Jackets finish conference season undefeated at 5-0 and improve to 7-1 overall; likely secure playoff bid
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester YellowJacket Football Team traveled to Randolph County rival, Red Bud, Friday October 17 to battle for the outright championship of the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division. A loss would have likely resulted in having to share the title with Dupo, however, the YellowJackets took care of business and dominated the Musketeers throughout the game and secured the conference outright title by beating Red Bud, 42-18.
In the process, Chester finished the conference season with an undefeated record of 5-0, and improved to 7-1 overall. The win also very likely secured Chester a playoff bid in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A State Championships. When and where the Jackets will play remains to be seen, however, a win over Nashville at home this week would very possibly result in a first round home playoff game.
CHS Head Coach Billy Belton said, “I am so proud of the boys! They have worked so hard this season. To win the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division title two years in-a-row, in back-to-back years is very special. Tonight was a great team win. Everyone contributed!”
“Special Teams played great. Alex Blechle had a great punt return for a touchdown. Kickoff coverage was really good. Coach Colvis has done a great job with the Special Teams group.”
Belton continued, “On offense, Ethan Colvis and the offensive line had a big night. Colvis rushed for more than 100-yards for the 7th time this season. Zain Eggemeyer had a big night with two touchdowns. Trey McCartney and TaShawn Palacio had big night catching the ball. It was just a great night for the Offensive Unit.”
“On defense, Morgan Miers had another great night with a sack and a big tackle for a loss. I really like how the defense was flying around and playing very physically. Jaden Ramirez also had a nice interception late in the game. I’m so proud of the boys! What a great win it was at Red Bud to end the 2025 conference portion of the season!”
In the win, the Jackets established their dominance early with a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. During that statement, Ethan Colvis scored on a 23-yard run and Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and CHS led, 7-0. Alex Blechle scored next with an impressive 58-yard punt return for Chester’s second touchdown. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and the Jackets extended their lead to 14-0.
To close out the first quarters scoring Zane Eggemeyer had a 26-yard touchdown. Karim Landeros kicked the extra-point and Chester established a 21-point lead to end the opening quarter.
The Musketeers managed to score three points on a 40-yard field goal by Brayden Koester to kick off the second quarter. Chester led, 21-3. The YellowJackets answered with a 2-yard pass from quarterback Tray Peters to wide receiver TaShawn Palacio for Chester’s fourth touchdown of the game. Karim Landeros remained perfect for the game by kicking the extra-point to extend the YellowJackets lead to 25 points, 28-3.
Before the first half ended, Chester scored its 5th touchdown of the game on an 8-yard run by Ethan Colvis, his second of the game. Karim Landeros kicked his 5th extra-point of the game and the Jackets took a 32-point lead, 35-3, into the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter both teams would score one touchdown apiece. Red Bud struck first with an 8-yard run, complete with a two-point conversion. That 8-point play narrowed the Chester lead to 24 points, 35-11.
The YellowJackets answered with a 23-yard passing touchdown from Tray Peters to Zane Eggemeyer, his second of the game. Karin Landeros remained perfect kicking his 6th extra-point. CHS led by 31 points, 42-11, at the end of the 3rd quarter.
In the final quarter Red Bud scored the only touchdown on a four-yard pass and extra-point kick. The touchdown was Red Bud’s second. It was the Musketeers’ first extra-point kick. Added to the field goal and 8-point touchdown and 2-point conversion, Red Bud finished the game with 18 points, 24 points less the YellowJackets. Chester won, 42-18.
In the win the YellowJackets ran 54 plays vs Red Bud’s 64. CHS recorded a total of 382 yards (181 passing and 201 rushing) and RBHS recorded 336 yards (268 passing and 68 rushing). Regarding 3nd down efficiency, Chester was 64% (4-for-6) and Red Bud was 43% (6-for-14). The YellowJackets did not turn the ball over even once, while Red Bud turned the ball over once on an interception. Chester was called for nine penalties for 88 yards. Red Bud was only called for 5 penalties for 38 yards.
