YellowJackets finish, 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division in 3-way tie for the 2026 championship
BY JIM BEERS
The Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team closed-out its 2026 regular season Friday October 16 at Nashville, Illinois. The Jackets faced-off with the Hornets for a “buzz-match” with their former foes of the River-to-River Conference, Mississippi Division.
Chester and Nashville came into the game under similar record situations. Chester ended up in a 3-team Co-Championship for the Cahokia Conference title with Sparta-Steeleville and Red Bud, each with records of 4-1, and Nashville was in a 3-way tie with West Frankfort and Benton, with records of 4-1.
Nashville probably had a bit of a tougher schedule than Chester and definitely had a student population much larger than the YellowJackets. Players, coaches and fans in general came into the contest knowing that the Jackets had their work cut out for them!
The Hornets buzzed out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. A 31-yard touchdown pass kicked things off, but a 2-point conversion failed. Nashville then scored again later in the first quarter on a 2-yard run. This time, a 2-point conversion was successful and the Hornets led, 14-0 to end the first quarter.
The same trend continued in the second period with Nashville scoring three points on a Gannon Turner 24-yard field goal. The Hornets increased their lead to 17-points, 17-0. Later in the quarter, the Hornets scored again, this time on a 33-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point kick was successful and NHS led by 24 points, 24-0.
Zane Eggemeyer (7), a senior, scored Chester’s first touchdown of the game late in the second quarter on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Alex Blechle. Eggemeyer’s catch and resulting touchdown broke an almost two quarter shut out of the YellowJackets offense and gave the team momentum and an exciting uplift. Zane also ran the ball twice for a total of a total of 7 yards. On defense, Eggemeyer recorded 1 solo tackle and 4 tackle assists. Jim Beers Photo
Before the halftime break, the YellowJackets ended the shutout when Zane Eggemeyer scored Chester’s first touchdown on a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Blechle. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and the Jackets narrowed the deficit to 17 points, 24-7, to end the first half.
The third quarter was a replay of the second quarter with Nashville scoring two more touchdowns followed by one Chester touchdown. Hayden Kirchner scored the Hornet’s first touchdown on a 24-yard run. Chester defended the extra-point kick. Nashville extended its lead to 23 points, 30-7. That Touchdown was followed by a 33-yard touchdown pass and extra-point kick for the Hornets to further increase the lead to 30 points, 37-7.
Before the end of the third quarter, Chester scored its second touchdown, this time on a 45-yard touchdown pass from TaShawn Palacio to Trey McCartney. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and Chester trailed by 23 points, 27-14, to end the third period.
Nashville added one final touchdown on a Hayden Kirchner four-yard run. The extra-point kick was good and the Hornets led by 44-14, which would be the final score of the game.
In the game both teams ran 58 plays apiece. Nashville accumulated 371 total yards (118 passing and 253 running). Chester recorded a total of 306 yards (158 passing and 148 rushing). Nashville had 18 first downs while Chester had 13 first downs. Chester had a 3rd Down Efficiency of 54% (7-of-13) and Nashville had 38% 3rd Down Efficiency (3-of-8). The Jackets committed six penalties and the Hornets committed five.
In the loss, Chester completed 10-of-17 passes (59%) for 158 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Alex Blechle completed 8-of-13 passes (61%) for 106 yards and 1 touchdown. TaShawn Palacio completed his only pass (100%) for 45 yards and 1 touchdown. Anthony Keeton completed 1-of-2 passes (50%) for 7 yards. Danny Worley was 0-for1 (0%) for no yards and Chester’s only interception. Nashville completed 9-of-12 passes (75%) for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The YellowJackets caught 10 passes for a total of 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Trey McCartney caught three passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. TaShawn Palacio caught three passes for 39 yards. Danny Worley caught 3 passes for 37 yards. Zane Eggemeyer caught one pass for 34 yards and Chester’s first touchdown.
The YellowJackets recorded 26 solo tackles, 42 tackle assists, and two tackles for a loss. Kanon Jany led with 5 solo tackles, 4 assists, and 1 tackle for a loss (TFL). Avery Wittenborn followed with 2 solos, 2 assists, and 1 TFL. Danny Worley recorded 4 solos. Reagan Sims had 4 solos and 7 assists. Alex Blechle recorded 3 solos and 2 assists. Other contributors included TaShawn Palacio (2 solos & 5 assists); Landen Conder (1 solo & 3 assists); and Zane Eggemeyer (1 solo & 4 assists). Reagan Sims recovered a Hornet fumble. Nashville recorded 29 solo tackles, 22 tackle assists, and 6 tackles for a loss.
Chester ended its regular season with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses. The Hornets ended with an overall record of 7-2. Both teams will appear in the 2026 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs.
Chester’s Kanon Jany (50) a senior, led the YellowJackets defensively against Nashville Friday October 16 with 5 solo Tackles and 4 Tackle Assists. Jim Beers Photo