Coach Billy Belton thanks supporters and presents a multitude of player awards
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Sunday evening December 14 the Chester High School Football Program held the 2025 Football Awards event. This year’s program was hosted at Colbert Memorial Gymnasium which offered more room and comfort for players, parents and other football supporters.
Coach Belton began the program by extending a great deal of thanks and appreciation to everyone who supported the team and coaches throughout the 2025 season. Belton said, “None of this is possible without the support of parents, fans, businesses and coaches who contribute to the success of the team.
Before continuing, Belton asked Pastor Sims of the St. John Lutheran Church in Chester gave a brief welcoming prayer. Sims has two sons that play for the YellowJacket Program, and was close to the team all season.
THANK YOU RECOGNITIONS
Coach Belton then began his long list of thank you recognitions to those who supported the CHS Football Program this season. The list was long, but Belton has always been extremely appreciative to loyal fans and supporters. That list includes:
Parents. Belton recognized the parents’ level of flexibility and sacrifice of time and effort to help make the team successful.
Coaches. Belton always shares the program’s success by recognizing the many coaches that contribute to the team’s success including Charles Colvis, Danny Roth, Stephen Roth, Matt Colvis, Daigen Hunter, Tim Mueller, Caleb Strauss, Logan Doll, and Freddie Welge. Belton said, “Guys, thank you for all; of t time and effort you give the team. You are a great group of men. The players are lucky to have such great men surrounding them!”
Administration. Members of District # 139 Administration were thanked, including Superintendent Kimberly Briggs, Principal Jeremy Blechle, Assistant Principal Robin Barton, and Athletic Director, Jennifer Cartwright.
Game Day Score Boards. Coach Blechle noted that the new scoreboards located at W.O. Smith Field are programmed by Dwight Lochhead and Aidan Blechle. The two do a wonderful job of creating all of the many beautiful, informative messages and visuals seen and heard on the new video screens.
First Baptist Church. FBC of Chester provided Team Services and Lunches after Games. Coach Belton said, “This was one of my favorite events of the season. I love the three F’s, including FAITH, FAMILY, and FOOTBALL!”
Chester Eagles. The Eagles fed the team before each home game throughout the season and have been regular in doing so for many years.
Dominos. The local Dominos fed the team each Thursday throughout the season following the Thursday afternoon “run through” practices.
Meals after games. Belton thanked the parents for helping out with feeding the team after each game.
Sweeties Program. The Sweetie Program has continued throughout the years! After games, the “Sweeties” meet the players on the field to provide moral support, congratulations, treats and small gifts to the players. Fans can volunteer to be a “Sweetie” each year to help support players throughout the season.
Chain Gang. The “Chain Gang” is essential to each gang and Coach Belton thanked Chester’s volunteers including Jason Juenger, Chuck Fricke, Chad Hecht, John Skortz, and Kevin Cartwright.
Press Box. It also takes a full crew of staff to manage the operations in the press box at home football games including Rick Powley (Time Clock), Mitch Hammel (Scoreboard), Curt Eggemeyer and Kaela Powley (25-Second Play Clock), Mike Tindall (Spotter), Aidan Blechle and Dwight Lochhead (Computer-Technology, Video Board, Sound), Luke Lochhead (Play-By-Play Public Address Announcer) and Jim Beers (TV Broadcaster, Marching YellowJacket Band Announcer and General Game Day Announcements). JV and Freshman Game Backups for Time and Clock (Troy Masterson and Paul Gartner).
Quarterback Club and Field Painting Crew. The CHS Quarterback Club and volunteers who paint W.O. Smith Field include Trever Kelkhoff, Pete Jany, Jeremy Jany, and Josh Howie.
Quarterback Cards. Jeremy Blechle and Dwight Lochhead assisted with a “
Quarterback Card” project.
Official Team Statistician. Doug McDonald has faithfully served as the YellowJacket Football Team Statistician for several years and continues to serve in that role. Hats Off to Doug McDonald.
Publicity and Photos. Coach Blechle recognized Dr. Jim Beers for his work in taking team and game photos as well as providing publicity and game coverage for the YellowJackets. He is also the TV Broadcaster for home varsity football games.
New Weekly Team Awards for YellowJacket Football. Coach Belton began two new weekly football awards this year for YellowJacket Football, the “Special Teams layer of the Week” and the “Practice Player of the Week”. Korando Heating & Cooling of Chester is the sponsor of the “Special Teams Player of the Week” and Knight Hawk Coal is the sponsor of the “Practice Player of the Week”.