The YellowJackets completed 13-of-18 passes (72%) for 181 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Peters completed 12-of-16 for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns and Anthony Keeton completed 1-of- 2 passes for 4 yards. Red Bud completed 18-of-30 passes (60%) for 268 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
Chester rushed 30 times for a total of 201 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ethan Colvis led the Jackets with 12 runs for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. Other key contributors included Alex Blechle (3-for-33 yards), Zane Eggemeyer (4-for-24 yards), Tray Peters (2-for-8 yards), and Danny Worley (3-for-7 yards). Red Bud ran 28 times for a total of 68 yards and 1 touchdown.
The YellowJackets had 13 receptions for a total of 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. CHS was led by TaShawn Palacio who had 6 receptions for 81 yards and 1 touchdown. Trey McCartney had 3 receptions for 51 yards. Zane Eggemeyer had 2 receptions for 33 yards and 1 touchdown. Alex Blechle had 1 reception for 12 yards and Caleb Coffey had 1 reception for 4 yards. The Musketeers had 18 receptions for 268 yards and 1 touchdown.
Chester had a good night on defense with 31 solo tackles, 34 tackle assists, 1 quarterback sack and 2 tackles for a loss (TFL). Morgan Miers led Chester with 3 solos, 2 assists, 1 quarterback sack, and 1 tackle for a loss. Ethen Colvis had 5 solos, and 2 assists. Derrius Shoemate had 4 solos, and 1 assist. Rhett Creason had 3 solos and 1 assist.
Other defensive contributors included Zane Eggemeyer (2 solos & 2 assists), Avery Wittenborn (2 solos & 3 assists), Donnie Sabo (1 solo & 2 assists), Kanon Jany, Trey McCartney, Caleb Coffey, and Danny Worley who each recorded 1 solo and 1 assist apiece. Isaac Sims had 1 solo tackle and 1 tackle for a loss. Brayden Juenger (4), Ryker Hoffman (4), Landen Conder (3), each had tackle assists. Rhett Creason, Karim Landers, Paxton Beam, and Reagan Sims each recorded 1 assist apiece.
Jaden Ramirez had a huge interception. Alex Blechle had a huge punt return for 58 yards which resulted in one of Chester’s six touchdowns. Karin Landeros was perfect for the evening kicking 6-of-6 extra points. He also had seven kickoffs for a total of 373 yards.
With the win, Chester improved to an overall record of 7-1, and finished the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division undefeated with a perfect record of 5-0 to with the outright title.
The YellowJackets will host non-conference Nashville this Friday October 24 on Senior Night at Chester High School’s W. O. Smith Field. It will be the regular-season closer. Next week the Jackets will begin post-season action in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A State Football Championships. Times and dates will be announced Saturday October 25 in the official IHSA Selection Show.
Chester’s Ethan Colvis (25), a 6’1″, 195 Lb., senior Running Back and Defensive Linebacker had a great night at Red Bud with two touchdowns and key defensive plays. He scored the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter on a 23-yard run to give Chester a 7-0 lead. He then scored again in the 3rd quarter on an 8-yard run to extend the YellowJacket lead to 35-3. For the night Colvis ran 12 times for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense he led in solo tackles with 5 and added a pair of assists to cap-off a great game. Jim Beers Photo
Junior Zane Eggemeyer (7), a 5’9″, 145 Lb. junior Wide Receiver and Defensive Back had a great game in the win against Red Bud had two touchdowns and a good night on the defensive side of the ball. Eggemeyer scored his first touchdown to close the first quarter on a 20-yard run. That was Chester’s third touchdown of the game and gave the YellowJackets a 21-0 lead after one quarter of play. He also scored the Jacket final touchdown of the game with a 23-yard touchdown pass reception from CHS quarterback Tray Peters. In the game, he had two pass receptions for a total of 33 yards and 1 TD, and he ran 4 times for 24 yards and 1 TD. That second score gave the YellowJackets a 42-11 lead to close the 3rd quarter. On defense Eggemeyer recorded 2 solo tackles and 2 tackle assists. Jim Beers Photo