Kolton Jany hits 1000-yard combined rushing and receiving mark with 2:11 left in 1st Quarter
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Saturday October 26 was Military Appreciation Day at Chester High School and W.O. Smith Field was hopping with excited YellowJacket fans that came to see the 2A, 8-0 undefeated YellowJackets host the 4A, 7-1 Waterloo Bulldogs in a 12:00 noon contest.
It was an absolutely perfect day for football or any other outdoor activity, with clear, sunny, skies, a slight breeze, and temperatures in the 60’s. Jacket fans began to show up two hours before the opening kickoff to get prime seats.
At game time, the bleachers on Chester’s home side were mostly filled as were the concrete bleachers on the visitor’s side of W.O. Smith Field. The entire perimeter surrounding W.O. Smith Field also had faithful fans sitting in lawn chairs, standing, sitting on blankets, and otherwise walking the hillsides to get a closer look at the action.
Waterloo won the coin toss and elected to kick off to Chester to start the game. They, in turn, would receive to begin the second half.
The YellowJackets took the opening kickoff and used the first five minutes and 41 seconds to run 12 plays and earn four first downs to score the first touchdown of the game on a on a Zain Al-Jassim 1-yard quarterback keeper. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and Chester led, 7-0 at the 6:19 mark of the first quarter.
The Jacket defense was tough on Waterloo’s first possession and held them to four plays and out when Chester’s Nate Maes knocked down a Conrad Lindhorst pass to force the turnover on downs.
The YellowJackets took over on the 19-yard line. CHS was called for having too many men on the field on the first play from scrimmage and Waterloo was called for pass interference on the next play.
Al-Jassim then threw successful passes to Devante Palacio and Brenden Malley. The one to Palacio was for a first down the next to Malley was for 5 yards. Kolton Jany capped off the momentum with an 18-yard pass reception for a second first down. With that reception, Kolton Jany earned his 1000th combined rushing and receiving yard mark.
On the next play, Chester’s Al-Jassim passed to Kolton Jany for a 12-yard touchdown, Chester’s second of the first quarter. Karim Landeros kicked his second extra-point and the Jackets led, 14-0 at the 1:57 mark.
To end the first quarter, the Bulldogs ran three plays and made it to the Chester 31-yard line as the buzzer signaled the end of the first quarter with Chester leading, 14-0.
To start the second quarter, it took just two plays from scrimmage for Waterloo to score its first touchdown of the game on a 29-yard run from Bulldog running back, Derez Sayles. Cameryn Wooley kicked the extra point and Waterloo trailed by just seven points, 14-7.
On the kickoff Waterloo attempted a short, bouncing kick which was returned to the Chester 40-yard line by Chester’s Alex Blechle. Nine plays and three first downs later, the YellowJackets scored their third touchdown of the game on a Kolton Jany 9-yard run. It was Jany’s second TD of the game. Karim Landeros kicked his third extra-point of the game as Chester extended its lead to 21-7 with 7:08 to play in the first half.
On the ensuing kickoff the YellowJackets attempted a short, onside-type kick which failed when Waterloo picked up the bouncing ball and landed on their 42 yard line. 10 plays and three first downs later, the Bulldogs scored again for their second touchdown on a 27-yard pass from Conrad Lindhorst. Cameryn Wooley’s kick was partially blocked by CHS and the Bulldogs were within eight points, 21-13 with 3:07 left in the second quarter.
On Chester’s next possession the Jackets had good momentum with passes completed to Ethan Colvis, Brenden Malley and Kolton Jany which netted two first downs and making it to the 46 yard line. With .52 remaining in the first half, Chester quarterback Zain Al-Jassim faced defensive pressure and had to scramble. In the process he was tackled and fumbled the ball for a YellowJacket turnover.
Waterloo ran three plays and the buzzer sounded to end the first half with Chester leading, 21-13.
The Bulldogs received to start the second half. The YellowJacket defense held them to 4-and-out (11:02) and Chester took over on offense (8:40). Waterloo held the Jackets to 4-and-out and forced a punt (7:28). On Waterloo’s first play from scrimmage, Derez Sayles ran 64 yards for a Bulldog touchdown (7:23). The 2-point conversion was successful and Waterloo tied the game, 21-21.