CHS Football Toy Drive. Each year the CHS Football Team shops for toys for kids during their annual toy drive. Knight Hawk Coal is the major sponsor of his shopping opportunity.
Recap of the 2025 season
After handing out a great deal of thankfulness to many loyal supporters of Chester Football, Coach Belton recapped the 2025 CHS Football Season. He started with the JV. Belton said, “What a great season! The JV went undefeated at 8-0. This is the first time in a long time the JV has gone undefeated. A perfect season is an incredible accomplishment and I am proud of the players and coaching staff. You guys did an amazing job all season. You should be really proud of yourselves. Great Job!”
Coach Belton then summarized the Varsity season and handed out patches for the varsity players. The Varsity was 8-2 for 2025. Belton said, “We had back-to-back Conference Championships and got to host a home Playoff game. What sticks out about his season is our team’s mental toughness, and how they played for one another!”
“We had our first 1000-yard rusher and we rushed for more than 2000 yards on the season. That means our players are blocking for each other! That’s what it is all about. . Unselfishness and playing for the man next to you!”
Belton then gave a rather detailed report of each game of the 2025 season. Those details will be covered in a separate article, but below is an account of scores and records for 2025.
Regular Season
Game 1: (H) (08-29-25) Won, 55-0, vs E. Alton-Wood River 1-0 NA
Game 2: (A) (09-05-25) Won, 53-7, vs Pinckneyville 2-0 NA
Game 3: (A) (09-12-25) Lost 33-29, vs West Frankfort 2-1 NA
Game 4: (A) (09-19-25) Won 27-0, vs Sparta* 3-1 1-0
Game 5: (H) (9-26-25) Won 42-20, vs Wesclin* 4-1 2-0
Game 6: (A) (10-03-25) Won 42-21, vs Carlyle* 5-1 3-0
Game 7: (H) (10-10-25) Won 38-37, vs Dupo* 6-1 4-0
Game 8: (A) (10-17-25) Won 42-18, vs Red Bud* 7-1 5-0**
Game 9: (H) (10-24-25) Won 29-19, vs Nashville 8-1 NA
Post Season: IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs
Game 10: (H) (11-1-25) Lost 26-14, vs Maroa-Forsyth 8-2 NA
(Maroa-Forsyth was the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Runner-Up)
** Note: 2025 Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division CHAMPIONS (Back-to-Back)
About this year’s team
In closing this portion of the program, Head Coach Billy Belton said, “I can’t say enough great things about this team! I enjoyed all of our time together. We finished 8-2 and we win a conference championship, in fact, back-to-back conference champs. Four-of-the-last five years we have been conference champs!”
“This year we outscored our opponents on an average of 37-18 points. The seniors finish their conference records at 19-1. We made the playoffs for the 8th time in-a-row. We broke all kinds of records. I have loved coaching those guys. I love how hard this team played and how they played for one another. I tell everyone that I’m so lucky that I get to coach at CHS. We have great support and great kids. WHAT A GREAT SEASON!”
About the seniors (Class of 2026)
Belton then spoke about his senior players. He said, “First off, THANK YOU for all your hard work and dedication! I love all the time we spent together the past four years, countless hours in the weight room, and on the practice field. It has been a pleasure to watch all of you work, develop, and grow as athletes and students!”
“It was no accident that you finished your high school careers as back-to-back conference champions, 17-4 in your last two years. You put the work in and earned it. If you look back over your careers, as freshmen you were 0-6. Your JV record was 5-3. Your junior year you went 9-2. This year you finished 8-2. You were back-to-back conference champs. You are one of the hardest-working groups I have coached! You played football the right way! You played for each other! I love you guys and I thank you for all of the GREAT memories!”
