42-21 victory improves YellowJackets to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester traveled to Carlyle Friday October 3 to battle with the Indians of the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division. It was the third conference game of the season with earlier wins over Sparta, 27-0 and Wesclin, 42-20. The Jackets were successful at Carlyle with a convincing 42-21 win over the Indians.
The Jackets stung first when TaShawn Palacio scored for Chester on a 10-yard pass from CHS quarterback, Tray Peters. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point and Chester led early, 7-0.
Carlyle returned the favor later in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass. The Jacket defense stopped the 2-point conversion attempt and the Jackets had a slim one-point lead, 7-6.
Chester wasn’t finished yet, however, as TaShawn Palacio scored another YellowJacket touchdown on a huge 64-yard pass from Tray Peters. Karim Landeros kicked his second extra point and the YellowJackets ended the first quarter ahead by eight points, 14-6.
The Jackets shut out the Indians in the 2nd quarter, outscoring them, 21-0. Ethan Colvis scored Chester’s first touchdown on a 9-yard run to get things started. Karim Landeros kicked his third extra point and CHS led, 21-6.
Trey McCartney got into the action next with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tray Peters. Karim Landeros remained perfect for the night with his fourth extra points kick. Chester extended its lead to 28-6.
To close out the second quarter, as well as the first half, Ethan Colvis scored his second touchdown of the night on a 6-yard run. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point, his fifth, to both remain perfect for the game, extend Chester’s lead to, 35-6 to end the first half.
The third quarter as a draw with both teams scoring touchdowns. Carlyle struck first on a 4-yard touchdown run. The extra point kick was good and the Indians added seven points to their seven point total. The YellowJackets still led by 23 points, 35-13.
Chester struck again when Ethan Colvis had a nice 34-yard touchdown run to add seven more points to the YellowJacket’s total. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point, his sixth of the night, to give Chester a 29-point lead, 42-13, to end the third quarter.
Coach Belton began substituting players in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. Down the stretch, the only team to score was Carlyle when they scored on a 2-yard run into the end zone for the final touchdown of the game. The Indians added two more points on a 2-point conversion to end the game, down by 21 points, 42-21.
In the win, the YellowJackets ran a total of 48 plays. The Indians ran 74 plays. Chester accumulated a total of 311 yards, 157 passing and 154 rushing. Carlyle recorded 266 yards, 56 passing and 210 rushing.
Chester had a 3rd down efficiency of 44 % (4-for-9) while Carlyle had 50% (7-for-14). The YellowJackets committed two turnovers, 1 fumble and 1 interception. The Indians committed three turnovers, 2 fumbles and 1 interception. Finally, Chester was called for 8 penalties resulting in a loss of 36 yards. Carlyle was called for 6 penalties for a total of 71 yards.
In the win, Chester quarterback, Tray Peters, completed 8-of-12 passes (67%) for a total of 157 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Carlyle threw for 9-of-15 passes (60%) for a total of 56 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
The Jacket’s had eight receptions. TaShawn Palacio caught two passes for a total of 74 yards. Both of those receptions resulted in touchdowns. Trey McCartney caught three passes for a total of 37 yards. One of those three was for a touchdown. Alex Blechle had three receptions for a total of 46 yards.
Carlyle connected for nine passes for a total of 56 yards. One of those receptions resulted I a touchdown.
The YellowJackets scored a total of six touchdowns in their win, three were from passes and three were from rushing. All six of Chester’s extra points were from Karim Landeros’ perfect kicking outing.
Carlyle scored a total of three touchdowns, one was on a pass and two were rushing. Their extra points came from on extra-point kick and the other two came from a 2-point conversion. Chester defended Carlyle’s first 2-point conversion attempts on their opening touchdown.
The YellowJackets rushed 31 times for a total of 154 yards. Three of those runs resulted in touchdowns for the Jackets. Ethan Colvis had all three of Chester’s rushing touchdowns. He ran three times for a total of 130 of Chester’s 154 yards.
Zane Eggemeyer ran five times for 22 yards, Alex Blechle ran twice for 13 yards, Gage Lynn ran once for 4 yards, and Donnie Worley ran once for 3 yards. Anthony Keeton ran once and fumbled the ball for Chester’s only fumble.
Carlyle ran 52 times for 210 yards. Two of the Indian’s runs resulted in touchdowns. Two of their other runs resulted in fumbles which turned the ball over to Chester.
Once again the YellowJacket defense played well and recorded 35 solo tackles (solos), 62 tackle assists (assists), 1 quarterback sack, and 8 tackles for a loss (TFL).
Ethan Colvis led the attack on Carlyle’s offense with 8 solos, 9 assists, and 3 TFL’s. Morgan Miers had 5 solos, and 4 huge TFL’s. Alex Blechle recorded 4 solos and 3 assists. TaShawn Palacio added 3 solos and 10 assists. Donnie Worley had 3 solos and Derrius Shoemate added 2 solos and 3 assists. Karim Landeros had numbers in all four categories including 1 solo, 5 assists, 1 quarterback sack and 1 TFL.
