By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – The Chester High School Yellow Jacket Football Team began the 2022 football season facing terrible odds, playing three very tough teams in-a-row. Chester lost the season opener, 26-0 at DuQuoin, then hosted Benton in the home opener losing, 54-6. In the third game of 2022 the Jackets traveled to Freeburg and took a 28-6 loss back to Chester.
The Chester High School Dance Team held its 2022 Dance camp September 12-14 with a pre-game special performance by the little campers Friday September 16. The little dancers performed to the tune, “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches and Herb. Jim Beers Photo
In all three of the losses CHS was in the games early, but ran out of steam in the second half. Playing bigger schools has been difficult for the Jackets. Now that the remaining portion of the schedule has CHS facing schools that are similar in size and talent, Jacket fans should see a different outcome in the final five weeks.
That prediction was true in Week 4 when Chester hosted Sparta at Chester’s W.O. Smith Field. Chester struck hard and early and never looked back as they shut out the Bulldogs, 32-0. Chester led 6-0 after one quarter and 12-0 at halftime. In the third quarter the Jackets added 14 more points to lead, 26-0 after three periods. In the final quarter CHS threw in six final points to win, 32-0.
The Yellow Jackets take the field Friday September 16 when CHS hosted the Sparta Bulldogs in Cahokia Conference football. The Jackets shut out the Bulldogs, 32-0. for their first win of the 2022 season. Jim Beers Photo
Chester kicked off to Sparta to start the game. Things started rough for the Bulldogs as the Yellow Jacket defense put the hurt on early with two sacks and tackles by Shane Bicket and Trentin Eggemeyer for losses. Facing 4th and 26, Matt James blocked a Bulldog punt and CHS recovered the ball.
Chester’s Kolton Jany (8) a 5’10” 160 LB. sophomore Yellow Jacket makes it to the goal line Friday September 16 for the first score of the game against Sparta. Jany scored at the 9:23 mark of the first quarter and gave the Jackets their first lead of the game, 6-0. Chester would go on to shut the Bulldogs out, 32-0 for their first win of the 2022 season. Jim Beers Photo
The Jackets were 2-and goal with 9:23 remaining in the first quarter when Kolton Jany took a 1-yard run for Chester’s first score. The 2-point conversion attempt failed and Chester led, 6-0.
During the next Sparta possession the Orange Crush Defense laid down the law again and forced the Dogs to punt at the 7:07 mark.
Chester started their next possession on their own 32 yard line and Zain Al-Jassim threw a perfect pass to Devante Palacio for a 1st-and-10. With the ball on the CHS 41 yard line, the YellowJackets fumbled and Sparta recovered the ball on the 41 with 5:50 to play in the first quarter.
The Jacket defense held Sparta to 4-and 11 and the Bulldogs had to punt. Chester took over on the CHS 16 yard line. With 37.8-seconds to play, the clock ran out and the Jackets led, 6-0 after one quarter of competition.
Chester running back Will Schuwerk (28) runs around the right side as Sparta’s Lusas Dotson (61) chases. Chester’s Trentin Eggemeyer (56) and quarterback Zain Al-Jassim (1) follow to se the outcome. For the night Schuwerk scored 3 YellowJacket touchdowns and ran 11 times for 53 yards to lead the YellowJackets. Jim Beers Photo
Chester continued as the second quarter began facing 1st-and-ten and 11:48 on the clock. Kolton Jany ran for 8-yards and Koby Jany added one yard so CHS had 3-and-1 at the 11:20 mark. On the next play, Will Schuwerk ran it in from 1-yard out for Chester’s second score of the game. Once again the 2-point conversion failed. CHS led, 12-0 with 10:32 to play in the half.
For the fourth time in the game, the Jacket defense held Sparta, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. On Chester’s next series, the Bulldogs held the Jackets turned the ball over on downs. Sparta was unable to take advantage pf the possession and had to punt with 2:24 left in the half.
Chester worked the ball to the 40 yard line with 1st-and-10 passes to both Palacio and Korbin Jany. With 19.3 remaining, Coach Billy Belton called a time out to orchestrate a play. Facing 3-and-5, Al-Jassim attempted a pass which was intercepted by Sparta. The half ended with Chester ahead, 12-0.
The Chester High School Percussion Section performs with the Marching YellowJackets during halftime of the Chester vs Sparta game Friday September 16. This is one of the biggest percussion sections that CHS has had in a while, and they do a great job of keeping things alive during performances. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Marching YellowJackets perform for the Chester fans at the CHS vs Spata game Friday September 16. The 2022 field show is titled, “Power Rock Anthems” and features “Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana; “Enter Sandman” by Metallica; and “Dream On” by Aerosmith. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Dance Team performs with the Marching YellowJackets at halftime of the CHS vs Sparta game. The tune was titled “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and was part of the 2022 field show, “Power Rock Anthems”. Jim Beers Photo
Sparta kicked to Chester to start the second half. The Jackets had a nice run going with Kolton Jany and Gage Hopkins getting 4 and 3 yard runs and a nice Al-Jassim pass to Palacio. Facing 3-and-7 and 10:25 to play in the third, Al-Jassim’s next pass was intercepted by Sparta to stop what apeared to be a very promising series for the Jackets.
