CHS comes from behind, but can’t quite get the win over West Frankfort; fall, 35-21, to land at 1-2 for the season
BY JIM BEERS
Friday September 4 was Week 3 for Chester YellowJacket Football. It was the second game in a 3-game home stand at CHS W.O. Smith Field and the West Frankfort Redbirds came to town. Last year in Week 2 the Jackets traveled to the Redbirds Nest September 12 and fell to the Birds by just 4 points, 33-29.
This year’s game was a real roller coaster ride with both teams having their ups-and-downs. Actually, it was a game that had two distinct halves with WF winning the first half, 28-0 and the YellowJackets winning the second half, 21-7. Unfortunately, the second quarter proved to be the downfall of the Jackets as the Redbirds outscored CHS, 21-0, to create a lead that could never be overcome by Chester.
The first quarter was very close and competitive. West Frankfort won the coin toss and elected to receive to start the game. The Jacket defense was tough and held the Birds firmly forcing a WF turnover on downs at the 9:21 mark.
Chester took over at the 8-yardline and moved the ball to the 48-yardline on two first downs and 8 plays. During that opening run, CHS was paced by Alex Blechle who ran for a first down and nine extra yards on three carries. The YellowJackets were then halted and had to turn the ball over to WF on downs at the 5:40 mark.
It took the Redbirds just 5 plays and they drew first blood on a Lucas Parker 39-yard quarterback keeper for the first score of the ball game. The extra-point kick was good and the Birds led, 7-0, with 3:26 left to play in the first quarter.
Chester responded well on their next possession with Danny Worley taking the kickoff to the 41-yardline for good field possession. TaShawn Palacio ran for six yards on the first play from scrimmage and Chester quarterback Alex Blechle ran for the first down. Palacio ran for another six yards when the YellowJackets’ train was suddenly derailed on a CHS Holding penalty. The Jackets then proceeded to turn the ball over on downs for the second time in the game at the 0:46 mark. When the 1st Quarter ended West Frankfort led, 7-0.
The second quarter proved to be the back-breaker for the Jackets as they failed to score and allowed the Redbirds to score three unanswered touchdowns to take a 28-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
It took WF just five plays to score their first touchdown with one player handling the scoring duties. Throughout the game senior Chris Samples, a 5’10,’ 195 lb. running back proved to be a thorn in Chester’s side. He had the ball for most of the first four minutes of the second quarter and first four plays.
On the 5th play from scrimmage, quarterback Lucas Parker hit Payton Allen for a 19-yard touchdown pass at the 7:56 mark. In spite of a false start penalty, the extra-point kick was good and the Redbirds led, 14-0.
For the second time in the game on Chester’s third possession of the contest, the YellowJackets responded well to start off the possession. TaShawn Palacio caught a great Alex Blechle pass for a first down (7:48). The Jackets then derailed themselves again with a second holding penalty. Facing 3-7, Antony Keeton threw a beautiful pass to Trey McCartney for another YellowJacket first down.
After a false start penalty on CHS, Anthony Keeton hit TaShawn Palacio for a second nice pass. Just when things were looking good for Chester, the Jackets were held for three plays and faced 3-14 (5:38). On the next play, The Redbird defense sacked quarterback Anthony Keeton who fumbled the ball. West Frankfort’s Chris Samples recovered the loose ball and ran it 48- yards for the Redbirds’ third touchdown. The kick was no good, but WF extended their lead to 20-0 with 2:54 left in the first half.
