YellowJackets are Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division CHAMPIONS and Randolph County CHAMPIONS
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team hosted the Red Bud Musketeers Friday night October 18 in a contest which would decide several things.
First of all, a win would give Chester an undefeated record in both the Cahokia Conference and overall. Secondly, a win would give the Jackets a Randolph County Championship. Thirdly, a win would give the YellowJackets the 2024 Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division Championship.
Well, the YellowJackets handed the Musketeers a decisive 44-7 defeat, making all of the above propositions come true!
First of all, Chester ended the 2024 Cahokia Conference with an undefeated, 4-0 record with wins over Sparta (48-2), Wesclin (20-0), Carlyle (41-0), and Red Bud (44-7). Add to the conference record of 4-0, Chester also had undefeated games against the four non-conference games against DuQuoin (35-27), Pinckneyville (56-6), Freeburg (31-14), and Dupo (48-14) for their overall undefeated record of 8-0.
Chester defeated the other two teams that reside in Randolph County including Sparta (48-2) and Red Bud (44-7) to earn the title of Randolph County Champion.
Finally, and most impressive, the YellowJackets Jackets swept the competition in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division with wins over Sparta (48-2), Wesclin (20-0), Carlyle (41-0), and Red Bud (44-7) to earn the title of conference champions. That fact alone is fantastic, however, the YellowJackets have won the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division title championship 3-of-the last-4 years!
The win over Red Bud was even more sweet due to the fact that last year at Red Bud, in the final conference game, the Musketeers “eked-“out a slim win, over the Jackets, 14-7, in a close and heated game to take the conference title for the Musketeers.
A week later, Red Bud and Chester were pitted against each other again, this time in a first-round 2023 IHSA Division 2A State Playoff game at Red Bud, in which most of the game was played in a down-pouring rain with high winds and temperatures dropping to the coldest in the fall.
Both teams struggled throughout the game with wet, slick conditions until the final seconds of the game when Red Bud managed to score 7-0, to win the game and advance to Round 2. The Musketeers were soundly defeated the next week in Round 2.
It was “Senior Night” at W.O. Smith Field and prior to the game YellowJacket Country honored 13 senior players including Zain Al-Jassim, Gene Bicket, Cayden Brunkhorst, Lannin Caron, Justin Hayman, Jack Heffernan, Kolton Jany, Nate Maes, Brenden Malley, Devante Palacio, Florentino Rafael, Lincon Schroeder, and Alex Williamson.
All 13 have led and paced the YellowJacket team to the current 8-0 record and the huge win over Red Bud!
Friday night the Jackets orchestrated a 44-7 victory over the Musketeers by the tune of six touchdowns and a field goal. The Chester offense was unleashed right away behind the quarterbacking of senior Zain Al-Jassim and the stingy YellowJacket defense.
Red Bud took the opening kickoff but was held to four plays and a turnover on downs at the 10:32 mark to start the game.
The Jackets began on their own 38 yard line and scored after two first downs and eight plays on 6-yard touchdown from Zain Al-Jassim to Brenden Malley, both seniors. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point and Chester led, 7-0 at the 7:12 mark.
The Jacket defense held the Musketeers on their next possession which started with 7:12 remaining in the first quarter and ended with 2:16 left in the period.
CHS took over 1st and ten on the Red Bud 20 yard line. On the second play from scrimmage, Ethan Colvis scored on YellowJacket touchdown, but the score was called back due to a YellowJacket penalty.
CHS now faced 2-and-20 with less than a minute to play. Kolton Jany ran for six yards and CHS faced 3-and-14 with .28 left on the clock. Al-Jassim threw an incomplete pass and as the 1st quarter buzzer sounded, the Jackets faced 4th and 14, with a 7-0 lead to end the 1st quarter.
Chester had the ball to start the second quarter, but were forced to punt. Red Bud started the period at 11:50 and lost 3 yards on the first play from scrimmage. Landon Ruebusch threw a good 15-yard on the next play but Chester’s Nate Maes broke up the next two plays and Chester’s Devante Palacio recorded his second interception of the game to halt the Musketeer drive and end the possession.