Numerous other YellowJackets contributed to the win with excellent defensive efforts including Kanon Jany (1 solo & 8 assists), Tray Peters (1 solo & 5 assists), Zane Eggemeyer (1 solo & 4 assists), Trey McCartney (1 solo & 2 assists), and Brayden Juenger (1 solo & 5 assists).
Bently Valleroy, Rhett Creason, Reagan Sims, and Caleb Coffey added one solo apiece while Landen Conder (2), Avery Wittenborn (3), Paxton Beam (2), and Reed Creason (1) each added assists. Gage Lynn intercepted one Carlyle pass while TaShawn Palacio and Trey McCartney each recovered Carlyle fumbles.
Coach Billy Belton said, “The boy played great tonight! The offensive line did a great job. Brayden Juenger, Morgan Miers, and Jakob Stueve have done a great job up front. Those three seniors have really set the tone for all the success we have had offense we have had this year!”
“It was good to see Ethan Colvis get going again tonight. He had a rough time last week. He is such a hard runner. Without the great job the offensive line and the other skilled guys have done blocking for him, it would be hard for him to have such great success.”
Tray Peters and Trey McCartney had another big night too. TaShawn Palacio had a huge night getting the scoring started again. He had the two first touchdowns for us again tonight. TaShawn has had 10 receiving touchdowns on the year. That ties the school record for the most receiving touchdowns in a single season. That record is shared by Jim Howie, Keith Kiner and TaShawn Palacio. Hopefully with three games left, Palacio will break that record and set a new one this season!”
“Coach Belton continued, “Defensively Ethan Colvis, Morgan Miers, Zane Eggemeyer, and Alex Blechle all had big nights. Colvis had eight solo tackles, nine assists and 3 tackles for a loss. Morgan Miers had five solo tackles and four tackles for a loss.”
“Zane Eggemeyer has played great all season at linebacker. He is an unsung hero on both sides of the ball! Zane blocks as hard as any player I have ever had and he plays so sound and smart on defense. Alex Blechle was really flying around and hitting people all over the place and he did a great job on returns.”
Coach Charles Colvis did a great job with special teams. Karim Landeros is kicking the ball well! He is 12-for-12 kicking extra points the last two weeks. Not only extra points, Karim kicked a 63-yard punt to pin Carlyle to the 5-yard line.”
“Overall it was a great team win! We played extremely well in all three phases of the game. I am so proud of all of the boys. We are now 5-and-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Dupo is next. This will be a big game. The Tigers are undefeated and coming off a big win vs Red Bud. We will have to continue to play good on all three phases again this week!”
The Jackets host the Dupo Tigers this Friday October 10 for Homecoming 2025 at W.O. Smith Field at Chester High School.
Photos:
CHS senior running back and linebacker Ethan Colvis (25) scored al three of Chester’s running touchdowns Friday October 3 at Carlyle. He scored on a 9-yard run, 6-yard run and 34-yard run in the 42-21 YellowJacket win over the Carlyle Indians. Colvis also led the defensive unit with 8 solo tackles, 9 tackle assists, and 3 tackles for a loss. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School wide receiver and defensive back TaShawn Palacio (11) scored Chester’s first two touchdowns in the Cahokia Conference game against Carlyle Friday October 3. Palacio scored on a 10-yard pass from Tray Peters and then again in the same quarter on a 64-yard pass from Peters. So far this season Palacio has scored 10 passing touchdowns which ties the current record set by Jim Howie, and Keith Kiner. With three games remaining in the 2025 regular season, Palacio has an opportunity to set a new CHS receiving touchdown reco9rd for the school. In addition to being a great offensive player, Palacio also makes a name for himself on defense. In the win over the Carlyle Indians, Palacio 3 solo tackles and 10 tackle assists. Jim Beers Photo
YellowJacket Football offensive & defensive lineman Jakob Stueve (75) a 6’0″, 235 Lb. senior, has been praised by Head Coach Billy Belton for his consistent efforts on the defensive line during the 2025 season. Belton acknowledges his blocking abilities as being most helpful in assuring the success of the running backs so far in the first six games of 2025. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Brayden Juenger (53) a 6’0″, 235 Lb. Offensive and Defensive Lineman for the YellowJackets, has been recognized by CHS Head Coach Billy Belton for being a consistent, hardworking lineman for the Jackets. Belton notes that his senior linemen have been exceptional .in helping the offense execute their plays successfully. The blocking of these seniors is dually noted and highly appreciated. Jim Beers Photo
Morgan Miers (70), a Chester High School senior football player, has been honored by CHS Head Football Coach Billy Belton, for his excellent work on the CHS Offensive and Defensive lines. Miers, a senior, 6’0″, 235 Lb. Offensive and Defensive Lineman for the YellowJackets is recognized for his good work on the line for both offense and defense. Belton notes that the excellent blocking on offense has help to open the doors for YellowJacket running backs all season and much of the running back’s success can be attributed to the senior leadership and blocking. Jim Beers Photo