Jackets defeat Wesclin, 37-6, to improve to 2-3 overall and start conference play undefeated at 1-0
By Jim Beers
CHESTER– The Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team appears to be back on the winning track after beating the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division Wesclin Warriors 37-6 Friday night September 22 at W.O. Smith Field at CHS.
Chester won last week at Christopher against the Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Bearcats by a score of 55-24 to get its first victory of 2023. With the win over Wesclin, Head Coach Billy Belton’s YellowJackets now have back-to-back wins, and an overall record of 2-3, and started the 2023 Cahokia Conference Illinois Division with a win to begin the title-hunt, 1-0.
Chester’s Ethan Colvis (25), a 6’1″ 185 Lb. sophomore running back, scores the Yellowjacket’s 5th touchdown of the night on a 9-yard run at the 11:10 mark of the 4th quarter against Wesclin. Colvis’ TD gave the Jackets a 34-6 lead. Jim Beers Photo
The Jackets started the 2023 season with a rough three-game losing streak, having played three much-bigger programs in Weeks 1-2-and-3. CHS fell, 48-20 to the Indians, 57-0 against the Rangers, and 31-7 against the Midgets.
Korbin Jany (12) a 5’11” 195 LB. senior linebacker, scored his second defensive touchdown of the year against the Wesclin Warriors Friday September 22. It was his second such defensive touchdown in the last two weeks. Defensive lineman Nate Heuer (52), a 6’1″ 185 LB. defensive lineman, blocked a Warrior punt at the 4:19 mark of the first quarter and Korbin recovered the loose ball and ran 58-yards for the Yellowjacket’s second touchdown of the game. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point and the Jackets led, 13-0, at the 4:08 mark of the first quarter. Both defensive men have been instrumental in much of the Yellowjacket’s success this season. Jim Beers Photos
Now that the YellowJackets are facing schools their own size, the tables have turned and Chester has a two-game winning streak to build on. The final four games of the season include a trip to Carlyle, a home game hosting Dupo, a final road tip to Red Bud, and a home senior night game when CHS hosts Warrensburg-Latham High School located six-miles Northwest of Decatur on Route 121.
Last year after losing the same three games of the season against the same three teams as this year, Chester went on a five-game winning streak to improve to 5-3 before falling to Pearl City in the regular-season closer to end regular season play, 5-4.
In the 2022 IHSA Class 1A State Football Playoffs the Jackets had to face No. 1 St. Theresa who ended the YellowJacket’s 2022 season with a 49-0 loss. CHS ended their season with an even overall record of 5-5.
The new scoreboard at W.O. Smith Field at Chester High School was in partial operation Friday night September 22 when Chester hosted Wesclin. The board has amazing potential and staff previewed the video portion of its capabilities throughout the game. The scoreboard portion of its capabilities will hopefully be available soon. Pictured here senior Braxton Conder, a senior 5’11”, 175 Lb. tight end and linebacker is highlighted during one of the preview sessions. Conder had a great game on defense in the 37-6 win over the Warriors. Jim Beers Photo
The Wesclin Warriors came into Friday’s game with an overall record of 3-1 and a Cahokia Conference record of 1-0. The Warriors won against Marshall, 32-6; won against Clayton, 41-13; lost to Nashville, 35-21, and won over Dupo, 36-14. The YellowJackets gave the Warriors their second loss of the season to give them an overall record of 3-2, and a conference record of 1-1.
The YellowJackets dominated the entire game against Wesclin leading 13-0 after one quarter of play, 27-6 at halftime, 27-6 after three quarters and 37-6 as the final buzzer sounded.
Players, coaches and referee’s join in for the pre-game coin toss Friday September 22 when the Chester YellowJackets hosted the Weslin Warriors. Chester won the toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game. The Jacket’s first possession lasted just about one minute and four plays before Chester scored its first of five touchdowns on an 18-yard run by senior Kolton Jany. CHS led, 6-0 at the 10:35 mark in the first quarter. Jim Bers Photo
1st Quarter
Chester won the coin toss and elected to receive to start the game. The YellowJackets set the tone for the game in the opening 18-seconds of the game.