Chester’s Devante Palacio took the ensuing kickoff and on the return, the Bulldogs were called for a face mask penalty, adding 15 yards to his point of tackle. CHS then had the ball 1st and ten on their own 38-yard line with 7:12 to play in the 3rd quarter.
After a successful pass to Kolton Jany the YellowJackets were in Bulldog territory on the 39 yard line. Another successful 6-yard pass to Ethan Colvis moved the ball to the Waterloo 33 yard line. Facing 2-and-4, Justin Hayman ran for 2 yards and Chester was on the Waterloo 31 yard line (4:22).
On the next play, facing 3-and-2, quarterback Zain Al-Jassim was scrambling to get off a pass and was sacked for a 9-yard loss. That brought up 4-and-11 with 3:23 left in the 3rd. An incomplete pass to Devante Palacio ended what could have been a very great touchdown opportunity, but the Jackets had to turn the ball over on downs (3:23). (Lost opportunity No.1)
Waterloo took over at the 40-yard line. Five plays later, Derez Sayles scored again, this time on a 41-yard run. Cameryn Wooley kicked the extra point and Waterloo broke the tie to take a 28-21 lead with 1:10 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
On the kickoff Chester’s Cayden Brunkhorst returned the ball to the Chester 27 yard line. CHS quarterback Zain Al-Jassim attempted back-to-back quarterback keepers under pressure, and as the clock ran out, the YellowJackets faced 3-and-5 with Waterloo leading 28-21 after three quarters of play.
To kick off the 4th quarter, Chester’s Kolton Jany ran for a 1st and TEN to the Chester 49 yard line. That is where the drive was halted as the Bulldog defense held the Jackets for four more downs and the Jackets had to punt.
Chester returned the favor on Waterloo’s next possession and forced a punt at the 9:01 mark. Chester took over at the Waterloo 46-yard line after a Cayden Brunkhorst return. On the next play, Kolton Jany gained 12 yards to the 34 yard line with 7:51 remaining. Justin Hayman caught a Zain Al-Jassim pass and ran to the end zone. He apparently stepped on the side line at the 13-yard mark and had to return to that point.
With a first down, the Jackets were held for three downs. Facing 4th-and-goal, Al-Jassim was forced to scramble, and in the process was sacked. With the ball at the 7-yard line, the Jackets turned the ball over to Waterloo with 6:18 to play in the game. (Lost opportunity No. 2).
Chester held Waterloo to 4-and-out on the next possession and forced a punt. The Jackets took over at the 44-yard line with 3:46 remaining in the game. Chester ran five plays making it to the Waterloo 37-yard line at the 1:35 mark.
Facing 4-and-1 (after a lengthy referee inspection and decision that CHS did not get the first down), Chester threw an incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs with 1:50 to play in the game. (Lost Opportunity No. 3).
On the Bulldog’s first play from scrimmage, Derez Sayles broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach for the YellowJackets, extending their lead to 35-21 with 1:20 to play in the game.
Chester wasn’t done yet, however, and Zain Al-Jassim put on a passing exhibition completing passes six to earn two first downs and a touchdown to keep the Jackets alive.
In that process, Al-Jassim hit Ethan Colvis, Brenden Malley, Ethan Colvis (again), and back-to-back passes to Cayden Brunkhorst to put the ball at the 35-yard line. With under .20 remaining in the game, Al-Jassim completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Colvis with 2.8-seconds left on the clock. Chester ended the game falling just seven points short of a tie and eight points short of a win, 35-28.
In the game CHS had 432 yards (328 passing & 104 rushing). Waterloo had 327 yards (46 passing and 281 running). Chester ran 78 plays while Waterloo ran 42 plays. The Jackets recorded 23 first downs and the Dogs had 10 first downs. The Jackets had one turnover, a fumble. Waterloo did not turn the ball over. Chester had 7 penalties for 83 yards while the Bulldogs had 5 penalties for 24 yards.
