By Rob Calhoun

Effingham broke open a close game at the half and picked up its first win, a 42-0 victory over Charleston in Apollo Conference football action at Trojan Hill.

After holding the Trojans to three-and-out on Charleston’s first possession, the Hearts went eight plays on their first time on offense before having the drive stall at their own 45 yard line.

Charleston went down the field, picking up a couple of first downs. The Trojans has to settle for a 32-yard field goal that missed.

After both teams had short drives that resulted in no points, Effingham took over at their own 9-yard-line. The Hearts used their running attack led by John Westendorf and marched down the field. Tanner Pontious scored on a quarterback keeper from three yards out and the Hearts took a 7-0 lead into the half.

Coming out of the locker room in the second half, Effingham had good field position after a 37-yard kickoff return by Westendorf. It only took five plays for the Hearts to get their second score, a 7-yard run by Westendorf to make it 14-0.

Charleston had to employ a new quarterback in the second half.  Starter Jack Nelson did not come out for the next possession and Nate Shrader moved behind center.  His first pass of the game was a 41-yarder to Langdon King getting the ball across midfield before the Trojans lost the ball on downs.

Effingham went right back to work. This time it was a 12-play, 65-yard drive resulting in a 6-yard touchdown reception from Pontious to Connor Thompson to make it 21-0.

The Hearts got the ball right back on an onside kick and scored again. Westendorf found the end zone on a 2 yard run.  The Hearts were up 28-0. Effingham’s defense stopped Charleston again and Chris Hemwall blocked a punt and ran it back for a touchdown. Hemwall scored again on a late touchdown run as the Hearts cruised to the victory.

Effingham is 1-2 and 1-1 in the Apollo. Charleston falls to 1-2 and 0-2 in conference play. The Trojans will travel to Collinsville for a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m. on Sept. 17.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Rushing

Charleston: Jack Nelson 7-26; Zayvion Johnson-Mitchell 9-25; Malik Perry 1-0; Hunter White 1-(-1); Nate Shrader 7-(-6) Effingham: John Westendorf 20-170 2 TD’s; Keegan Baker 16-62; Tanner Pontious 6-48 1 TD; Chris Hemwall 6-34 1 TD; Armando Estrada 2-16

Passing

Charleston: Jack Nelson 7-19 63; Nate Shrader 3-7 43 Effingham: Tanner Pontious 6-1 75 1 TD; Connor Simmons 1-1 1

Receiving

Charleston: Langdon King 2-45; Nate Shrader 2-12; Hunter White 2-10; Luke Nelson 1-8; Zayvion Johnson-Mitchell 2-7 Effingham: Evan Waymoth 3-23; Armando Estrada 2-22; Caden Walls 1-11; Connor Thompson 1-6 1 TD; Miles Maxedon 1-6

SCORING

QTRTIMETEAMSCOREPAT
24:16OPPTanner Pontious3RunOsvaldo Angel07
310:47OPPJohn Westendorf7RunArmando Estrada014
 33:10OPPConnor Thompson6PassOsvaldo Angel021
411:36OPPJohn Westendorf2RunArmando Estrada028
 49:40OPPBlocked Punt: TD by Chris HemwallOsvaldo Angel035
 41:55OPPChris Hemwall1RunArmando Estrada042