YellowJackets will travel to Newton for Round 1 of the IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs
BY JIM BEERS
The 2026 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs kicked-of Friday and Saturday October 23 and 24. The Chester YellowJackets hosted the Wesclin Warriors at W.O. Smith Field at Chester High School Friday October 23 at 7 p.m.
The Jackets defeated Wesclin during the regular season, 41-7, on Friday September 18. Both teams meet each year in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division race. Going into the 2026 playoffs, both teams were placed in the Southern Bracket of the Class 2A football tournament. Chester was seeded #9 and Wesclin was seeded # 24.
One fun-fact that media learned the day of the game was that the “C” in Wesclin is a “Hard C” not a “Soft C”. In other words, when pronouncing the team Wesclin, it should be pronounced as if it was spelled “WES-KLIN”.
According to the Warrior’s Head Coach, Nick Hollenkamp, people have been mispronouncing his team’s name and his town’s name for years. He politely asked that the name be announced correctly throughout the game. Both Stadium Announcer Luke Lochhead and Jacket Television Broadcaster, Jim Beers, did try to make an effort to pronounce the name correctly during the playoff game. Both did a fairly good job of trying to break a decade-old habit of mispronouncing the name, “Wesclin”, throughout the night.
Wesclin won the coin toss and elected to kick off to Chester to begin the game. The Jackets were forced to punt on their first possession (10:02). The Warriors faced 4-9 on their first possession and acted as if they were going to punt. Instead they ran a trick play and got a first down. Five plays later, they scored the first touchdown of the game on a 41-yard run by quarterback Jarett Wuebbels. Alex Dickey kicked the extra point and Wesclin led, 7-0 at the 5:34 mark.
The Jackets then used their second possession to run 12 plays in three minutes and finish of the drive with a Zane Eggemeyer 13-yard touchdown run. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and the game was tied, 7-7 with 2:53 remaining in the first quarter. The Warriors finished the first period facing 2-and-13 as the horn sounded to end the 1st Quarter. The game was tied, 7-7.
To open the second quarter, the Jacket defense held the Warriors to four plays and forced Wesclin to turn ball over on downs (10:46). On Chester’s second possession, the Jackets had a good run going! A pass to Danny Worley and a quarterback keeper by Alex Blechle led to back-to-back first downs.
CHS moved the ball to the Wesclin 4-yardline. On the next play, Alex Blechle found Danny Worley for what was thought would be a touchdown pass, but when tackled, Worley fumbled the ball and Wesclin’s Carter Reedy recovered the ball.
The Warrior’s possession was short-lived as Chester’s defense forced another Wesclin punt with 5:44 left to play in the 2nd Quarter. Chester ran just three plays when quarterback Alex Blechle created his own magic and ran a quarterback keeper into end zone for Chester’s second touchdown. Karin Landeros kicked the extra-point to extend Chester’s lead to seven points, 14-7 with 3:18 left in the half.
Some thought the half was over at this point, but both teams would have another possession apiece in the final 3:18. The Warriors took the Chester kick-off to their own 22-yard line. Three plays and a first down later, Wesclin reached a first down with the ball at their own 44 yard-line and 1:49 left to play. Chester’s Trey McCartney blocked what could have been a huge pass play. The Jackets held Wesclin for two more plays, forcing a second Warrior punt with 1:04 on the clock.
Most people thought that the Jackets would end the half with the clock winding down. Coach Billy Belton apparently had other ideas. With just 0:56.6 left in the half, Alex Blechle hit Danny Worley with a nice pass to kick things off. Blechle then connected with TaShawn Palacio for a huge pass play taking the ball to the Wesclin 23-yard line with 27.9 on the clock. On Chester’s next play, Alex Blechle hit Danny Worley with a perfect touchdown pass for a 23-yard touchdown. Karim Landeros remained perfect for the night and kicked his third extra-point of the game. Chester led by 14 points, 21-7, to end the first half.
The game was still anybody’s to take going into the second half. The Jackets were just up by two possessions and the Warriors were still fired up and anxious to receive the opening kickoff. Wesclin had the ball for just two minutes as the Jacket defense held the Warriors to 4-and-7. They attempted trickery which failed forcing them to punt the ball at the 9:58 mark.
On Chester’s first possession of the second half, Zane Eggemeyer, Alex Blechle, and Danny Worley each achieved first downs. CHS moved the ball to Wesclin’s 4-yard line. CHS was called for holding and Wesclin was called for unsportsmanlike behavior on back-to-back plays. Facing 2-and-14, the YellowJackets threw an interception to Wesclin’s Gunner Hutchinson.