CHS achieved three first downs and scored their first touchdown of the game when Kolton Jany had a successful 18-yard run to cross the goal line at the 10:42 mark. The Karim Landeros extra-point kick missed the mark and Chester led, 6-0 right off the bat.
The Warriors started their first possession on their own 17-yard line after Chester’s Nate Heuer put a stop to the kickoff return. Cayden Brunkorst and Trentin Eggemeyer quick-started the YellowJacket defense on the next three plays and Wesclin was forced to punt.
The 2023 Chester High School Marching YellowJackets perform the “CHS School Song” and “Go You YellowJackets” during Pre-Game activities Friday September 22 when the YellowJackets hosted the Wesclin Warriors. During Halftime the 2023 Halftime Show featured the music of Carlos Santana. Jim Beers Photo
The Warriors returned the favor on Chester’s next possession and forced a YellowJacket turnover on downs after two running plays ended in negative yardage and a failed pass had the Jackets backed into a corner at 5-and-15 with 7:57 to play in the first quarter.
Wesclin took over on downs and ran a 10-play possession until Chester’s Cayden Brunkhorst, Kolton Jany, Nate Heuer, and Korbin Jany finally put a stop to the Warrior’s advances.
Facing 4-and-28, Wesclin was forced to punt at the 4:19 mark. Chester’s Nate Heuer managed to block a Warrior punt. Korbin Jany grabbed the loose ball and scored a touchdown on a 58-yard run. It was Korbin’s second defensive touchdown in two weeks. Karim Landeros’ extra-point kick was good. Chester led, 13-0 at the 4:08 mark.
Karim Landeros made a fantastic kickoff and Wesclin’s Aiden Norbury was only able to return the ball to the 9-yard line. On the next play, the Warriors were called for holding and were given a 10-yard penalty. They now faced 1-and-19 with 3:48 to play in the first quarter.
On the next play, the Warriors attempted a pass which was intercepted by Chester defensive back Cayden Brunkhorst and CHS had the ball back at the Wesclin 15-yard line with 3:45 to play in the first quarter.
To close out the period, the YellowJackets ran six plays before the end of the quarter. Gage Hopkins ran for 5-yards, Aden Runge had two nice runs for back-to-back first-and-tens, Kolton Jany ran for 3-yards, and Zain Al-Jassim completed a pretty 13-yard pass to Devante Palacio for yet another YellowJacket first-and-ten.
The first quarter ended with Chester leading, 13-0, with the ball at the Wesclin 26 yard line.
The Chester High School Dance Team performs during the 2023 Halftime show which features the music of Carlos Santana. The Dance Team is a unit of the Marching YellowJackets and performs at CHS home football and basketball games as well as competes throughout dance competition season. The Dance Team is coached by Adrianne Kern. She is assisted Bailey Misuraca and Emily Eggemeyer. by Jim Beers Photo
2nd Quarter
Chester picked up right where it left off at the end of the first quarter to start the second quarter. The Jackets faced 3-and-1 from the 26 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Wesclin was called for an off-sides penalty giving Chester a first down.
The Jackets had two consecutive incomplete pass plays giving them a 3-and-10 situation at the 10:55 mark. On the next play, Kolton Jany broke loose for a 16-yard run putting CHS at the 5-yard line.
Following a Billy Belton time out, Chester quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim threw a 5-yard pass to Devante Palacio for Chester’s third touchdown. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and the Jackets led, 20-0 at the 10:23 mark after a six play, two minute possession.
On the ensuing kickoff Wesclin’s Gavin HollenKamp returned the ball to Chester’s 48 yard line. Chester’s Devante Palacio, Garret Hopkins, Ethen Colvis and Trentin Eggemeyer held the Warriors motionless on their next two plays.
Facing 3-and-16 at the 9:50 mark, Wesclin’s Michael Kallvy broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown. Zander Kapp’s extra-point kick was no good. CHS led, 20-6 with 8:45 to play in the half.
