Football Jackets improve to 3-2 with 28-20 win over Johnston City

Posted September 26, 2018 1:00 am

BY JIM BEERS Contributing Writer

After roaring to a 20-0 lead, the Chester YellowJackets held off a comeback by Johnston City to take a 28-20 win Sept. 21.

The Jackets roared out to a comfortable 14-0 lead in the first quarter on an Ethan Rayburn 94-yard kickoff return to start the show. Rayburn then ran for the two-point conversion. Ethan Bert then took the wheel and scored from four yards out to give Chester another six points. The two point conversion failed, but Chester led 14-0 after one quarter of play.

In the 2nd quarter Ian Reith scored after catching a 35-yard pass from Nick Meyer. The two-point conversion failed, but the YellowJackets led, 20-0.

Johnston City finally got on the scoreboard before the halftime break when Austin Brown caught a 10-yard pass from Indians quarterback Dalton Frick and scored a touchdown. Brown then handled the duties running for the two-point conversion. He was successful and Chester's lead slipped a bit, 20-8 going into the locker room at halftime.

The Indians scored again in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Dylan Fischer. The two-point conversion failed. Johnston City pulled within six points, 20-14 with the score. Johnston City's defense held the Jackets throughout the third period and CHS led, 20-14 after three quarters of play.

Up by only six points the Jackets went to work again in the fourth quarter and scored an insurance touchdown on an Ethan Bert one-yard run to give Chester a 28-14 lead. The two-point conversion failed.

Johnston City struck again before the end of the game on a one-yard Dylan Fischer giving the Indians six more points. The two-point conversion failed. Chester held on to win the game, 28-20 and improve to 3-2 for the season after five games.

"Young guys stepped up when two of our senior linemen went out of the game with injuries and the boys played hard to keep w up with Johnston City," said Chester Head Coach, Billy Belton. "We have played down here and had trouble several times. The Indians are tough."

For the game, Chester ran 49 plays to Johnston City's 57. Both teams were almost identical in total yards as CHS had 256 and JCHS had 252. The Jackets threw for 56 passing yards. The Indians threw for 55 yards. Chester ran for 200 yards while Johnston City rushed for 197.

CHS had 13 first downs and JCHS had 16 first downs. The YellowJackets were 5-8 on third down attempts (63%) while the Indians were 3-10 (30%). Chester did not turn the ball over in the contest. Johnston City had two turnovers (1 fumble and 1 interception). The Jackets had 13 penalties for 86 yards while Indians had 8 penalties for 41 yards.

Chester's Nick Meyer was 3-6 on passing attempts for 56 yards while Johnston City's D. Frick was 5-9 for 55 yards. Once again, very similar stats.

For the evening, Chester's quarterback, Nick Meyer led the team in rushing with 13 attempts for 87 yards. Drake Bollman added 51 yards on six attempts. Ethan Bert ran nine times for 34 yards.

As has been the case the last several games, Chester's opponent had one primary player who was the workhorse in rushing. Dylan Fischer ran the ball 30 times for Johnston City for a total of 170 yards. A. Brown ran four times for 13 yards and D. Frick ran four times for 10 total yards.

Chester's Ian Reith caught two passes for a total of 44 yards. Ethan Bert snatched one pass for 12 yards for Chester. Johnston City's A. Brown caught two passes for a total of 28 yards. M. Bruce had two receptions for 22 yards and D. Fischer caught one pass for a total of five yards.

Chase Colvis continued to lead Chester's defense with six solo tackles and two assists. Ethan Bert had four solo tackles and three assists while Drake Bollman, Tim Hobeck and Ethan Eggemeyer each had three solo tackles recorded.

The Indians had two main men on defense. D. Frick and G. McBride each recorded three tackles apiece while M. Bruce, J, Clark and C. Sawyer each added two solo tackles.

Neither team had a kicking game. Chester punted three times for an average of 38 yards per punt. Johnston City punted once for an average of 33 yards.

With the win Chester improved to 3-2 overall. All games have been conference games. Next up Chester will host Sesser-Valier Friday September 28 for homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.