By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
In football, the combination of six turnovers, two dropped touchdown passes and eight penalties always results in a loss.
Well, almost always.
Effingham proved there can be an exception to that Friday night, overcoming a game full of mistakes to still emerge as a winner, finishing with a 35-14 victory at Charleston to remain undefeated and become playoff eligible.
But it was an ugly win.
Two plays into the game, EHS quarterback Nate Shackelford overthrew his receiver. Charleston’s Sam Schuette picked it off and returned it 29 yards to put the Trojans ahead 7-0 just 48 seconds into the game.
Throughout the first half, it was a struggle offensively for the Hearts. Two fumbles stopped drives, and untimely penalties stalled two other possessions.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
Almost every time Effingham got the football Friday night, the goal line was in sight.
Six times, the Hearts started a possession inside midfield – and four of those were inside the 40.
Talk about a short field.
And like all good teams do, the Hearts took advantage.
They scored on all four drives of less than 40 yards, built a quick, early lead and rolled to a 49-7 victory over Mahomet-Seymour at Jack Klosterman Field.
There were a couple head-scratching decisions by the Bulldogs, beginning on their very first series. Facing a 4th and 21 from their own 10, they tried a fake punt, which didn’t come close to working and gave EHS the ball at the 19 yard line.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
With a senior-dominant team coming to Effingham Friday night, Coach Brett Hefner was a bit concerned.
He didn’t have to be.
The Lincoln Railers listed 19 seniors on their roster, but they were no match for the Hearts.
Effingham racked up nearly 500 yards of offense, scored on its first four possessions and rolled to a 46-7 victory on a perfect night for football at Jack Klosterman Field.
“We did a lot of good things tonight,” Hefner admitted. “But we had some penalties that were a little bothersome and we gave up two possessions with turnovers. We’ll take a look at the film and see what needs to be cleaned up.”
There may be some things the Hearts need to tweak before next week’s game, but Friday’s contest was never in doubt.
Logan Brown rambled 22 yards on the game’s opening play – the first of six plays in the game that went for more than 20 yards. Nine plays later, EHS was in the end zone with Brown covering the final six yards.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
What started out as a shootout ended up a defensive struggle.
Effingham and Jerseyville combined to score four touchdowns in the opening quarter. But with the game on the line, the Hearts “D” stepped up.
Logan Brown and Jakob Logan both intercepted passes in the fourth quarter to help EHS secure a 34-28 road victory over the Panthers and stay unbeaten on the young season.
Jerseyville runs the triple option – the same type offense that Army and Navy uses. Very few teams utilize that style of attack, which makes it difficult for defenses to prepare for.
But after giving up 244 yards and four touchdowns in six possessions, the Hearts defense gave up virtually nothing – 25 yards and one first down -- over the final four possessions and 16 minutes of the contest.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
What a game!
What a way to start the high school football season!
Even if it did take an extra day to finish it.
The Effingham Hearts didn’t let a double-digit deficit or a lightning delay take the focus away from their task at-hand.
They made the 90-minute bus trip again Saturday and dominated the final 16 minutes, scoring 15 unanswered points to rally for a 32-28 victory at Breese Mater Dei.
“This might have been the weirdest Week 1 I’ve ever had,” EHS coach Brett Hefner admitted. “It was a long 48 hours.
“We made a lot of mistakes, but they’re correctable mistakes,” Hefner added. “And it’s a lot more fun making those corrections after a win. At the end of the day, we’re 1-0 and we’re going to enjoy this until we get back to work Monday and start preparing for Lincoln.”
It was certainly a tale of two different days.
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