Rochester Scores 31 Straight Points To Win 45-14, Effingham Season Ends In First Round Of Playoffs

On Saturday afternoon the Effingham Hearts traveled to Rochester to take on the eight time state champions and for 23 minutes hung with the Rockets and looked to be on their way to a possible upset. Unfortunately a Rocket score just before halftime proved to be the opening of the flood gates as Rochester would go on to win and end the Hearts season.

The game started out prefect for the Hearts, as Rochester fumbled on their first play of their first possession. Effingham would take advantage of the great field position being setup on the Rochester 16 yard line. Four plays later Tanner Pontious took it in from one yard out and with the Estrada extra point made it 7-0.   Rochester and their high powered offense would answer with a quick score of their own. Only taken three plays to have Keeton Reiss connect with his favorite target Parker Gillespie on a 38 yard pass to tie the game at 7.   After a three and out from Effingham, Rochester would score again after another 30 yard completion to Gillespie. The Rockets would score on a six yard TD run by Reiss to give the Rockets the lead 14-7 after one.

In the second quarter Rochester would turn it over couple more times and Effingham would take advantage of one of those turnovers late in the quarter.  After the Effingham pass rush got to Reiss and hit him while he got rid of the ball and it was picked off by the Hearts Evan Waymouth. The Hearts scored again on  a one yard QB sneak by Pontious again to tie the game at 14-14.   With 57 seconds to go in the half the Hearts were feeling great after the tying score. In what would be the biggest momentum swing of the game. Rochester would only need 47 of those 57 seconds to use and after some long pass plays. An 11 yard TD pass from Reiss to Jack Swaney to give Rochester the lead 21-14 at halftime.

Unfortunately for the Hearts that would prove to be the go ahead score

In a little reversal of fortunes from the way the game started Effingham would fumble on their first possession and the Rockets would score another rushing TD from Reiss to make the score 28-14.  Effingham next two possessions would end in punts and Rochester ended in two more TD passes to Gillespie to make the score 42-14.  The Rockets would cap of the score with a 34 yard field goal by Zoe Cromier to make it a 45-14 final.

Effingham ends the season 5-5 and a first round exit in the playoffs. Hearts will say goodbye to 23 seniors

Rochester advances on to the 2nd round to take on Breese Central next week.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

EHS   9:47  4 plays 16 yds   1 yd TD Run Pontious   7-0

RHS   8:19  3 plays 80 yds  38 yd TD Pass Reiss-Gillespie   7-7

RHS             7 plays 60 yds    6 yd TD Run Reiss  14-7

2nd Quarter

EHS  1:01   7 plays 34 yds    1 yd TD Run Pontious  14-14

RHS  7.0    4 plays                 11 yd TD Pass Reiss-Swaney  21-14

3rd Quarter

RHS  10;04  5 plays  27 yds    4 yds Run Reiss 28-14

RHS 7:08      4 plays 65 yds   25 yd TD Pass Reiss-Gillespie 35-14

RHS                3 plays   63 yds    63 yd TD Pass Reiss-Gillespie  42-14

RHS                 6 plays  59 yds    34 yd FG Cromier  45-14

Effingham Stats

Pontious  19 carries 21 yds  2 TDs   2/10  25 yds 2 INT

Gillum 1/1  9 yds

Dunston  23 carries 68 yds

Walls 1 carry -1 yd

Lotz 1 reception 8 yds

Weaver 1 reception 7 yds

Loy 1 reception 9 yds

Waymouth 2 carries 1 yd

Freeman 2 carries 0 yds

Rochester Stats

Reiss 7 carries 39 yds 2TDs   19/33 354 yds 4 TDs

Gillespie 2 carries 4 yds   11 receptions 265 3 TDs

Lichtenberger  12 carries 70 yds

Swaney 3 receptions 44 yds 1 TD

Mortzowski 2 receptions 14 yds

Marinelli 1 reception 8 yds