Official start of 2023 season is Monday August 7 with preview night August 18 and season opener August 25
By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJacket Football Team has wrapped up its off-season training and has begun the official 2023 season with two-a-day practice sessions.
The YellowJackets ended their 2022 season with an overall record of 5-5, and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division undefeated record of 5-0 to secure back-to-back Conference Championship Titles. They then ended their season with a 49-0 loss to No.1 State Ranked St. Teresa Saturday October 29 in the 2023 IHSA State Football Playoffs.
Chester then took the month of November off for rest and recuperation. In December of 2022 the Jackets hit the weight room for strength training and off-season conditioning.
Boys interested in playing football for the 2023 season lifted weights three times a week from December through April 2023, then had the month of May off to rest prior to the start of spring and summer strengthening and weight training.
In June of 2023 the weight room was a busy place once again and prospective players lifted weights and engaged in on-field activities through July. July 29 was the final day of summer workouts.
Head Coach Billy Belton said, “I have been really happy with summer workouts. The boys have worked hard in the weight room and are coming into the 2023 season strong and in shape. Everyone is excited and ready to hit the field for the start of the official season.”
In June and July the YellowJackets had the opportunity to go 7-on-7 with several teams from the area and Belton was happy with what he saw from his prospective players.
With 7-on-7 meetings there is little or no physical contact with the opposition, but quarterbacks, receivers and running backs get a good workout against players of similar standing, and teams get a chance to showcase their defenses. No scores are kept and there is no win-loss record of action.
Coach Belton said, “We played well against some bigger schools such as Murphysboro and West Frankfort, and held our own in all meetings. We also faced Perryville, East Alton-Wood River, Red Bud, and ended the summer facing Murphysboro for a second time. Not many teams were able to score on us and we ran our offense well against some pretty good defenses.”
Numbers have been satisfactory during the off-season at workouts and attitudes, work ethics, and level of excitement have been favorable. To end the off-season entire program reported a total of 52 players, including eight seniors, 14 sophomores, 11 juniors, and 19 freshmen.
Early indications are that the freshmen will dress 19 players, the Freshman-Sophomore Team will possibly dress as many as 30 players, and the varsity has 34 eligible players without using any freshmen.
The YellowJackets began “two-a-day” practices Monday August 7. Morning sessions are from 7-8 A.M. with evening sessions going from 6-8 P.M. “Two-a-days” will last until school officially begins Wednesday August 16.
The Annual Inter-Squad Gatorade-Soup Game will be held Friday August 18 at Chester High School’s W.O. Smith Field. The event begins at 5:30 P.M. with photo opportunities during which parents and fans can come down on the field and take photos of their favorite players.
At 6:00 P.M. the Annual Scrimmage will take place with all three teams, Freshman, Freshman-Sophomore, and Varsity being featured. The price of admission is a bottle of Gatorade.
The 2023 schedule features a total of nine regular season games, four of which are Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division games and five non-conference match-ups. Chester will host five home games at W.O. Smith Field and travel to four away games this season.
Cahokia Conference games include Sparta (away, Sept. 15); Wesclin (home, Sept. 22); Carlyle (away, Sept. 29); and Red Bud (away Oct. 13).
Non-conference games include DuQuoin (home-season opener, August 25); Benton (away, Sept. 1); Freeburg (home, Sept. 8); Dupo (home, Oct. 6-Homecoming); and Warrensburg-Latham (home, Oct. 20, Senior Night).
Home games include DuQuoin (August 25); Freeburg (Sept. 8); Wesclin (Sept. 22); Dupo (Oct. 6, Homecoming); and Warrensburg-Latham (Oct. 20, Senior Night).
Away games include Benton (Sept. 1); Sparta (Sept. 15); Carlyle (Sept. 29); and Red Bud (Oct. 13).
Chester High School Head Football Coach, Billy Belton, observes his players run plays during a 7-on-7 scrimmage against the Perryville Pirates at Chester’s W.O. Smith this summer. Belton was pleased with his players on that night with both the offense and defense performing well. Jim Beers Photo
CHS YellowJacket Quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim, a junior, gets ready to launch another pass at the 7-on-7 scrimmage vs the Perryville Pirates Monday July 17 at CHS W.O. Smith Field. Al-Jassim ran his offense well and had much success against the Perryville defense. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Quarterback Club provided a meal for both the YellowJackets and the Perryville Pirates Monday July 17 following the 7-on-7 scrimmage. Shown here Trevor and Michelle Kelkhoff grill hamburgers and jumbo hot dogs for the post game meal. Jim Beers
The CHS Freshman Team currently features 19 players including (in no particular order): TaShawn Palacio (1), Braxton Hahs (50), Alex Blechle (5), Karim Landeros (52), Ryker Hoffman (35), Trey McCartney (88), Kannon Jany (4), Cameron Albaugh (44), Anthony Armenta (2), Landen Conder (13), Jackie Bess (77), Sam Hall 45), Trevin Eggemeyer (22), Logan McDonald (56), Logan Brace (57), and Kegan Quandt (54). Absent: Kandyn Draves, Zane Eggemeyer, and Victor Fuentes. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School JV Team (Freshmen-Sophomores) includes Caleb Coffey (81), Ethan Colvis (25), Brayden Juenger (53), Trevor Keeton (62), Morgan Miers (70), Tray Peters (16), Jakob Stueve (59), Dennis Vasquez (63), Gage Yankey (72), TaShawn Palacio (1), Braxton Hahs (50), Alex Blechle (5), Karim Landeros (52), Ryker Hoffman (35), Trey McCartney (88), Kannon Jany (4), Cameron Albaugh (44), Anthony Armenta 2), Landen Conder (13), Jackie Bess (77), Sam Hall (45), Trevin Eggemeyer (22), Logan McDonald (56), Logan Brace (57), and Keegan Quandt (54). Absent: Reed reason, Dwerrius Shoemayte, Kandyn Draves, Zane Eggemeyer, Adrian Pareros, and Victor Fuentes. Jim Beers Photo
The 2023 Chester High School Varsity Yellowjacket Football Team consists of eight seniors, juniors and 11 sophomores including: SENIORS Aden Runge (2), Gage Hopkins (10), Korbin Jany (12), Braxton Conder (14), Garret Hopkins (51), Nate Heuer (52), Gavin Cowan (77), and Trentin Eggemeyer (56); JUNIORS Zain Al-Jassim (1), Cayden Brunkhorst (3), Lannin Caron (4), Kolton Jany (8), Devante Palacio (9), Jack Heffernan (17), Justin Hayman (33), Bryton Laramore (43), Gene Bicket (44), Nate Maes (55), Jared Powers (58), Alex Williamson (66), Jaidan Tucker (88), and Logan Jausel (6); and SOPHOMORES: Caleb Coffey (81), Ethan Colvis (25), Reed Creason (23), Brayden Juenger (53), Trevor Keeton (62), Morgan Miers (70), Tray Peters (16), Derrius Shoemate (22), Jakob Stueve (59), Dennis Vasquez (63), and Gage Tankey (72). Jim Beers Photo