Team Awards
Practice Players of the Year: Isaac Sims and Donnie Sabo
Special Teams Player of the Year: Alex Blechle
Young Gun Awards: Avery Wittenborn, Rhett Creason and Landen Conder (These players are younger players that contribute at the varsity level)
Eric Skorcz Award: Brayden Juenger (This award is in memory of former CHS player Eric Skorcz. He was one of Coach Belton’s best friends. He passed away nine years ago. He was an amazing person. He helped coach at CHS for a decade and helped coach the Little Stingers prior to that. He was a great teammate and a really good football player. Eric always put his teammates first and he was a great person)
Special Teams Weapon: Karim Landeros
Offensive Weapon: TaShawn Palacio (This is the person that every opponent has to prepare for. If they don’t stop him, they can’t stop the YellowJacket Team)
Defensive Weapon: Morgan Mier (This is the YellowJacket’s defensive playmaker)
Elite Warriors: Ethen Colvis, Tray Peters, and Zane Eggemeyer (These players are combined Team Most Valuable Players (MVP’s) and the team’s hardest workers)
Cahokia Conference Awards
All Conference Players (Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division):
Derrius Shoemate, Defense Back
Morgan Miers, Defensive Line
Kanon Jany, Linebacker
Zane Eggemeyer, Linebacker
Karim Landeros, Defensive Line
Jakob Stueve, Offensive Line
Alex Blechle, Running Back
Trey McCartney, Tight End
Jackie Bess, Offensive Line
Brayden Juenger, Offensive and Defensive Line
TaShawn Palacio, Defensive Back and Wing Back
Trayton Peters, Quarterback and Defensive Back
Ethan Colvis, Running Back and Linebacker
Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division “Offensive” Player of the Year: Trayton Peters
Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division “Player of the Year”: Ethan Colvis
All-South Awards
All-South Players of 2025
Morgan Miers
TaShawn Palacio
Ethen Colvis
Brayden Juenger
Trayton Peters
Derrius Shoemate
1000-Yard Rusher: Ethan Colvis
School Records
TaShawn Palacio
Single-Season Receiving Yards (900)
Single-Season Receiving Touchdowns (13)
Finished 19th in the State in Receiving in IHSA Class 2A
Trayton Peters
Single-Season Passing Touchdowns (25)
Single-Season Passing Completions (65%)
Karim Landeros
Single-Season Yards per Punt (40.6 YPP)
Career Points After Touchdown (PAT’s) 98
Academic All State
Tray Peters
Jackie Bess
Ethan Colvis
Kanon Jany
Brayden Juenger
Karim Landeros
Trey McCartney
TaShawn Palacio
Zane Eggemeyer
All State Awards
All-State “1st Team”: Ethan Colvis
All-State “Honorable Mention”: TaShawn Palacio
Note: There are only 18 1st Team All-State players selected out of all Class 2A players in the State of Illinois. These selections are the “BEST PLAYERS” in Class 2A. Ethan Colvis was one of the 18 1st Team selections. TaShawn Palacio was an All-State Honorable Mention selection.
Closing-Final Comments
In closing the 2025 Chester High School YellowJacket Football Awards Ceremony, Head Coach Billy Belton said, “Players, Thank You for a great season. I’m so proud of you great young men and what you accomplished this season. Coaches THANK YOU! Parents THANK YOU for everything! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Ethan Colvis (left) is the 2025 Cahokia Conference, Illinois Dib\vision Co-MVP and Tray Peters (right) is the 2025 Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division Offensive Player of the Year.
The following CHS Football players set new school records. (Left to right) Ethan Colvis was recognized for achieving the 1000-yard mark rushing; TaShawn Palacio set a single-season record of 900 receiving yards, a Single-Season record of 13 Receiving Touchdowns, and he finished 19th in the State of Illinois in Overall Receiving (that was overall, not just in Class 2A); Tray Peters set a school record for completing 25 Passing Touchdowns and a Single-Season record for successful passes completed with a 65% mark; and Karim Landeros set a Single-Season Record of Punting 40.6 yards Per Punt and a Career Record of 98 Points After a Touchdown (PATs).
Six Chester YellowJacket Football players earned All-South hono0rs in 2025. Pictured (left to right) are those six honorees including Morgan Miers, Ethan Colvis, TaShawn Palacio, Brayden Juenger, Trayton Peters, and Derrius Shoemate.
Two Chester High School YellowJacket Football players earned All-State honors including Ethan Colvis (Left) 1st Team, and TaShawn Palacio (right) Honorable Mention.
The CHS YellowJacket Football Team had 13 players earn All-Conference hono0rs in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division. Those 13 players are pictured (left to right) including Ethan Colvis (Running Back & Linebacker); Tray Peters (Quarterback & Defensive Back); TaShawn Palacio (Defensive Back & Wing Back); Brayden Juenger (Offensive & Defensive Line); Jackie Bess (Offensive Line); Trey McCartney (Tight End); Jakob Stueve (Offensive Line); Morgan Miers (Defensive Line); Derrius Shoemate (Defensive Back); Kanon Jany (Linebacker); Zane Eggemeyer (Linebacker); Karim Landeros (Defensive Line); and Alex Blechle (Running Back).
Nine YellowJacket Football players earned Academic All-State honors including (Left to right) Zane Eggemeyer, Jackie Bess, Ethan Colvis, Tray Peters, Kanon Jany, Brayden Juenger, Karim Landeros, Trey McCartney, and TaShawn Palacio.