Chester’s Shane Bicket and Gage Hopkins had some great defensive plays on Sparta’s next possession and Bicket had a quarterback sack. Matt James stepped up and helped out with Sparta facing 3-18.
On the Bulldog’s next play, Chester’s Kolton Jany intercepted a Zach Bodeker pass giving Chester the ball on the 16-yard line. Three plays later, Will Schuwerk scored his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run and the Jackets led 18-0. Al-Jassim ran for the 2-point conversion to give Chester a 20-0 advantage.
Chester’s Aden Runge (2) is forced out of bounds by Sparta’s Zayden Lueth (80) and Zach Bodeker (22) in the first half of the game Friday September 16. The run helped set up a YellowJacket touchdown. Jim Beers Photo
It just wasn’t Sparta’s night. Facing 1st-and-10, the Dogs were stopped dead in their tracks by Gage Hopkins who made a great tackle. On the next play, Shane Bicket sacked the quarterback for a 6-yard loss. With 3:18 to play in the third quarter, Chester’s Aden Runge intercepted a Sparta pass giving the Jackets a 1st-and-10 on Sparta’s 41 yard line.
Sparta’s Landon Walter (11) tackles Chester’s Koby Jany (25) Friday September 16 at W.O. Smith Field. The force resulted in a Chester fumble and loss of possession. Jim Beers Photo
With 2:58 remaining, Koby Jany ran 20-yards for his first touchdown of the night and Chester’s 4th TD of the game. The 2-point conversion failed and the YellowJackets led, 26-0 with 2:58 to play in the 3rd quarter.
The next possession was a disaster for the Dogs as Shane Bicket delivered a big blow to the Sparta offense and Trentin Eggemeyer sacked the quarterback. At the 1:37 mark, Sparta fumbled and Trentin Eggemeyer recovered the ball giving the ball back to Chester. Chester was called for two holding penalties and a block in the back on its next possession and the third quarter ended with the Jackets leading, 26-0.
Neither team could get anything going in the opening 4-minutes of the fourth quarter. Chester’s Kolton Jany sacked Sparta’s quarterback at 11:02 and forced a Bulldog punt. Sparta then held Chester and forced a YellowJacket punt at 9:25.
Sparta’s next possession was met with more of Chester’s devastating Orange Crush Defense as Davante Palacio broke up a pass play, Gavin Cowan and Koby Jany put the hurt on quarterback Zach Bodeker, and Cowan and Bicket stopped Bodeker on a 4-and-4 run play forcing the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs.
Chester had the ball at the 7:51 mark and orchestrated two first downs and scored again with 46.4-seconds to play in the game. His time Will Schuwerk scored his third touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run. The extra point kick was no good. Chester ended the game winning, 32-0 as Trentin Eggemeyer intercepted a Sparta pass with 2.0-seconds to play.
Head Coach Billy Belton said, “The defense played outstanding tonight! They had 7 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 24 solo tackles, and 32 tackle assists. Our linebackers played well and the defensive line was tough.”
“The offense had 300 yards tonight with 131 passing and 169 rushing. Davante Palacio had 101 yards receiving. It was a great night.”
Sparta is improved this year so they were not a pushover! They scored 14 points against Frankfort and 14 points against Freeburg. We are about the only team that has shut them out!”
In the win, CHS ran 64 plays vs Sparta’s 49. The Jackets recorded a total of 300 yards, 131 passing and 169 rushing. Sparta had 38 yards, 32 passing and six rushing. The Jackets earned 14 first downs compared to five for the Bulldogs.
For the night, CHS had 33% third down efficiency 4-for-12, and Sparta was 1-for-10 (10%). On fourth down efficiency, the Jackets were 4-for-54 (80%) and Sparta was 0-for-1 (0%).
Each team had four turnovers. CHS had two lost fumbles and two interceptions thrown and SHS had 1 fumble lost and 3 thrown interceptions.
In the passing game, Chester’s Zain Al-Jassim connected for 10-of-19 passes for 131 yards and 2 interceptions. Sparta’s Zach Bodeker connected for 2-of-11 for 32 yards and 3 interceptions.
Will Schuwerk ran 11 times for 53 yards with 3 touchdowns. Zain Al-Jassim ran 8 times for 43 yards. Kolton Jany ran 7 times for 13 yards and one touchdown. Gage Hopkins ran 3 times for 7 yards.
The Jackets had a good night in the receiving game. Devante Palacio led the team in receiving catching 7 passes for 101 yards. Kolton Jany caught 1 pass for 17 yards. Koby Jany has 2 receptions for 13 yards.
The YellowJacket defense had a total of 24 solo tackles with 32 tackle assists, 4 sacks and 7 tackles for a loss. Shane Bicket led the team with 7 solo tackles, 5 tackle assists, 2 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss. Trentin Eggemeyer had a good night with 4 solo tackles, 4 tackle assists, 1 sack and 1 tackle for a loss.
The Chester High School Cheerleaders perform for a large crowd at the CHS vs Sparta game Friday September 16. The band was playing the Chester School Song as the spirit leaders fired up the crowd for a win! Jim Beers Photo
Sparta was led by Landon Walter who had 7 solo tackles, and 3 tackle assists. Arkez Richardson recorded 3 solos and 4 assists.
Coach Belton said, “This week we go to Trenton-Wesclin. They are big and well coached. The Warriors are 0-4 but that doesn’t mean anything. We have to be ready to play!”