Chester took just eight plays to score again at the 5:11 mark on a 56-yards touchdown pass from Al-Jassim to Devante Palacio. During that 8-play possession, Kolton Jany recorded three back-to-back-to-back first downs on passes and runs. Tray Peters threw a good pass, Ethan Colvis ran for six yards, and Al-Jassim capped of the drive with his TD. Karin Landeros kicked his second extra-point and CHS led, 14-0.
Red Bud had the ball for just three plays on their next possession when Chester’s Devante Palacio got his second interception of the game with under 4 minutes left in the half.
Chester took over on Red Bud’s 35-yard line. Zain Al-Jassim ran for a first down on a quarterback keeper and Kolton Jany ran for six yards. Al-Jassim recorded another 1st down on another quarterback keeper taking the ball to the Red Bud 14-yard line.
With only .58 on the clock, Zain Al-Jassim found Brenden Malley for a 12-yard touchdown pass and Karim Landeros kicked his third extra-point. Chester extended its lead to 21-0 to end the first half.
Chester had the opening kickoff to start the second half. It took the Jackets just four plays to score their 4th touchdown when Zain Al-Jassim score on a quarterback keeper from 8-yards out. Karim Landeros set up as if to kick the extra point, but instead the Jackets attempted a 2-point conversion which failed extra-point and Chester led, 27-0 at the 10:26 mark.
To set that TD up Kolton Jany ran twice for 13 yards and Lannin Caron caught a huge 17-yard pass from Al-Jassim. It took only a minute and thirty second to score.
On Red Bud’s next possession Chester’s defense created all kinds of terror for the Musketeers as the Jackets threw the Musketeers for a 5-yard loss to start the possession. Red Bud then committed back-to-back false starts and threw an incomplete pass. Facing 2-and 20, Chester’s Jack Heffernan and Gene Bicket broke up the next pass play. Red Bud was then called for targeting for a 15-yard penalty.
Chester took the ball with 7:13 to play in the 3rd quarter. Three plays later, Kolton Jany scored Chester’s 5thn touchdown on a 12-yard run. Karim Landeros remained perfect on the night with his 4th extra-point. The YellowJackets led, 34-0, with 6:47 left in the period.
The Jacket defense created havoc for the Musketeers on their next possession as Tino Rafael broke up a Landon Ruebusch pass and then sacked the quarterback on the next play. Kolton Jany made a key tackle for a 5-yard loss on the third play, and the Musketeers were called for delay of game. CHS forced a Red Bud punt.
The Jackets responded with a four-play possession that resulted in a touchdown. On the first play from scrimmage, Ethan Colvis ran for 8-yards. On the second play, Cayden Brunkhorst ran for the first down. On the third play, Justin Hayman ran for 19-yards putting Chester on the Red Bud 8 yard line.
On the fourth play, Zain Al-Jassim connected with Tray Peters for a pass. Peters, in-turn, pivoted and immediately flicked the ball to Chester lineman, Alex Williamson, who ran for an 8-yard Chester touchdown. It was Chester’s 6th TD. Karim Landeros kicked his 5th extra-point of the game. The YellowJackets further extended their lead to, 41-0, with 3:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Chester kicked off to Red Bud at the 3:25 mark and CHS linebacker, Lincon Schroeder made the stop on the Musketeer return. On the first play from scrimmage, Red Bud’s Brayden Koester, a sophomore wide receiver, ran for a monumental 72-yard touchdown. Senior Gavin Baldwin kicked the extra-point and the Musketeers were on the scoreboard. CHS led, 41-7, to end the 3rd quarter.
The entire 4th quarter was played with a continuous clock. Chester had the ball to start the period. Coach Billy Belton substituted heavily throughout the last period.
Red Bud held the Jackets on their first three plays. On the final play of the possession, the Jackets face a 4-and-13 situation. Instead of punting, Belton decoded to have Karim Landeros attempt a 35-yard field goal. Landeros drained it and added three more points to the YellowJacket total to lead, 44-7.
On Red Bud’s final possession, Chester’s Gene Bicket and Morgan Miers gave the Red Bud offense fits and forced a turnover on downs. CHS ran the clock out to win the contest, 44-7.
