Hearts Fall in Regular Season Ending Game 42-21; Now the Wait for Word on Playoff Berth

The Effingham Hearts fell to the Highland Bulldogs 42-21 Friday night in a contest that ended the regular season for both clubs. Now, the wait begins until Saturday night when the Hearts will find out whether they have earned a playoff berth.

Effingham ended the regular season with a 4-5 record, but it is expected that some four-win teams will make the postseason. The Hearts have a better shot at making it than most, what with a bundle of playoff points earned by playing three undefeated teams and with road wins at Charleston, Taylorville and Mt. Zion. 

The pairings will be announced beginning at 8pm. We will let you know when the 4A schools are announced, about 8:30pm.

A touchdown was scored on each of the first five possessions in Friday night's game, which left Highland on top 21-14 after halftime. The Hearts scored on a 25-yard pass play from Tanner Pontious to Caden Walls with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter to tie the game 7-7, then scored on a five-yard pass play from Pontious to Evan Waymoth that bounced off Waymoth's hands and into the arms of teammate Walls to make it 14-14.

Photo by Riviera Records & Video Production. Additional game photos are available here

Trailing by one touchdown as the second half began, Effingham was poised for good things, especially since they had the ball to start the half. Things went south soon, though, as an interception gave Highland the ball on Effingham's 13-yard line. That turned into a touchdown, then Highland scored again and the Hearts found themselves down 35-14.

The Hearts went on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 5:05 and was highlighted by John Westendorf's score from three yards out to pull within 35-21 with 5:51 remaining. However, Highland came right back to score on a 16-yard touchdown pass to account for the final score.

Because the Hearts ran the football so much, the stats were really close even though the score wasn't.

Effingham had 23 first downs to 22 for Highland, and the Hearts ran 58 times for 234 yards to 34 rushes for 182 yards for Highland. The Bulldogs racked up 190 yards in passing to 95 yards for Effingham. Total net yardage was 329 yards for Effingham to 372 net yards for Highland.

Photo by Riviera Records & Video Production. Additional game photos are available here

Individually for the Hearts, John Westendorf rushed for an even 100 yards on 24 carries with his 11th touchdown of the season. Quarterback Tanner Pontious rushed 22 times for 76 yards, and Keegan Baker carried 12 times for 58 yards. Pontious attempted 13 passes and completed eight for 95 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Caden Walls had two catches for 30 yards and two scores, Evan Waymoth caught a nine-yard pass, Armando Estrada had three catches for 36 yards, John Westendorf had a five-yard catch, and Andrew Lotz had a 15-yard reception. Estrada had four kickoffs for 180 yards, and Keegan Baker had two kickoff returns for 33 yards, Westendorf had three returns for 44 yards, and Weldon Dunston had a 20-yard return.

Senior Dalton Fox closed out his regular season career in style, registering 10 tackles. Also for the Hearts: Maddox Burner three, Blake Bushue two, Max Nelson three, Logan Heil seven, London Rinkel four, Damon Kalber four, Edgar Castillo two, Noah Jones five, Michael Love one, Tanner Pontious one, Charlie Ring three, and Connor Simmons one.

So, now we wait for Saturday night.