Effingham Rolls Railers

[September 16, 2017]  By Benjamin Yount

EFFINGHAM -- The Effingham Flaming Hearts are as advertised.

It took Effingham’s Terrence Hill five plays to get his first touchdown of the night Friday night.

It took one more play to get his second.

“They were bigger in person that they were on film,” Lincoln coach Matt Silkowski said. “They did a really good job of blocking and moving our guys. Effingham is the real deal.”

Hill scored three first half touchdowns. On Effingham’s way to a 63-14 victory over Lincoln.

Hill also set an Effingham High School’s rushing record. He went over 3,000 yards Friday.

“(Hill) had a great offensive line. They were all blocking down field,” Lincoln junior safety Austin Sparrow said. “That made it hard for us to get to him.”

Lincoln was out run, out muscled, and out scored.

But Lincoln showed flashes, even with the loss.

Sophomore Quarterback Dreyden Pozsgai threw the ball well.

“He was 9 of 19-or-so, for a little under 200 yards,” Silkowski said.

That includes a 52 yard strike in the first drive. And a 15-yard touchdown toward the end of the first quarter.

“The cornerbacks were pressing up on Titus (Cannon). Anytime that happens it's an easy match-up for him,” Pozsgai said of his first touchdown of the night.

Silkowski said that’s what Pozsgai brings to this Railer offense.

“I thought Dreyden took a big step in the right direction,” Silkowski added. “His communication with his teammates was better. His communication with me was better.”

The second half was much the same as the first. Effingham’s offense had its way with Lincoln’s defense.

Lincoln’s offense showed more flashes. Including a third quarter touchdown drive that Pozsgai capped with a 37-yard touchdown pass, once again Titus Cannon.

“We called a vertical play,” Cannon said. “The corner was playing press coverage, so I knew instantly that it would be a touchdown.”

That would be Lincoln's last score.

A few more Effingham touchdowns sparked the running clock and brought out the JV team to end the night.

Lincoln falls to 1-3 on the season, with all three losses coming in the Apollo Conference.

Effingham improves to 3-1, all of their wins coming in the Apollo.

Lincoln travels to Taylorville next week to take on the Tornadoes.

[by Ben Yount, pictures by Sherri Sparrow]