Chester remains undefeated, at 4-0 in the Cahokia Conference, and 5-2 overall
BY JIM BEERS
The Chester YellowJacket Football Team traveled to Dupo Friday October 2 to face the Tigers in a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division matchup. The Jackets stung the Tigers 7-0 in the opening quarter, then unleashed a 20-0 second quarter to lead the Tigers, 27-0 at halftime.
After the halftime, the YellowJackets did not let up their relentless attack on the Tigers and outscored them, 14-0, in the third quarter to extend their lead to 41-0 after three quarters of play. Neither team scored in the final period, and the Jackets buzzed out of Dupo with a 41-0 victory.
TaShawn Palacio got things started in the first quarter when he scored the first points of the game with a 53-yard touchdown pass reception from Chester quarterback, Alex Blechle. Chester kicker, Karim Landeros, kicked the extra-point and CHS led, 7-0 after one quarter of play.
The second quarter really helped to seal the win for the Jackets when Chester scored three unanswered touchdowns to extend their lead to 27-0 at halftime. TaShawn Palacio once again began the scoring as he caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Alex Blechle. Karim Landeros miscued on his extra-point attempt, but the Jackets still led, 13-0 early.
Chester’s Trey McCartney was next to score, this time on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Alex Blechle. Karin Landeros was perfect on his extra-point kick for his second of the evening. The YellowJackets led, 20-0.
The Jacket’s third score of the second quarter saw TaShawn Palacio intercept a Dupo pass attempt. Palacio raced 78-yards for a pick-6 touchdown. Karim Landeros was back on track with his kicking game and made his third extra-point of the game. The Jackets went to the locker room with a 27-0 lead at halftime.
The YellowJacket machine did not fail in the third quarter. After the popcorn break, Chester scored again. This time, quarterback Alex Blechle handled the touchdown duties himself as he scrambled for a 15-yard TD. Yes, Karin Landeros drained the extra-point to extend the YellowJacket lead to 34-0.
Chester’s final score of the game came on an exciting punt return by Chester’s Donnie Sabo, a 6’2”, 160 Lb. wide receiver. Sabo took the Tiger punt and returned it 75-yards for Chester’s sixth-and-final touchdown. Karim Landeros kicked his 5th extra-point of the game to give the YellowJackets their final score of 41-0.
Neither team scored in the 4th quarter, but the 41-0 Chester lead was good for the win and Chester improved to an overall record of 5 wins and 2 losses, and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division, unblemished record of 4 wins and 0 losses.
The score sheets really told the story of the game, and how the Jackets really controlled every aspect of the game. Chester won the contest by running just 39 plays in the four quarters. Dupo ran 46 plays but were shut out by Chester’s “Orange Crush” defense.
The YellowJacket offense recorded a total of 240 yards in the win, 176 passing and 64 yards rushing, not to mention a 78-yard pass interception touchdown and a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. Chester’s defense held the Dupo Tigers to minus-12 (-12) yards overall, 14-yards passing and minus-26 (-26) yards rushing.
Chester achieved 12 first downs. Dupo had just five first downs. CHS was 2-of-5 on third downs (40%), while Dupo was 0-for-10 (0%) on third downs. Each team recorded one turnover apiece. Chester had one fumble that was lost and Dupo had one pass interception. The YellowJackets committed six penalties and the Tigers committed five penalties.
Chester quarterback, senior Alex Blechle, completed 11-of-14 passes for the evening (79%), for a total of 176 yards and three touchdowns. Dupo quarterback C. Davis connected for his only pass of the night for just 8 yards. The backup Tiger quarterback connected on just one pass out of 13 (.076%). As a team, Dupo completed just 2-of-14 passes (14%).
Chester’s running game was a bit off for the evening. Quarterback Alex Blechle ran nine times for 43 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 fumble. Danny Worley ran four times for 26 yards. Zane Eggemeyer ran one time for seven yards. Gage Lynn ran once for three yards. TaShawn Palacio ran just once and had minus two yards (-2). Reed Petrowske ran twice for minus six yards (-6). Anthony Keeton ran just once for minus seven yards (-7). As a team, Chester ran 19 times for just 64 yards, one touchdown and one fumble.
The Dupo Tigers ran the ball 27 times and recorded minus-26 yards (-26). C. Dunk (22) ran nine times for eight yards, while the rest of the Dupo squad ran 18 times for minus-34 yards (-34).
Chester shined in the receiving department with 11 receptions for a total of 176 yards and three touchdowns. TaShawn Palacio led the team with five receptions for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Trey McCartney caught three passes for a total of 54 yards and one touchdown. Danny Worley had two catches for a total of 20 yards. Zane Eggemeyer had one catch for 11 yards. The Tigers caught just two passes for a total of 14 yards.
The YellowJacket defense was “rock solid” for the night with 20 solo tackles, 30 tackle assists, nine tackles-for-a-loss, (TFL) and three quarterback sacks. Karim Landeros was huge for the Jacket defense with 5 solos, 2 assists, 4 TKL’s, and 1 quarterback sack. Kanon Jany recorded 5 solos, 4 assists, and 1 TFL. Ryker Hoffman had 4 solos, 1 assist, 2 TFL’s and 1 quarterback sack. Rhett Creason recorded 1 solo, 3 assists, and 1 TFL. Brandon Korando had 1 solo, 1 quarterback sack and 1 TFL. Reagan Sims had 2 solos, and 1 assist. Zane Eggemeyer recorded 1 solo and 5 assists.
TaShawn Palacio had the huge interception which was returned 78 yards for a touchdown. Donnie Sabo had the huge 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. In the win, Karim Landeros kicked 5-of-6 extra points and “kicked-off “six times for a total of 254 yards.
Next up for the YellowJackets, Chester will host Red Bud this Friday night October 9 at W.O. Smith Field. Kickoff is at 7 P.M. The Jackets will be playing for the opportunity to sweep the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division for the 2026 season. Chester is currently undefeated at 4-0 and will fight to achieve a perfect 5-0 conference season.
It will also be SENIOR NIGHT at CHS and all fall sports athletes will be recognized and honored at the game. Football, Cross Country, Trap Shooting, Golf, and Cheerleading will be recognized during pre-game, and Band and Dance Team will be honored at halftime. Volleyball will be honored at a home volleyball game.
Chester’s TaShawn Palacio scored three touchdowns in the 41-0 shutout of Dupo Friday October 2. Palacio scored his first TD on a 53-yard pass from CHS quarterback Alex Blechle. His second came on a 6-yard pass from Blechle. Palacio scored his third TD when he intercepted a Tiger pass and ran it for a 78-yard touchdown. The Jackets improved to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division with the win. Jim Beers Photo
YellowJacket tight end, Trey McCartney scored Chester’s third touchdown of the game Friday October 2 at Dupo when he caught a 23-yard pass from CHS quarterback, Alex Blechle, and ran for the end zone. McCartney helped his YellowJacket team cage the Tigers in a 41-0 shutout. Jim Beers Photo
CHS junior wide receiver, Donnie Sabo (20), scored Chester’s 6th and final touchdown against the Dupo Tigers Friday evening October 2 when he took a punt from the Tigers and returned it 75-yards for a touchdown. The TD helped give Chester a 41-0 win over Dupo to keep CHS perfect in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division. Jim Beers Photo