In the win, Chester ran 48 plays vs Red Bud’s 42. CHS recorded 427 yards (271 passing and 156 running) and Red Bud recorded 165 yards (47 passing and 118 rushing). Chester did not commit any turnover. Red Bud had two turnovers, both interceptions. The Jackets committed seven penalties for 92 yards. Red Bud committed seven penalties for 66 yards.
Chester’s Zain Al-Jassim passed 12 times connecting on 11 of those (92 %). He had 25b yards and 3 touchdowns. Devante Palacio had 1 pass and completed it for 6 yards. Red Bud’s Landon Ruebusch threw 15 times completing 7 (46%). He was intercepted twice.
Chester caught 12 passes for a total of 268 yards and 4 touchdowns. Kolton Jany received 4 passes for 75 yards. Tray Peters caught 3 passes for 57 yards and 1 Touchdown. Devante Palacio caught 1 pass for 56 yards and 1 TD. Brenden Malley caught 3 passes for 47 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lannin Caron caught 1 pass for 36 yards.
The Jackets ran for 156 yards two touchdowns. Kolton Jany led with 10 runs for 63 yards and 1 TD. Zain Al-Jassim ran 6 times for 26 yards and one touchdowns. Other rushers included Justin Hayman (1-for-19), Cayden Brunkhorst (1 for 18), Ethan Colvis (4 for 16), Devante Palacio (1 for 3), and Alex Blechle.
The Jacket defense was tough against Red Bud. In the win, Chester recorded 18 solo tackles, 4323 tackle assists, 1 quarterback sack, and six tackles for a loss. Kolton Jany led with 3 solos, 1 assist, and 2 tackles for a loss (TFL). Ethan Colvis had 3 solos, and 2 assists. Tino Rafael recorded 2 solos and 4 assists. Devante Palacio had 1 solo and 3 assists. Lincon Schroeder recorded 1 solo and 4 assists. Nate Maes had 1 solo, 2 assists, and 1 TFL. Denis Vasquez had 1 solo, 2 assists, and 1 TFL. Gene Bicket recorded 1 solo, 1 assist, and 1 TFL. Morgan Miers recorded 1 solo, 1 assist, 1 sack, and 1 TFL. Devante Palacio also had two interceptions.
Karim Landeros had a great game with four extra points and he kicked off the Red Buds 8 times for 376 yards.
With the win the Jackets improved to an overall record of 8-0 to remain undefeated and they remained undefeated in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division at 4-0, to earn the title of Conference Champions. In addition Chester further earned the title of 2024 Randolph County Champions with wins over Red Bud and Sparta.
Next up for Chester will be a non-conference game to end the regular season. The YellowJackets will host Waterloo Public Saturday October 26 at 12 noon at W.O. Smith Field.
Senior Alex Williamson, a 6’0:, 245 Lb. lineman, scored a touchdown against Red Bud on a especial hook-and-ladder play in which quarterback Zain Al-Jassim made a 8-yard pass the junior Tray Peters. Peters then immediately pivoted and flicked the ball to Williamson who took the ball and ran into the end zone for Chester’s 6th and final touchdown. The score gave Chester a 41-0 lead over the Musketeers. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior wide receiver Devante Palacio (9) scrambled for yardage in the YellowJacket’s 44-7 win over Red Bud Friday October 18. It was Senior Night at CHS and Palacio scored Chester’s second touchdown oi the game on a 56 yard touchdo0wn pass from his quarterback Zain Al-Jassim. The TD gave the YellowJackets a 14-0 lead at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter. Jim Beers Photo
On Senior Night 2024 CHS senior, Brenden Malley shined for the YellowJackets scoring two touchdowns. The first was the first of the game at the 9:00 mark on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Zain Al-Jassim. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point and CHJS led, 7-0. The second came at the end of the second quarter with .58 remaining in the first half. Zain Al-Jassim found Malley once again for a 12-yard TD pass to give the Jackets a 21-0 lead at halftime. Malley also ran for 47 yards and had a solo tackle on defense. Jim Beers Photo