Published on September 12, 2025 11:34 pm
Last Updated on September 12, 2025 11:39 pm
Despite five turnovers and an officiating crew that saw fit to assess nearly 30 penalties between the two teams Friday night, Effingham High School was able to ride a 19-point second quarter to a 24-14 non-conference victory over Breese Mater Dei on Military Appreciation Night at Klosterman Field.
The Hearts (2-1) trailed 7-0 early when Mater Dei defensive back Reed Pingsterhaus picked off a Jaxon Bridges pass and took it 65 yards to paydirt, but got on the board late in the first quarter when Max Flack sacked Knights quarterback Hunter Hochbaum in his own end zone. The ensuing Mater Dei free kick went out of bounds and set up a short field for EHS.
Effingham capped that quick drive in the opening minute of the second quarter when tailback Hunter Holland punched in his first touchdown of the season from two yards out to make it 8-7. The Hearts never trailed again.
Maxx Kistler contributed his own defensive touchdown less than two minutes later on a 64-yard interception return to make it 14-7, then Jenner Pals caught his fourth TD pass of the campaign on a quick six-yard strike from Bridges to grow the lead to 21-7 after Maicol Sefton’s extra point with 3:07 left before halftime.
Mater Dei (0-3) kept it interesting with a lightning-quick drive on its ensuing possession, getting into the end zone in just 1:45 and then immediately forcing an EHS fumble and recovering at midfield. Its ensuing drive stalled out – thanks in no small part to the plethora of flags hitting the turf all evening long – but by intermission the Knights had picked off Bridges three times in addition to the fumble.
EHS got the ball first in the second half and proceeded to run 16 plays and 8:15 off the clock, culminating in a Sefton field goal that ended up being the final score of the evening. Mater Dei was held to goose eggs after halftime, even squandering a key chance deep in Effingham territory after forcing another fumble at the Hearts’ 15.
Up next for Effingham is its Apollo Conference opener at Charleston; the Trojans remain winless after hosting Carterville for Week 3 and sustaining a 49-13 beating. Charleston hasn’t surrendered fewer than 41 points in three contests and has been outscored 138-33. Mater Dei stays on the road next week; the Knights, now in serious danger of missing the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1990 and 1991, travel to Harrisburg for Week 4.
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | TOTAL | |
| Breese Mater Dei | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Effingham | 2 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
SCORING SUMMARY
1Q, 7:07, BMD – 65-yard interception return, Pingsterhaus – Blair kick good
1Q, 1:24, EHS – safety, Flack
2Q, 11:20, EHS- 2-yard run, Holland – 2-point conversion no good (6 plays, 45 yds, 2:24)
2Q, 9:31, EHS – 64-yard interception return, Kistler – PAT no good
2Q, 3:07, EHS – 6-yard pass, Bridges to Pals – Sefton kick good (8 plays, 63 yds, 3:18)
2Q, 1:22, BMD – 1-yard pass, Hochbaum to Nicklin – Blair kick good (6 plays, 86 yds, 1:45)
3Q, 2:45, EHS – 38-yard FG, Sefton (16 plays, 83 yds, 8:15)