Jackets will host Maroa-Forsyth in 1st Round of 2025 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs Saturday November 1 at 1 p.m.
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJackets Football Team hosted the Nashville Hornets Friday October 25 at CHS W.O. Smith Field to close out the 2025 football season. The YellowJackets soundly defeated the Hornets, 29-19, to end the 2025 season with just one loss, 8-1. Chester won the outright Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division Championship last week by beating Red Bud, 42-18, to end the conference undefeated at 5-0. This was back-to-back conference titles for the YellowJackets.
Nashville came into the game with an overall record of 5-3. The Hornets were a “bubble” playoff team, finishing their River-to-River, Mississippi Division Conference race in 3rd place with a record of 3-2.
The YellowJackets entered the game with confidence and determination and had every intention of winning in spite of facing a bigger school who historically has produced good teams. The score was locked, 0-0, after one quarter of play with neither team able to establish a lead.
The YellowJackets struck first in the second quarter when quarterback Tray Peters found TaShawn Palacio open for a 27-yard touchde0wn pass. Karim Landeros kicked the extra point and Chester drew first blood leading 7-0.
The Jacket “Orange Crush Defense” held the Hornets scoreless throughout the entire first half with great defensive plays. Chester’s Ethan Colvis was tough as nails all night leading the defense with 5 solo tackles, 7 tackle assists, 1 quarterback sack, and 2 tackles for a loss (TFL).
Before the end of the second quarter, Chester’s kicker, Karim Landeros, put the YellowJackets on the scoreboard again, this time with a 26-yard field goal. Chester went to the locker room with a 10-0 lead over Nashville.
CHS Head Coach, Billy Belton, had the Jackets ready to finish the job after halftime. Junior wide receiver and defensive back, TaShawn Palacio, started the 3rd quarter with a huge Nashville pass interception when he intercepted a pass from Hornet quarterback Cole Stiegman and returned it 25 yards for Chester’s second touchdown of the game. It was also the YellowJacket’s third score of the night. Karim Landeros’ kick failed, but Chester took a commanding lead, 16-0.
The early Chester score would ignite a wild and crazy third quarter that would end with a see-saw scoring frenzy with both teams trading touchdowns twice. CHS began the exchange.
Nashville answered with a 13-yard run for a touchdown. The Hornets attempted a 2-point conversion, but the YellowJacket defense said NO and defended the attempt. Nashville was, however, on the scoreboard with Chester in the lead by ten points, 16-6.
The YellowJackets returned the favor with its third touchdown of the night when quarterback Tray Peters, scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. Karim Landeros missed his second consecutive extra-point attempt of the game, however, the YellowJackets extended their lead to 16 points, 22-6.
Nashville continued the 4-touchdown exchange when Cole Stiegman connected with Brantley Kozuszek for a 66-yard touchdown. Once again, the YellowJacket “Orange Crush Defense” defended Nashville’s second 2-point conversion attempt in-a-row. CHS led, by 10 points, 22-12, to end the 3rd quarter.
Just when everything was looking good for Chester, going into the final stretch with a 10-point lead, Nashville kept the touchdown exchange going. With less than six minutes to play, the Hornets stung the Jackets with a 3-yard touchdown run and Gannon Turner extra-point kick to pull within just three points, 22-19.
The final minutes of the game were a bit worrisome for Jacket fans. Then, Ethan Colvis took matters into his own hands and scored Chester’s fourth touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run into the end zone. Chester extended its lead to nine points, 28-19. Karim Landeros put the icing on the cake by returning to his usual beautiful kicking form and kicked the extra point. The Jackets led, 29-19, for the win.
Coach Billy Belton said, “This was a great team win! To finish the season 8-1 is a big deal. I’m so proud of these players, especially the seniors. All three phases, offense, defense, and special teams, stepped up when they needed to tonight to secure the win!”
Defense had some several big stops and three interceptions. The red zone stops were amazing. Coach Danny Roth has done an excellent job with the defense this year. I think we had three red zone stops tonight, two of which were on the goal line. Derrius Shoemate started the second half with a Pic-6 and TaShawn Palacio had two interceptions in the red zone and one to finish the game. Morgan Miers had another huge game with a solo tackle, five tackle assists, and a tackle for a loss. They couldn’t block him.”
In the win, Chester ran 65 plays. Nashville ran 57. The Jackets recorded a total of 330 yards, 206 passing and 124 rushing. The Hornets had a total of 322 yards, 217 passing and 105 on the ground. On 3rd down efficiency, the YellowJackets were 5-of-12 (42 percent). The Hornets were 3-of-10 (30 percent).
Chester turned the ball over three times, once on a fumble and twice throwing interceptions. Nashville turned the ball over four times, once by fumbling the ball and three times when the YellowJacket defenders intercepted passes. Chester was called eight times for penalties for a total of 115 yards. Nashville was called just four times for just 41 yards.
