By Steve Raymond
ET Sport Report
As the old saying going goes – “Out of the frying pan and into the fryer.”
From the very first game of the 2022 season, the Effingham Hearts have faced one tough opponent after another. It’s easily one of the toughest schedules – if not THE toughest -- in the entire state.
Despite that schedule, however, this group of Hearts have stayed together and continued to improve game after game after game.
And at the end of the regular season, they posted a 5-4 record and qualified for the Class 4A playoffs.
Their reward?
A game against one of the toughest football programs in the state – the Rochester Rockets.
But after last week’s showing against Highland – an explosive, Class 5A state-ranked team – people may be looking at this game a little differently.
Make no mistake. The Hearts will go into Saturday’s playoff opener as huge underdogs. Virtually nobody will give them any kind of chance at winning.
This Rochester program is a perennial power in Illinois. Under the guidance of head coach Derek Leonard, the Rockets have a remarkable tradition. They’ve made the playoffs in 20 of the last 22 years and have brought home eight state championships – seven in Class 4A (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017); and one in Class 5A (2019).
Since 2009, Rochester has not lost more than two games in any season and has won 91 percent, compiling a 161-16 record during that span. In 18 years as head coach, Leonard sports a 181-35 mark heading into Saturday’s contest.
And this is a school that didn’t even start football until 1996.
The Effingham Hearts will open the Class 4A playoffs on the road Saturday.
Effingham, seeded No. 13, will play the Rochester Rockets, who are seeded No. 4.
Game time is set for 1 p.m. in Rochester.
The Hearts finished the season with a 5-4 record, while the Rockets are 8-1. Their only loss was a 62-27 setback to Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin, who is a No. 2 seed in Class 4A.
Look for a more detailed game preview story later in the week right here at www.etsportsreport.com.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sport Report
The Effingham Hearts opened the season against two strong football teams.
Decatur St. Teresa is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and Mahomet-Seymour is also unbeaten and ranked No. 3 in Class 5A.
But according to Effingham coach Brett Hefner, his Hearts will face their toughest test Friday night in the regular season finale at Highland.
The Bulldogs are 7-1 and ranked No. 8 in the Class 5A poll.
“I mean no disrespect to anybody we’ve played, but I’ve believed from the beginning of the season that Highland would be the best team we’ll play all year,” Hefner said. “Their only loss was by three points to a Class 8A team on the road.”
That was as 31-28 setback to Edwardsville, a team currently ranked No. 9 in Class 8A.
The Bulldogs have rolled in every other game. Their closest game was a 35-0 victory over Troy Triad. In each of the other seven Highland games, the mercy clock was used.
They have recorded wins over Washington (54-10), Marion (55-14), Jerseyville (61-19), Bethalto Civic Memorial (65-0), Waterloo (49-10) and Mascoutah (56-0).
“I don’t believe there are seven better 5A teams than Highland in the state,” Hefner noted.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sport Report
It wasn’t the kind of game many thought it would be.
The Effingham Hearts were the heavy underdogs. The words “rout” and “mercy clock” were mentioned often when talking about potential outcomes. One fan was heard saying, “I just hope we don’t get embarrassed tonight.”
Let’s be clear. Effingham did not win this game. But this group of Hearts put up a gallant effort and battled Highland on even terms for much of the game.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A and a playoff berth already secured, did come away with a 34-20 victory in the regular season finale on Senior Night in Highland.
But it didn’t come easy. Other than the three-point loss to Edwardsville, a state-ranked Class 8A team, the closest any other team came to them all season was 35 points – that coming in a 35-0 victory over Troy Triad. And that mercy clock? It did run in each of their other six wins.
And to be honest, seven minutes into Friday night’s contest, things didn’t look promising. The explosive Bulldogs had the ball less than three minutes, ran just 10 plays and were already on top, 13-0.
Senior dual threat quarterback Brent Wuebbels broke loose for a 35-yard scoring scamper and then threw a 70-yard bomb, hitting Brody Lewis in stride for a second score, making it 13-0 at the 5:12 mark of the opening period.
From that point one, however, it was a dogfight.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sport Report
Moments after Friday night’s game, EHS football coach Brett Hefner was standing in the middle of his team with a big smile on his face.
“We’re going to be playing in Week 10,” he hollered, followed by a raucous cheer from the boys in red and white.
Yes, the Effingham Hearts will be in the playoffs.
They pretty well clinched that with a 17-0 victory over Breese Mater Dei, making Senior Night even more special at Washington Savings Bank Stadium.
“These kids haven’t had that experience,” Hefner noted. “But with the work they’ve put in, they deserve it. To know they’ll get that opportunity is great. I’m very happy for them.”
But it required a win over a good Knights team. The Hearts did enough on offense in the first half and then relied on a strong, stingy defense throughout to notch that coveted fifth win.
In fact, the defense was smothering. Mater Dei came into the game averaging 266 yards per game, but Effingham allowed only 113. That Knights running game that was averaging 178 yards, was limited to only 33. And Drake Rensing, who was rushing for 108 yard per contest, was held to only 23.
The Knights never threatened the entire game. They only crossed the midfield stripe once. Rensing and quarterback Trenton Zeeb were thrown for a loss on 6 of their 21 running plays and Effingham’s Michael Love recorded a QB sack.
“I thought our defense would be in pretty good shape,” Hefner admitted. “They played well all night and made some good plays when they needed to.”
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