Effingham Falls In Regular Season Finale 34-20 To Highland

On Friday night Effingham hung tough with state ranked Highland and gave the Bulldogs everything they could handle but too many early explosive plays from Highland, Effingham unfortunately fell short 34-20.

Highland started out of the gates slinging the ball all over the field on their way to 21 first quarter points.  Two long pass plays from QB Brent Wuebbels to Dylan Beadle from 35 yard out. After an Effingham facemask penalty, a 73 yard home run TD Pass from Wuebbels to Brody Lewis made the score  13-0 in favor of Highland.

Effingham would respond with a big TD pass of their own. Hearts QB Tanner Pontious found Andrew Lotz wide open off a play action and cut the deficit to one score 13-7.   However Highland found the endzone once more on a short little six yard run from Wuebbels to make the score 21-7 after a high scoring 1st quarter.

After the opening 12 minutes the Hearts defense really hunkered down and only allowed 13 points the rest of the way.

Effingham down 28-7 got on the board again on another TD pass from Pontious to Lotz to make 28-14.  On Highland next possession after the TD. Jack Harper for the Hearts would intercept Wuebbels and return it to the 32 yard line, to set Effingham in great field position and momentum on their side. However the Hearts would eventually turn the ball over on downs to make the score 28-14 at the break.

Effingham would get the 2nd half kickoff would use 17 plays and travel 74 yards and eat up over 6 minutes on the clock and would find the end zone on another TD pass from Pontious to Lotz,  the extra point was blocked but the TD  cut the score 28-20. So your saying there’s a chance?

Highland would use an extended drive of their own, that would start in the 3rd quarter and end with 10 minutes left to go in the 4th. A 19 play 89 yard drive, capped off by a short one yard TD run from Travis Porter made the score 34-20. and that was unfortunately the final score.

Effingham end the regular season 5-4 however with as many playoff points as the Hearts have look to be headed back to the playoffs after missing out last year.

Highland improves to 8-1 and look to be one of the top seeds in Class 5A.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Highland    35 yd TD Pass Wuebbels-Beadle   7-0  8 Plays 62 yds

Highland   73 yd TD Pass Wuebbels-Lewis  13-0  1 Play 73 yds

Effingham   52 yd TD Pass Pontious-Lotz  13-7  5 Plays 69 yds

Highland   6 yd TD Run Wuebbels  21-7   8 Plays 80 yds

2nd Quarter

Highland   8 yd TD Pass Wuebbels-Gelly  28-7  10 Plays 90 yds

Effingham   42 yd TD Pass Pontious-Lotz  28-14  7 Plays 69 yds

3rd Quarter

Effingham  7 yd TD Pass Pontious-Lotz  28-20    17 plays 74 yds 6:31

4th Quarter

Highland 1 yd TD Run Porter  34-20  19 Plays 91 yds  8:23

Effingham Stats

Pontious  17/28    220 yds    3 TDs       18 carries  63 yds

Dunston  21 carries  56 yds   1 reception  41 yds

Lotz  8 receptions  137 yds   3 TDs

Walls    5 receptions 21 yds   1 carry  1 yds

Wolfe  4 receptions 8 yds

Thompson 1 reception 14 yds

Highland Stats

Wuebbels  18/26  269 yds  3 TDs 1 INT  6 carries 46  yds  1 TD

Porter   20 carries  122 yds 1 TD 3 receptions 77 yds

Lewis  8 receptions 130 yds  1 TD

Altadonna  2 receptions 41 yds

Beadle  reception 1 TD  3 carries  39 yds

Gelly  3 receptions 18 yds

Frey  2 receptions 10 yds