In the win, Chester quarterback, Tray Peters, connected 9-of-17 passes (53 percent) for a total of 206 yards, and 1 touchdown. He was intercepted twice. Nashville’s Cole Stiegman completed 11-of-22 passes (50 percent) for a total of 217 yards, and 1 touchdown. He was intercepted three times by CHS defenders.
The YellowJackets ran 42 times for a total of 124 yards and two touchdowns. Chester fumbled once. Ethan Colvis ran 19 times for 44 yards, and 1 touchdown. He fumbled once. Alex Blechle rushed nine times for 45 yards. TaShawn Palacio ran 4 times for 24 yards. Tray Peters ran nine times for 10 yards and 1 touchdown. Zane Eggemeyer had one run for one yard. Nashville ran 32 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns. The Hornets fumbled once.
In the passing category, Chester had nine receptions for 206 yards and one touchdown. TaShawn Palacio led with four receptions for 106 yards, and 1 touchdown. Alex Blechle had three receptions for 71 yards. Ethan Colvis caught one pass for 26 yards. Trey McCartney had one reception for three yards. Nashville had 11 receptions for a total of 217 yards and one touchdown. The Hornets were led by Brantley Kozuszek who had four catches for a total of 82 yards and Nashville’s only receiving touchdown.
The YellowJackets had a good defensive game with 26 solo tackles, 38 tackle assists, 2 quarterback sacks, and five tackles for a loss (TFL). Ethan Colvis led the defense with 5 solos, 7 assists, 1 sack, and 2 tackles for a loss. Danny Worley followed with 5 solos and 1 assist. Alex Blechle recorded 3 solos and 3 assists. Derrius Shoemate had 3 solos and 4 assists. Tray Peters had 2 solos. TaShawn Palacio recorded 2 solos and 4 assists. Trey McCartney recorded 1 solo, 1 assist, and 1 tackle for a loss.
Other defensive contributors to the win included Kanon Jany (1 solo and 7 assists); Morgan Miers (1 solo, 5 assists, and 1 TFL); Isaac Sims (1 solo and 1 assist; Ryker Hoffman (1 solo and 1 assist); Karim Landeros (1 solo, 1 assist, 1 quarterback sack, and 1 TFL); Zane Eggemeyer (1 assist); and Brayden Juenger (2 assists). Nashville recorded 27 solo tackles, 38 tackle assists, 1 quarterback sack, and 2 tackles for a loss (TFL).
Other Chester defensive standouts included Derrius Shoemate 1 interception and return for a touchdown; TaShawn Palacio two interceptions; and Alex Blechle 1 fumble recovery.
Coach Billy Belton said, “On offense, TaShawn Palacio had another big day. He went over 100 yards receiving (106) with one touchdown. Tray Peters played really well. Alex Blechle and Ethan Colvis really ran the ball well. The offensive line did a great job. We played well against a really good Nashville team!”
In closing, Belton said, “I would like to thank the fans for showing up and being loud. W.O. Smith Field has been ‘loud as can be’ the last two home games. I hope to see everyone this Saturday when we take on Maroa-Forsythe!”
The YellowJackets will open post-season play this Saturday November 1. No. 8 Chester hosts No. 9 Maroa-Forsythe at 1 p.m. at W.O. Smith Field in Chester, in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Football Playoffs.
Ethan Colvis #25, a 6’1″, 195 Lb., senior running back and defensive standout scored Chester’s final touchdown of the game against Nashville Friday October 24. His effort sealed the win giving the YellowJackets a 10-point advantage, 29-19, with just minutes left to play. Colvis also led the defense with 54 solo tackles, 7 tackle assists, 1 quarterback sack, and 2 tackles for a loss. With the win, the Jackets finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 8-1. They also won the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division championship with an undefeated, 5-0 record. Cheser hosts Maroa-Forsyth Saturday November 1 at 1 p.m. in Round 1 of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A State Football Playoffs. Jim Beers Photo
TaShawn Palacio #11, a 6’0″, 185 Lb. junior Wide receiver and defensive back, scored Chester’s first touchdown of the game Friday October 24 when Chester hosted Nashville. Palacio caught a 27-yard pass from quarterback Tray Peters and ran for the TD to give CHS a 6-0 advantage, Karim Landeros kicked the extra point, and the Jackets started the game, 7-0. In th win Palacio had 4 receptions for 106 yards, and 1 touchdown. He also ran 4 times for 24 yards. On defense, TaShawn had 2 solo tackles and 4 tackle assists. He also had 2 huge interceptions. His efforts helped CHS beat Nashville, 29-19. Jim Beers Photo