On the kickoff, Chester’s Cayden Brunkhorst, a 5’7” junior wide receiver returned the ball to their own 25-yardline. Facing 1st and 10 Aden Runge ran for 5-yards. On the next play, Gage Hopkins ran for 4-yards. On the third play, Kolton Jany got a Chester first down on a six yard run.
With a 1st and 10 the Jackets were on the Wesclin 41 yard line. Zain Al-Jassim threw a nice 7-yard pass which was caught by Gage Hopkins. Two plays later Kolton Jany ran for a first down at the 6:07 mark.
On Chester’s seventh play, Aden Runge cut loose for an 8-yard run putting the Jackets at the 37 yard line with 5:44 to play in the half. On the next play, Zain Al-Jassim launched a 37-yard touchdown pass which was caught by Devante Palacio. Karim Landeros kicked his third extra-point of the game. Chester led, 27-6 with 5:18 to play in the half.
Chester kicked off to Wesclin. The Warriors returned the ball to the Wesclin 15 yard line when Chester’s Braxton Conder, a 5’11” linebacker, dropped the Warrior in his tracks. Wesclin then orchestrated a six-play drive which took them to their own 40 yard line with 1:54 to play in the half. At that point they faced 4-and 9 and decided to punt.
Chester took the punt to their own 30 yard line. Zain Al-Jassim then threw a nice 10-yard pass to Devante Palacio who ran 10-yards for a first down. On the seconds play from scrimmage, a Zain Al-Jassim pass was intercepted by Wesclin’s Logan Brueggemann with 1:13 left to play in the half. Chester held the Warriors for two plays and the clock ran out to end the first half. CHS led, 27-6.
3rd Quarter
Wesclin had the ball to start the second half. Warrior Aiden Norbury took the kick and was once again met by Chester’s Braxton Conder who made the tackle at the Wesclin 40-yard line. Six plays later the Chester defense forced Wesclin to punt at the 9:30 mark. Chester took the punt and fumbled the ball. The Warriors recovered the ball.
Wesclin started its next possession at the 9:13 mark and on the 25-yard line. Five plays later Chester’s Devante Palacio broke up a potential pass play forcing Wesclin to turn the ball over on downs with 7:41 to play in the 3rd quarter.
CHS took over at the 26 yard line 1st and 10. Kolton Jany ran for two yards then ran again and was injured on the next play. Facing 3-and-4, Gage Hopkins had a nice 9-yard run, but fumbled the ball on the tackle. Wesclin had the ball again with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.
The Warriors had the ball for 3 minutes and 14 seconds with Braxton Conder making his third good defensive play of the game to stop a nice quarterback keeper. Six plays later, Chester’s Trentin Eggemeyer made a great interception giving the Jackets the ball back again with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter.
Chester ran five plays before time ran out the end the 3rd quarter, but not before Kolton Jany, Ethan Colvis, and Devante Palacio made big offensive plays. Chester had a 1st and ten to end the quarter leading 27-6. Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter.
4th Quarter
The Jackets had the ball to start the 4th quarter. On the first play from scrimmage Korbin Jany had a good 11-yard run. A CHS penalty brought the ball back 10 yards and the Jackets faced 2-19 with the ball on the 42 yard line.
On the third play Aden Runge then threw a pass to Jack Heffernan for a first down at the Wesclin 14 yard line. An off sides penalty on Wesclin gave the Jackets another 5-yards and with 11:17 Chester faced 1st and 5.
On the next play, YellowJacket Ethan Colvis scored Chester’s fifth touchdown and Karim Landeros kicked the extra point. The Jackets led, 34-6 with 11:10 to play in the game.
Wesclin took Chester’s kickoff to their 27 yard line. Great CHS defensive plays by Trentin Eggemeyer, Gage Hopkins, Braxton Conder, and Alex Williamson held the Warriors to four plays and Wesclin turned the ball over to Chester on downs at the 9:36 mark.