Chester High School Quarterback Alex Blechle, a 5’10”, 185 Lb. senior, not only led the YellowJackets on the field Friday September 4 against West Frankfort Redbirds, the Class 3A, No. 3 ranked team in Southern Illinois, He also led the team statistically. He recorded a total of 142 yards while completing seven of 13 passes and 1 touchdown. He further led the team in rushing having ran the ball 12 times for 55 yards and one touchdown. On defense, Blechle recorded two solo tackles and three tackle assists. Finally, Blechle returned three kickoffs for an average of 16 yads per return. Jim Beers Photo
Chester’s next possession started great with Alex Blechle returning the kickoff to the Chester 45-yardline. On Chester’s first play from scrimmage, they were called for yet another false start penalty. Palacio ran for two yards, but back-to-back incomplete passes had Chester facing 4-8 with 4:32 left in the 2nd quarter. On Chester’s next play, an Anthony Keeton pass intended for TaShawn Palacio was intercepted.
It took West Frankfort just three plays to score their fourth touchdown of the game on a huge 60-yard pass from Lucas Parker to Jase Bennett. The Redbirds led, 26-0, ran for a 2-point conversion and extended the lead to 28 points, 28-0, with just 2:54 on the clock. The first half ended with yet another sack of Chester quarterback, Anthony Keeton.
The YellowJackets came back from the halftime break with a renewed focus and determination to “right the ship” in the second half. It paid off too, as Chester proceeded to dominate the game in the final 24 minutes.
Chester received to start the 3rd quarter. It took just seven plays for Chester to score their first touchdown of the contest. During that possession, Zane Eggemeyer ran for a 1st down and Danny Worley caught a pass for another 1st down. Alex Blechle was back behind the ball calling the plays and threw the 47-yard touchdown pass to TaShawn Palacio for the TD. The extra point kick was unsuccessful, but Chester was on the scoreboard trailing by 22 points, 28-6, at the 9:13 mark.
On West Frankfort’s first possession, the YellowJacket defense was strong and held the Redbirds to eight plays. Facing 4-2, Chester shut the door on WF and the Birds turned the ball over on downs to Chester at 3:24.
To end the third period, the YellowJackets achieved three 1st downs on plays by Danny Worley, Alex Blechle and TaShawn Palacio. The quarter ended with the Jackets on the 9-yard line with a 1st and ten.
To begin the final quarter, the YellowJackets started their possession facing 3-5 at the 11:25 mark. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Alex Blechle scored Chester’s second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard QB Keeper. Blechle hit Worley with a 2-point conversion pass to extend the Chester score to 14 points. The Jackets were within 14 points of catching the Redbirds, 28-14.
Chester tasted success and believed that they could catch and even take the lead over West Frankfort. On the Bird’s next possession (11:10), the YellowJacket defense held WF to just three plays. Facing 3-25, the Redbirds were forced to punt. (9:32).
At this point the YellowJacket confidence was high. Chester fans were on their feet most of the time and stamping their feet in support of the team. It took the Jackets only four plays until they struck again. Worley ran for 7 yards, Alex Blechle scrambled for another 1st and ten, then Head Coach Billy Belton sent in a complicated “trick” play.
Facing 2-12, quarterback Alex Blechle handed-off to TaShawn Palacio, who then unleashed a 21-yard pass to Trey McCartney for the YellowJackets’ third touchdown of the second half, the second TD of the 4th quarter. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and Chester was then within just 7 points of catching the Redbirds, 28-21. (7:31).
With 7:30 left to play confidence was high and the YellowJackets kicked off to West Frankfort. The goal was to stop the Birds one final time, get the ball back, and score again to either tie or win the game.
After the kickoff all was going Chester’s way and it seemed as if the YellowJacket plan was going to happen. On the first play from scrimmage, Chester held WF for a 2-yard loss. Facing 2-12, WF was called for a 5-yard penalty for a false start. WF then faced 2-17. On the next play, WF was called for another false start. This upset quarterback Lucas Parker and he spiked the football in anger. The referee immediately assessed another penalty on WF, this time a 15-yard penalty on the Redbirds.
All seemed to be falling place for the Chester defense to be able to force a punt and have an opportunity to either tie or win the game. Facing 2-37, the Redbirds received a gift from the referees when they called an official time out. The game stopped long enough for the Redbirds to re-group and grab their breath.
