Conference.

When the brackets were released, Coach Hefner said he was not surprised when the Effingham/Breese Central matchup was announced.

“At first, we thought it would be somebody from that same area, and thought there was a strong possibility it would be Roxanna,” the EHS coach noted. “But once everything was settled, it appeared it would be Breese Central. So, no, I wasn’t surprised.”

But there were some surprises. Due to some final week scores around the state, plus the effect of the Chicago Public League teachers strike, there were some pairings that were not expected.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

The first two pass plays for both teams told the story.

Freeburg threw an interception on the game’s very first play.

Two plays later, Effingham threw a touchdown pass.

Just 69 seconds into Friday night’s contest, the Hearts owned a 7-0 lead and the rout was on. When the horn sounded to end the first half, Effingham went to the locker room with a dominating 42-0 advantage.

The mercy rule kicked in for the second half, resulting in a continually running clock. EHS Coach Brett Hefner pulled his starters. Freeburg’s starters did score three times in the shortened second half, resulting in a 42-20 final at Jack Klosterman Field.

But the game was not nearly that close.

And the tone was set on the first play when Effingham’s Parker Wolfe picked off his first of three interceptions and returned it to the Midgets’ 22. After a short running play, EHS quarterback Nate Shackelford started his record-setting performance with a pass to Jett Gillum, who raced into the end zone for the game’s first score.

That was a trend throughout the first two quarters.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Just how good is the Effingham football team?

We’re all going to find out next week.

The anticipated showdown between two undefeated and ranked football teams is on.

And the Apollo Conference championship will be at stake when EHS travels to Mt. Zion.

The Hearts kept their hopes of a perfect season and a second conference title in three years alive Friday night with a convincing 48-6 victory at Taylorville.

And they gained a bit of revenge from last year’s 64-20 setback they suffered at home against the Tornados.

“After what happened last year, this was a big one for us,” EHS coach Brett Hefner admitted. “Our first goal every year is to win the Apollo. Now we have ourselves in position for that next week. Two undefeated teams and both ranked. It should be a heck of an atmosphere.”

It should indeed.

But for that clash to happen, the Hearts had to take care of business Friday night. And they took control early, scoring three first-quarter touchdowns and adding four more scores in the second half to turn what many people thought would be a tight game into a rout.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

The Effingham Hearts did not bring home the Apollo Conference championship.

But they made the large contingent of Effingham fans proud Friday night in Mt. Zion.

After falling behind by a substantial margin in the first half, the Hearts refused to quit or give up. They battled back to within one possession and came within one very questionable call from a having a chance to tie the game.

But a very good and talented Mt. Zion team took advantage to score a late touchdown and seal the 37-23 victory and clinch the conference title.

“I was never worried about our kids. I knew they would continue to fight,” said EHS coach Brett Hefner just moments after the game ended. “Mt. Zion made some plays in that first half. They spread you out and they have weapons.

“We didn’t execute offensively in that first half,” Hefner added. “But in the second half, we showed fight and continued to have great effort. I thought we wore Mt. Zion down and made a run at them. We were one play away from getting the ball back.”

After a 24-yard field goal by Ivan Angel with 5:11 to play, the Hearts had trimmed a 28-7 halftime deficit to 31-23. About 60 seconds later, the Braves faced a critical 3rd-and-11. Quarterback Ashton Summers’ pass fell incomplete, but the Hearts were called for roughing the passer, giving Mt. Zion a first down.

One video replay taken along the sideline showed clearly the penalty should not have been called. There was no “roughing” involved in the play.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

And now the fun begins.

It’s championship time.

The Effingham Flaming Hearts accomplished a lot with Friday night’s 42-0 romp over Mattoon on Homecoming Night.

The win clinched a playoff berth for the third straight season and kept the Hearts undefeated season intact.

And it made the next two games ultra-important. The Hearts will travel to Taylorville next Friday and then journey to Mt. Zion the following week with the Apollo Conference title squarely on the line.

“We hoped to get to this point,” EHS coach Brett Hefner said. “We knew Breese Mater Dei would be tough. But once we got that win, we felt we had a good chance to get to where we are now.

“This is why you do all the hard work,” Hefner added. “Winning these six games has given us a chance. You want to play in big games. And with everybody healthy, I’m proud to take our chances with this group of kids.”