On Chester’s next possession the Jackets had the ball for nearly six minutes. During that time, CHS ran 10 plays resulting in a 24-yard field goal by Karim Landeros.
To get the ball from the 25 yard line to the 3 yard line Chester’s Palacio caught a 7-yard pass, Ethan Colvis had a 1-yard run, Gage Hopkins had a 1-yard run for a first down, Aden Runge had a 2-yard run for a first down, Gage Hopkins had an 8-yard run for another first down, and Gage Hopkins had two more short runs. With Landeros’ field goal, the Jackets extended their lead to 37-6.
Wesclin’s final possession ended when Chester’s Denis Vasquez intercepted a Warrior pass with 2:24 remaining in the game. Chester ran the clock out to win, 37-6.
Head Coach Billy Belton said, “The defensive unit did an amazing job all night long! To hold Wesclin under 70 yards rushing was a great job. Coach Eggemeyer had a great game plan and the boys executed it perfectly!”
“The Defensive line played really well. Coach Colvis and Coach Riggio have done a great job with the D-line all year long.”
“The offensive first drive of the game was the best drive of the year so far! We ran the ball extremely well all night. I felt like we had a good balance of running and passing. Kolton did a great job. Aden Runge had a great game for us. The Offensive line did a great job!”
Belton also said, “Zain Al-Jassim threw the ball well. Devante Palacio had another big play. He went for over 100-yards receiving for the third time this season.”
“I am very proud of the boys and how hard they played on both sides of the ball. It was a great win and I hope we can build on it!”
In the win Chester ran a total of 61 plays compared to Wesclin’s 47 plays. The Jackets recorded 369 yards (162 passing & 207 rushing). Wesclin recorded 122 yards (42 passing & 80 rushing). The YellowJackets had 20 first downs and the Warriors had 5 first downs.
CHS was 3-10 on 3rd down efficiency (30%) and Wesclin was 4-12 on 3rd down efficiency (33%). Chester was 1-4 on 4th down efficiency while Wesclin was 0-2 (0%).
CHS had two turnovers, both fumbles. Wesclin had 3 turnovers (1 fumble and 2 interceptions). The Jackets committed 7 penalties for 49 yards. The Warriors had 7 penalties for 82 yards.
In the win, Chester’s Zain Al-Jassim completed 9-of-16 passes for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns. Aden Runge completed 1 pass for 28 yards. The Jackets had 207 yards on the ground on 39 attempts.
Kolton Jany led the running game with 78 yards on 11 attempts with 1 touchdown. Aden Runge had 64 yards on 9 attempts. Gage Hopkins had 38 yards on 10 attempts. Ethan Colvis had 15 yards on 3 attempts and 1 touchdown, and Gene Bicket had 6 yards on 2 runs.
In the air, Chester’s Devante Palacio led the Jackets with 8 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jack Heffernan had 1 reception for 28 yards. Gage Hopkins had 1 catch for 7 yards.
On defense Chester recorded 30 solo tackles. 24 tackle assists, and 6 tackles for a loss. Gage Hopkins and Cayden Brunkhorst led the Jackets with 4 solos apiece and 1 assist apiece. Ethan Colvis had 3 solos and 3 assists with 2 tackles for a loss. Korbin Jany recorded 3 solos and 3 assists.
Kolton Jany, Trentin Eggemeyer, Nate Heuer, and Braxton Conder each had 2 solos and 2 assists. Eggemeyer and Conder also added 1 tackle for a loss apiece. Nate Maes had 2 sols, 1 assist and 1 tackle for a loss. Cayden Brunkhorst and Trentin Eggemeyer each had interceptions. Denis Hernandez-Vasquez had a fumble recovery.
Karim Landeros had a good night kicking connecting on 4-of-5 extra point attempts and 1-for-1 on his field goal attempt.
With the win, Chester improves to 1-0 in the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division and 2-3 overall. Next up for the YellowJackets will be a road trip to Carlyle this Friday September 29 to take on the Indians. Kickoff is 7:00 P.M.