By Fred Kroner
Playing away from home for the second consecutive game, the Mahomet-Seymour football team posted its second straight convincing win.
The unbeaten Bulldogs opened Apollo Conference play with a 37-7 win at Effingham. The Flaming Hearts scored in the final 25 seconds to break the shutout bid.
“The kids executed the game plan to a ‘T’” M-S coach Jon Adkins said. “It was a dominant win in all three phases.
“I was proud of the way they prepared and played.”
Quarterback Wyatt Bohm, who passed for 279 yards in the opener, threw for 285 yards at Effingham.
He completed 16 of 30 passes, including two scoring strikes to Quenton Rogers.
Bohm’s primary targets were Dream Eagle (eight catches, 139 yards) and Rogers (five catches, 98 yards).
Nolan Nierenhauser, Luke Johnson and Valient Walsh also had receptions.
Johnson again sparked the running game, totaling 87 yards on 15 carries. He scored one TD.
M-S amassed 358 yards of total offense.
“We’re going to be tough to stop,” Adkins said. “We don’t just have one or two go-to guys. We have four or five who can hurt anyone, depending on the situation.”
After building a 10-0 halftime lead – the last three points coming on a 28-yard field goal by Kyle Walmer – the Bulldogs wasted no time getting back on the scoreboard.
Rogers returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
“Coach (Keith) Pogue handles our special teams, and that was our kickoff return scheme for this week,” Adkins said. “They had their assignments nailed down and executed it perfectly.”
The M-S tackling leaders were Nick Golden (11), Mitch Gallier (9), Ryan Yancy (5), Mateo Casillas (3), Ethan Grindley (3) and Kale Schweighart (3).
Schweighart intercepted one pass.
“In Week 1, Mitchell was double-teamed and that allowed Logan (Petro) to be free,” Adkins said. “This week, Effingham keyed on Logan and ran away from him, and that allowed others to step up.
“Mitchell was not double-teamed as much. All six box kids can play, so whoever opposing teams try to take away, others can step up.”
With the game well in hand, Adkins didn’t hesitate to play non-starters in the final series against the Effingham regulars.
“We know what we accomplished (with the starters) and we got those kids some reps,” Adkins said. “They show up every day and deserved that playing time.
“I was very happy with the way the starters played and they (reserves) didn’t make it easy for them. Effingham scored on a third-and-8.”
Besides his field goal, Walmer connected on 4 of 5 extra-point attempts.
M-S (2-0) will return to action on Friday (Sept. 10) in its home-opener against unbeaten Mount Zion (also 2-0). The game will be preceded by the annual Dawgapalooza event.
“No doubt our kids will be ready to go in a game that, in our opinion, could decide the (Apollo) conference championship,” Adkins said. “We prepared to be in this spot and it will force our kids to be on their toes and live up to those expectations.”