On the next play, a Redbird running back broke loose for a huge 1st down run. The ball was now on the Chester 29-yard line with 5:52 remaining in the game. On the next play, quarterback Lucas Parker completed a beautiful, long, “Hail Mary” pass, taking the ball to the 13-yard line and another 1st down (5:25).
On the next play from scrimmage, Parker gained 2-yards on a QB Keeper (4:29). Parker then threw for 4-yards (2-8, ball on the 11-yard line). Facing 3-4, Parker scrambled for another 1st down (3:50).
A false start penalty on WF and then a holding penalty on WF appeared to halt the Redbird advance. With 2:15 left to play, the ball on the 15-yard line, and facing 2-15, the Chester defense was looking good and hopeful to be able to stop the Redbird advancement. The Jackets called time out to further stop the action and talk about the final plays of the game.
Chester then held the Redbirds for three more plays. With 1:07 on the clock, and facing 4-3, West Frankfort called time out. It was a real chess game at this point. CHS just needed to hold WF for one final play to get the ball back. With 0:40.7 on the clock, Redbird quarterback Lucas Parker ran a quarterback keeper for a 3-yard touchdown to put the game away. Both teams played well in those final minutes, but the Birds came out on top, 35-21, for a 14-point win.
On the stat sheets, the game was as close and exciting as the actual game experience! Chester ran 58 plays. West Frankfort ran 55 plays. The Jackets recorded 335 yards (233 passing and 102 rushing). The Redbirds recorded 382 yards (156 passing and 226 rushing). Both teams achieved 15 first downs apiece. On 3rd Down Efficiency CHS was 5-11 (45%) and WF was 5-9 (56%). Chester had two turnovers, 1 fumble and 1 pass interception. WF had no turnovers. The YellowJackets committed 6 penalties for 32 yards while the Redbirds committed 9 penalties for 79 yards.
Chester had three players involved in passing. Alex Blechle completed 7-of-13 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown (53.8%). Anthony Keeton completed 6-of-10 passes for 70 yards and one interception (60%). TaShawn Palacio threw two passes completing one for one touchdown and 21 yards (50%) West Frankfort QB Lucas Parker completed 7-of-10 passes for 156 yards, and two touchdowns.
Chester rushed 28 times or 102 yards and one touchdown. The Jackets were led by Alex Blechle (12 times for 55 yards and 1 TD), TaShawn Palacio (4 times for 22 yards), Rhett Creason (2 times for 19 yards), and Danny Worley (3 times for 15 yards). WF rushed 37 times for 226 yards and 3 TD’s. The Birds were led by Lucas Parker (20 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns) and Chris Samples (11 times for 90 yards and 1 TD).
CHS caught 14 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. TaShawn Palacio paced the Jackets with six receptions for 143 yards and 1 TD. Danny Worley had 3 receptions for 41 yards. Trey McCartney recorded 3 receptions for 38 yards and 1 TD. Zane Eggemeyer had 2 receptions for 11 yards.
WF only had seven receptions for a total of 156 yards and one touchdown. Parker Allen led with 3 receptions for 72 yards. Jase Bennett had 2 receptions for 66 yards and 1 TD and Payton Allen recorded 2 receptions for 18 yards and 1 TD.
The YellowJacket defense made a total of 20 solo tackles, 34 tackle assists, and 2 tackles for a loss (TFL). Trey McCartney led with 6 solo tackles, two assists and 1 TFL. TaShawn Palacio recorded 1 solo, 4 assists, and 1 TFL.
With the loss, the YellowJackets finished with an overall record of 1 win and two losses. Coach Billy Belton said, I am proud of our boys. They played a good second half. They played very proudly and had a lot of resilience after being down, 28-0 at halftime. They really came out strong after halftime!”
The Jackets will host Sparta this Friday September 11 for the 2026 Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division opener.