Jackets improve to 3-0 in Cahokia Conference with win!
By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team remained unblemished in the Cahokia Conference race on Homecoming night 2022, Friday September 30. The Jackets hosted Carlyle and held on for a slim, 13-12 victory to remain unbeaten in the conference.
Chester roared out to what appeared to be a romp of the Indians with a quick, 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Senior Will Schuwerk scored first on a 3-yard run to give the Jackets a 6-0 lead. As has been the case most of the season, Chester could not manage to kick the extra point to give that extra edge.
Chester’s Will Schuwerk (28) ran for Chester’s only running touchdown of the game Friday September 30 to give the Jackets their first score of the game. For the night, Schuwerk was the YellowJacket work horse with 21 runs for a total of 138 yards and one touchdown. Jim Bers Photo
Later in the first quarter, sophomore Davante Palacio gave the YellowJackets what would turn out to be their final score of the game on a 35-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Zain Al-Jassim. The kick was good and the Jackets extended the lead to 13-0 to end the first quarter.
The YellowJacket offense then went on vacation for the final three periods! In the second quarter, Carlyle scored on a 15-yard pass to London Dodson (#21) for six points. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, but the YellowJacket lead was narrowed to just seven points, 13-6. At halftime.
The third quarter was a wash for both teams as neither could score. It could be said that it was just a good defensive effort on both sides, but both offenses were not able to score in the third quarter.
The Jackets continued to stall down the stretch with no scoring ability. Carlyle, on the other hand, managed a second touchdown on a 36-yard run which brought the Indians within one point, 13-12. A two-point conversion failed for the second time in the Carlyle offensive game, keeping the score at 13-12. Chester’s defense held on for the win and Chester remained unbeaten in the Cahokia Conference at 3-0 and evened its overall record at 3-3.
In the win, CHS ran 59 plays and Carlyle ran 52. The YellowJackets won the yardage game, 257 to 120, but just had difficulty getting into the end zone. Of Chester’s 257 yards, 200 were on the ground and only 57 were in the air. Carlyle passed for just 15 yards and ran for 105 yards.
CHS earned 14 first downs vs Carlyle’s eight. Both teams were poor on 3rd down efficiency with CHS achieving just 2-of-9 (22%) and Carlyle getting 1-of-3 (33%). The Jackets committed two turnovers, one fumble and one pass interception. The Indians had none! Chester was hurt by seven penalties for 50 yards while Carlyle committed four for 39 yards.
For the night the YellowJacket’s quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim, threw 12 passes connecting for just four for 57 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It was a slow night for the young quarterback. Carlyle threw for just four times, connecting just once, but that one time was a 15-yard touchdown.
Will Schuwerk (in photo) was the work horse for Chester’s running game with 21 runs for 138 yards and one touchdown. Gage Hopkins ran three times for 50 yards and Kolton Jany ran six times for 12 yards.
- Taylor led the Indians with 16 carries for just 32 yards. T. Clayton ran seven times getting 11 yards.
In the receiving game, Chester’s Davante Palacio caught two passes for 42 yards and one touchdown. Korbin Jany caught two passes for 15 yards.
YellowJacket Nate Heuer, a junior, led the Jackets in tackles with seven solos and three assists. Shane Bicket had four solo tackles and nine tackle assists. Trentin Eggemeyer added three solos and four assists. Kolton Jany contributed three solos and three assists.
Next up for the YellowJackets will be a trip to Dupo Friday October 7 for a game with the Tigers. Game time has a 7 p.m. kickoff!