On the Warrior’s first play of their possession, they fumbled the ball and Chester’s Ryker Hoffman recovered the ball. The ball was on Wesclin’s 13-yard line at the 6:49 mark, when quarterback Alex Blechle scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown run for six points. Chester was called for holding on Karim Landeros’ extra-point kick. He was successful, but had to re-kick it due to the holding penalty. His second kick was also good. Chester extended its lead to 21 points, 28-7, with 6:40 left in the 3rd Quarter.
The Warriors made good use of their third possession of the second half. They ran five plays capped by a huge 36-yard pass play from quarterback Jarret Wuebbels to Layne Hates. This put the ball at the Chester 1-yard line. On the sixth play, the Warriors drove it across the goal line for their second touchdown of the night. Alex Dickey kicked the extra-point and the Warriors made it a 14-point game again, 28-14, with 42.4 remaining in the 3rd Quarter. It was just a two possession game at this point, and very much anyone’s game to take!
It took Chester just three plays for the Jackets to sting the Warriors again. Wesclin attempted an on-side kick on the kickoff. Chester’s Paxton Beam secured the kick by getting the ball on one-bounce at the 46-yard line. Alex Blechle hit Danny Worley for 4-yards after which Blechle scrambled for back-to-back first downs for CHS. The ball on the Wesclin 28-yard line. On the fourth play of the possession, Alex Blechle found TaShawn Palacio for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point failed. Chester extended its lead to 20 points, 34-14, at the 2:17 mark of the 3rd Quarter.
That is how the period would end as Chester’s defense held the Warriors to 4-and-8 at the buzzer with the Jackets leading, 34-14.
The 4th Quarter was all Chester as the Jackets would hold Wesclin scoreless and add three more touchdowns to close out the game. TaShawn Palacio ended the 3rd Quarter with a touchdown and scored two more touchdowns to start the 4th quarter. He scored two TD’s in less than two minutes.
Palacio’s first score was on the third play of Chester’s first possession. Facing 2-and-10, and the ball on Wesclin’s 35-yard line, Palacio caught an Alex Blechle 35-yard touchdown pass, and scored his second touchdown of the game at the 10:25 mark. Karim Landeros added his 5th extra-point of the game, and CHS led by 27 points, 41-14.
On the Chester kickoff, the Jacket’s special teams held the Warriors at the 25-yard line. On the second play from scrimmage, TaShawn Palacio got a “pick-6” when he picked off a Jarret Wuebbels pass and ran it back for his second touchdown of the fourth quarter. Karim Landeros hit his mark for the extra-point for his 6th of the game. This was at the 9:15 mark and Chester extended its lead to 34 points, 48-14.
The Jackets held the Warriors to 4-and-out on their next possession with the help of a huge Landen Conder quarterback sack! This forced a punt with 7:10 left in the game. The Jackets started on the 42-yard line, ran four plays, and faced 4-7 on the 17-yard line and 0:40 left on the clock. Gage Lynn, a 5’8”, 155 Lb., junior wide receiver caught an Anthony Keeton pass for Chester’s final touchdown of the game. Karim Landeros kicked his 7th extra-point of the game and the YellowJackets won by 41 points, 55-14.
In the win, The Jackets scored eight touchdowns (TaShawn Palacio, 3), Alex Blechle, 2), (Zane Eggemeyer, 1), Danny Worley, 1), and (Gage Lynn, 1). Karim Landeros successfully kicked 7-of-8 extra-points.
Chester ran a total of 60 plays and Wesclin ran 61 plays. The YellowJackets recorded a total of 383 yards (200 passing and 183 running). The Warriors recorded a total of 161 yards (71 passing and 90 running). Chester had 21 first downs and Wesclin had 8 first downs. CHS was 6-11 on third downs (55%) while WHS was 2-5 on third downs (18%). Chester was called for 12 penalties for 167 yards. Wesclin was called for 13 penalties for 91 yards. The Jackets had two turnovers (1 fumble & 1 interception). Wesclin had two turnovers (1 interception and 1 fumble).
The Jackets completed 14-of-25 passes (56%) for 200 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Alex Blechle was 10-of-18 with 173 yards, 3 TD’s and 1 interception. Anthony Keeton was 4-for-7 withn27 yards and 1 TD. The Warriors completed 4-of-16 passes for 71 yards and 1 interception.
Chester rushed 28 times for 183 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Alex Blechle ran 17 times for133 yards and 2 touchdowns. Landen Conder ran 4 times for 27 yards. Zane Eggemeyer ran 4 times 27 yards and 1 touchdown. Danny Worley ran 3 times for 6 yards. The Warriors ran 31 times for 90 yards, two touchdowns and 1 fumble. They were led by Brock Hoffman who ran 13 times for 26 yards.