Zain Al-Jassim attempted 38 passes and completed 24 (63%) for 328 yards and two touchdowns. Waterloo’s Conrad Lindhorst attempted 10 passes and completed just 2 (20%) and 1 touchdown.
The Jackets rushed 35 time for 104 yards, 2 touchdowns and one fumble. Kolton Jany led with 17 attempts for 75 yards and 1 TD. Tray Peters ran three times for 25 yards. Justin Hayman ran twice for 14 yards. Ethan Colvis ran 4 times for 6 yards. Zain Al-Jassim ran 7 times for -3 and 1 TD.
Chester caught 23 passes for 318 yards and 2 TD’s. Devante Palacio led with 7 receptions for 97 yards. Kolton Jany was 6-for-80 and 1 TD. Brenden Malley was 3-for-46. Ethan Colvis was 3-for-30 and 1 TD. Cayden Brunkhorst was 2-for-26. Justin Hayman was 1 for 20.
The YellowJacket defense was tough once again with 15 solo tackles, 18 tackle assists, and 2 tackles for a loss. Devante Palacio led with 4 solos and 1 tackle for a loss (TFL). Ethan Colvis had 2 solos and 7 assists. Gene Bicket had 2 solos and 1 assist. Kolton Jany had 3 solos, 3 assists, and 1 TFL. Tino Rafael had 2 solos. Cayden Brunkhorst had 1 solo and 2 assists.
The Bulldogs recorded 31 solo tackles, 14 tackle assists, 3 quarterback sacks, and 6 tackles for a loss. They were led by Wyatt Luhr (4 solos, 2 assists, and 1 tackle for a loss); Patrick O’Donnell (3 solos, 3 assists, and 1 TFL); Drake Fry (3 solos and 1 assist); Brock Arpin (2 solos and 1 TFL); and Alex Stell (2 solos, 1 sack, and 1 TFL).
Chester’s Karim Landeros was perfect once again kicking 4-for-4 extra points. Devante Palacio (2-for-15), Cayden Brunkhorst (1 for 19), and Kolton Jany (2 for 7) had good kickoff returns.
With the loss the YellowJackets finished the regular season with an overall record of 8 wins and 1 loss and won the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division title with an unblemished, perfect record of 5-0.
Coach Billy Belton said, “I thought the boys played great! Waterloo is a great team. Our defense played a great first half. I think we just wore down a little in the second half.”
“The offense played well. Kolton Jany and Devante Palacio made a ton of plays on third downs that really kept us in the game! It was nice to have Kolton go over 1000 yards of total offense for the year. Devante Palacio broke another record for career receptions too.
“Zain Al-Jassim had a big game with over 300 yards passing. Overall I think we played really well against a 4A school. Now we have to focus on the playoffs!”
The No. 7 YellowJackets will host No. 10 Westville at 3:00 p.m. Saturday November 2 at W.O. Smith Field in the 2024 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs.
Chester’s Zain Al-Jassim gets set to make one of his 24 pass completions Saturday October 26 against Waterloo. For the game he connected on 24-of-38 passes (63%), two of which were touchdowns. He further ran for the YellowJacket’s first touchdown of the the game on a 1-yard dash across the goal line at the 6:19 mark of the first quarter. Jim Beers Photo
YellowJacket Kolton Jany scores Chester’s second touchdown of the game on a 12-yard pass from Zain Al-Jassim Saturday October 26. The TD gave Chester a 13-0 lead against Waterloo right before the end of the first quarter at the 1:57 mark. For the afternoon Military Appreciation game, Jany scored two touchdowns, one on a 9-yard run and the other on this pass reception. He led the Jackets in rushing with 17 carries for 71 yards and one touchdown . He also caught six passes for 80 yards and one touchdown, giving him a total combined 151 yards. Jim Beers Photo
Sophomore Karim Landeros kicks an extra point in the game against the Waterloo Bulldogs Saturday October 26. Landeros was perfect for the day with four extra points, one for each of Chester’s four touchdowns. He was also perfect last week against Red Bud going 6-for-6, along with a 35-yard field goal accounting for nine of Chester’s 44 points. Jim Beers Photo