Will play Red Bud tonight in the opening round of the IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team closed out the regular season with a huge, 33-20, win over Warrensburg-Latham Friday October 20 at Chester’s W.O. Smith Field. It was “Senior Night” 2023 and Jacket Country said farewell to eight senior football players.
The 2023 Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team beat the Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals last Friday October 20, 33-20, on “Senior Night” to finish the regular season with an overall record of 5-4 and a Cahokia Conference Illinois Division Conference record of 3-1. That one loss was a last-second 14-7 heartbreaker that kept the Jackets from claiming another Cahokia Conference Championship. It also forced CHS to win against Warrensburg to have a chance to be selected for an at-large bid to the 2023 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs. No.12 Chester did earn an at-large bid to the playoffs and will face No. 5 Red Bud on the road at Red Bud tonight with a kick-off scheduled for 7 P.M. Jim Beers Photo
The eight seniors included Aden Runge, Gage Hopkins, Korbin Jany, Braxton Conder, Garret Hopkins, Nate Heuer, Trentin Eggemeyer, and Gavin Cowan. All were recognized at a pre-game “Senior Night” ceremony along with other fall sport senior athletes.
The game was very competitive throughout the four quarters of the final game of the regular season, however the YellowJackets stood tall and proud and had a good second half to put the game away and secure a winning record of 5-4 to end the regular season.
Warrensburg’s Kaiden Gardner scored the first touchdown of the evening on a 42-yard pass. The extra point kick was no good and the Cardinal’s led 6-0.
Chester answered with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Zain Al-Jassim to Devante Palacio. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point and the YellowJackets took a slim one-point lead, 7-6 after one quarter of battle.
Both defenses went to work in the second quarter and held each other scoreless until Devante Palacio scored his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard pass from Zain Al-Jassim. Karim Landeros kicked his second extra point of the game and the Jackets took a 14-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.
During halftime the Chester High School Marching YellowJackets and CHS Dance Team members were recognized in “Senior Night” activities. The band and dance team then performed their 2023 field show titled, “The Music of Santana.”
The YellowJackets extended their lead to 15 points in the third quarter when senior Aden Runge scored on a 2-yard run into the end-zone to give the Jackets a 20-6 lead. Karim Landeros kicked his third extra point and CHS led, 21-6.
Just when it looked as if Chester might be on its way to run away with the game, Warrensburg-Latham added another touchdown on a 64-yard touchdown pass to Cantrell Lee. The Cardinals attempted a 2-point conversion but the YellowJacket defense spoiled that idea and CHS led, 21-12, to end the 3rd quarter.
In the 4th quarter Chester’s Kolton Jany scored another YellowJacket touchdown, this time on a 15-yard pass from Zain Al-Jassim. The extra point kick did not hit the mark, but Chester extended its lead to 27-12.
The Cardinals were not finished, however, as they scored one last time on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Warrensburg attempted another 2-point conversion, however, the YellowJacket defense stood strong once again and foiled the attempt. The Cardinals did, however, pull within seven points, 27-20, to keep their hopes alive and make Chester fans uncomfortable.
To end the brief Chester worries, senior wide receiver, Gage Hopkins, scored a final blow to the Warrensburg-Latham game plan by scoring another touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Zain Al-Jassim. The extra point kick did not work, but Chester did extend its lead one final time to 13 points for a final score of 33-20.
In the win Chester ran 71 plays compared to 54 plays by the Cardinals. The YellowJackets accumulated a total of 374 yards (299 passing & 75 rushing). Warrensburg-Latham had 246 yards (256 passing & -10 rushing). The Jackets recorded 19 first downs. The Cardinals had 12 first downs.
Chester was 3-13 on third downs (23%) while Warrensburg was 2-11 on third downs (18%). On fourth downs, CHS was 7-8 (88%) and the Cards were 2-3 (67%).
The YellowJackets had just one turnover and it was caused by a fumble. Warrensburg had three turnovers, all on interceptions.
Chester committed seven penalties for a loss of 45 yards and the Cardinals had six penalties for a total of 43 yards.
For the night, Chester’s quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim, completed 20-of-29 passes (69%) for a total of 299 yards and four of Chester’s five touchdowns.
Al-Jassim’s receivers included Gage Hopkins (8 receptions for 132 yards and 1 TD); Devante Palacio (6 receptions for 88 yards and 2 TD’s)’ Kolton Jany (4 receptions for 58 yards and 1 TD); Korbin Jany (1 reception for 30 yards); Aden Runge (1 reception for 11 yards).
The YellowJackets ran for a total of 75 yards. Aden Runge ran 6 times for 22 yards and 1 TD; Kolton Jany ran 9 times for 22 yards; Gage Hopkins ran 10 times for 20 yards; Zain Al-Jassim ran 9 times for 6 yards; and Ethan Colvis ran 1 time for 5 yards.
The Jacket defense was tough, holding Warrensburg to (-10) yards rushing. As a team, Chester recorded 17 solo tackles, 28 tackle assists, 2 tackles for a loss (TFL) and one sack.
The following Chester players contributed to the Jacket’s win from a defensive perspective: Gage Hopkins (4 solos & 3 assists); Ethan Colvis (2 solos & 3 assists); Devante Palacio (2 solos); Trentin Eggemeyer (2 solos and 4 assists); Cayden Brunkhorst (2 solos and 2 assists); Kolton Jany (1 solo & 1 assist); Korbin Jany (1 solo, 2 assists, & 1 TFL); Garret Hopkins (1 solo, 4 assists, 1 sack; and 1 TFL); Gene Bicket (1 solo); and Justin Hayman (1 solo).
The following plyers had tackle assists: Denis Hernandez-Vasquez (3); Nate Maes (2), Alex Williamson (2), Aden Runge (1); and Braxton Conder (1). Gage Hopkins had one interception. Cayden Brunkhorst had two interceptions.
With the win, Chester improved to an overall regular season final record of 5-4. The Jackets just missed another Cahokia Conference Illinois Division Championship with the 7-point 14-7 last-minute loss to Red Bud in Week 8. That loss cost the Jackets the championship and gave Chester its’ only conference loss at 3-1.
The win against Warrensburg-Latham opened the door for the YellowJackets’ at-large bid to the 2023 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs. No. 12 Chester (5-4) will face No. 5 Red Bud (7-2) tonight in a 1st Round matchup on the road at Red Bud. Kick-off is 7 p.m.