YellowJacket receivers caught 14 passes for 200 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. TaShawn Palacio led with 4 catches for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had an interception good for a “pick-6” for another 29-yard touchdown. Danny Worley caught 6 passes for 1 touchdown, 77 yards, and he recorded 1 fumble. Junior Gage Lynn had two receptions for 18 yards and 1 touchdown. Zane Eggemeyer had 1 reception for 13 yards and Reed Petrowske had 1 reception for 3 yards. The Warriors had 4 receptions for 71 yards.
The YellowJackets were stellar on defense throughout the game recording 26 solo tackles. 46 tackle assists 1 quarterback sack, and 9 tackles for a loss (TFL). A total of 25 different YellowJacket players recorded defensive stats. Avery Wittenborn led the parade with 2 solo tackles, 5 tackle assists, and 3 tackles for a loss. Danny Worley had 3 solos and 1 assist. Ryland Welge added three solos. Ryker Hoffman had 2 solos, 6 assists, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 TFL. Kanon Jany added 2 solos and 6 assists. Landen Conder had a great night with 1 solo tackle, 3 assists, and 1 Tackle for a loss. Junior Hayden Haslet also played hard with 1 solo tackle, 1 tackle for a loss, and Chester’s only quarterback sack. The Warriors recorded 25 solo tackles, 18 tackle assists, and 1 tackle for a loss.
With the win, Head Coach Billy Belton tied with former Head Coach Dennis Roth for the record for most playoff wins. Roth had three wins and with the win over Wesclin, Belton reached the 3-game playoff win mark to tie Roth’s previous record of three wins. Chester now has a total of eight playoff wins. Belton and Roth each have three and former Head Coach Bryan Lee had two playoff wins.
Coach Belton said, “Coach Roth is such a great coach. He really set the foundation for Chester High School Football. We are just trying to build upon his program. He did so many great things in his time as Head Coach. Any time you can be mentioned with Coach Roth, it is a great honor!”
“I couldn’t do what I have done without a great coaching staff. We have the best staff in Southern Illinois. Of course we couldn’t do it without the players. God has blessed me with great players. Chester kids are hardnosed, tough players. I’m truly blessed and grateful that I get to coach at Chester High School. This is such a great football community!”
Since Coach Belton and his assistant Coaches took over the program, the YellowJackets have made a total of nine playoff appearances. Belton’s teams have also won five conference championships during his reign.
When asked about his thoughts regarding the 55-14 Opening Round victory over Wesclin, Coach Belton said, “It was a great game! TaShawn Palacio own single-season record for receiving yards in a season, His record for last year was 900 yards. He has recorded a total of 945 so far this season.”
“Avery Wittenborn had another really good game on the defensive line. He had 2 solo tackles, 5 tackle assists, and 3 tackles for a loss! He really set the tone for our defense all night. Alex Blechle had another really good night too! He had 133 yards rushing along with a pair of runn9ng touchdowns. Zane Eggemeyer and Danny Worley each had big nights for the YellowJackets offensively”.
With the win in the Opening Round, Chester will advance to face Newton, this Friday October 30, in the First Round of the 2026 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs. Kickoff is 7 P.M.
CHS quarterback, Alex Blechle (3) scrambles for yardage during the IHSA Class 2A State Football Opening Round vs Wesclin. For the night, Blechle ran for two touchdowns, completed 10-of-18 passes for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns, and ran 17 times for 133 yards. The YellowJackets won, Jim Beers Photo
Karim Landerpos (55) kicks an extra-point in the Opening Round of the 2026 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs. The game was Friday October 23 vs Wesclin. Chester won, 55-14 to advance to the Round 1 game at Newton Friday October 30 at 7 p.m. In the win over Wesclin, Landeros made 7-of-8 extra-point attempts. He also kicked-off 8 times for 331 yards and one touchback. Jim Beers Photo
Good sportsmanship prevailed Friday October 23 when Chester hosted the Wesclin Warriors in the Opening Round of the 2026 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs. Chester defeated Wesclin, 55-14, to advance to the Round 1 game this Friday October 30 at 7 p.m. at Newton. Shown here both Chester and Wesclin line up for the traditional post-game handshakes to demonstrate good sportsmanship. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester YellowJackets take the field for possibly the final time in the 2026 season Friday night October 23. The game was the Opening Round of the Class 2A State Football Playoffs when Chester hosted Wesclin. The Jackets won, 5-14, to advance to the Round 1 game at Newton this Friday October 30. Jim Beers Photo