Hearts Blanked in Season Opener by Mater Dei

The 2015 high school football season got off to a tough start for the Effingham Hearts, as they were blanked by the Breese Mater Dei Knights Friday night, 37-0. 

The game was heard on 979XFM and online via our Listen Live feature. The contest marked the start of the Brett Hefner regime at EHS, taking over as head coach after Mike McDonald retired as coach after 23 seasons.

The Hearts were unable to convert for first downs for much of the game. That left the defense on the field far too often and Mater Dei took full advantage of the situation.

The Knights scored their first touchdown with 3:06 left in the first quarter on a four-yard pass play from Colin Schuetz to Sam Krebs, capping an 11-play, 50-yard drive and then completed the two-point conversion on a pass play to make it 8-0.

Photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records. View more of Gary's work here.

Mater Dei scored three times in the second quarter, with 7:00 left on a 44-yard run by Dawson Ratermann, with 5:42 left on a 50-yard pass play to Brendan Timmerman, and with 2:42 remaining on a six-yard run by Brady Rakers to lead 29-0 at halftime.

The Knights scored on a safety with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter to make it 31-0 and then scored on a 34-yard quarterback keeper by Schuetz to account for the final margin.

The total yardage differential was huge; Mater Dei with 392 yards to 83 yards for Effingham. The Knights totaled 277 yards rushing and 115 yards passing. The Hearts gained 43 yards on the ground and 40 yards through the air.

Photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records. View more of Gary's work here.

For Mater Dei, Rakers rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, Brendan Timmerman 61 yards on five rushes, Dawson Ratermann 58 yards on nine carries and a score, and Colin Schuetz 46 yards on five rushes and a touchdown.

Schuetz was eight of 19 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Hearts, Drew Vasquez rushed for 53 yards on 16 carries.

Hearts quarterback Hudson Graham was five of 18 passing for 40 yards. Blake White caught three passes for 25 yards.

Photo courtesy of Gary Stanfield and Riviera Records. View more of Gary's work here.

Graham punted seven times for 211 yards. White had three kickoff returns for 43 yards, Kody Line returned two kickoffs for 32 yards, and Vasquez returned one for 17 yards.

Effingham will be back in action next Friday night at home, hosting Mascoutah in 7 p.m. action at Klosterman Field. Hear the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.