A lot of things have changed from a year ago, last season the Effingham traveled to Decatur and fell to St. Teresa 42-7. Even though Effingham lost again this time around this loss feels different.
There was a hype surrounding the new Klosterman Field at Washington Savings Bank Stadium, there was a packed house to watch the Hearts season opener playing on the new artificial turf field and to watch the new scoreboard as well. St. Teresa won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. After a Effingham three and out and St. Teresa were forced to a turnover on downs. On Effingham second possession Hearts QB Tanner Pontious rolled out and threw an interception right in the hands of Royce Harper. Harper would run it back into the endzone for a pick six. St. would miss the extra point to make it 6-0.
After most of the second quarter both teams traded punts and turnovers on downs. It was St. T getting on the scoreboard again late in the first half. A five play Bulldogs drive was finished off with a 18 yd TD Pass from Joe Brummer to Brycen Hendrix making a nice catch. A failed trick play resulted in the score remaining 12-0. Effingham would have one last play to get in the endzone but the Bulldogs picked it off and the score would hold 12-0 at the half.
In the third quarter the Bulldog came out of the locker strong as they scored 30 seconds into the half on big pass plays from Brummer to Jeremy Walker. Walker would reel in a 49 TD Pass to make the score 18-0. Hearts defense was great all night never letting the Bulldogs get to far out of reach. But Effingham offensively struggled to block the quick pass rush of St. Teresa.
The final score ended up being 18-0 with St. Teresa spoiling the housewarming party. St. T improves to 1-0 to start the new season and will open up their new facility against Belleville Althoff Catholic. Effingham falls to 0-1 and will travel to Mahomet Seymour to take on one of the favorites to win the Apollo Conference again this year.
Hear Coach Hefner thoughts after the game
Effingham Stats
Pontious 10/20 64 yds 2 INTs 18 carries 8 yds
Westendorf 9 carries 60 yds
Dunston 10 carries 30 yds 2 receptions 0 yds
Walls 2 receptions 25 yds 2 carries 4 yds
Lotz 3 receptions 23 yds
Waymoth 1 reception 6 yds
Weaver 2 receptions 3 yds
Bushue 1 reception 9 yds
Total Yds
Rushing 102
Passing 64
Total 166
St. Teresa Stats
Brummer 15/20 160 yds 2 TDs 8 carries 11 yds
Harper 12 carries 76 yds 5 catches 32 yds
Jones 7 carries 20 yds
Hendrix 6 catches 31 yds
Walker 4 catches 93 yds
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