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Yellow Jackets prepare to take on Mules

Posted August 24, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

The cupboard is not bare by any means.

After a season in which Chester was ranked as high as fourth in Class 2A by the Associated Press and saw senior - and Black Diamond Conference MVP - Jordan Berner sign with Division I SIU, the Yellow Jackets bring back five all-conference selections in 2016.

"The key to the season, and I think any coach would say this, is preparation," said second-year Chester coach Jeremy Blechle. "You get one summer, one chance, a couple of weeks before the first game.

"I think, the first couple of weeks especially, the team that's more prepared, more conditioned, mentally tough, are usually the ones that come out on top.

"Week 1 is who is more prepared?"

Chester brings back All-BDC first team defense selection Jake Golding, along with second-teamers Savion Smith (defense), Wyatt Roth (defense), Chris Lang (defense) and Demontae Martin (defense).

Golding is one half of Chester's "Bash Brothers" at defensive end, with fellow senior Joe Stahlheber at the other end.

The pair combined to terrorize opposing offenses throughout last season.

"The key to this group is getting them to play together," Blechle said. "Teaching them how that it takes more than one person to win football games.

"This group we worked more on building leadership and instruction than any other group I've ever been a part of. Hopefully, it pays off because they do have athletic ability."

Eight months ago, after watching his team fall to Lawrenceville, 34-7, in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs at W.O. Smith Field, Blechle told the Herald Tribune that leadership and discipline were two focuses in the offseason.

"Those were the main focus, outside the X's and O's," he said Monday. "We have installed a couple different programs that has helped in building leadership.

"I think the discipline part, (the players) knew from the start that this would be a zero-tolerance atmosphere. If they can't conduct themselves in a way that would be a positive representation of their team or myself, they weren't going to be a part of the team."

Despite only seven seniors on the roster - all of whom are starting, most on both sides of the ball - Blechle still called his team an "old" team with eight returning defensive starters.

"We're not as young as what it may have looked like," he said.

One of the seniors is making his return to football after taking his junior year off. Logan Wahl (6-4, 210) said he hopes to remember this season for the rest of his life.

"I knew we were going to be losing a lot of size on the line," Wahl said on coming back. "My teammates, Daltyn (Korando), Chris (Lang) and all them have been asking me to play."

"Coach Blechle's been pushing me and I know it's the right thing to do and I wanted to do it," Wahl continued. "I don't know why I took off my junior year, I wish I would have played, but now that I'm back, I love it more than ever.

"I know they need help and I can help them."

Chester will be without recently-graduated Blake Eggemeyer and his 740 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing, but Martin, Golding and Lang are a formidable force out of the backfield.

"This group is extremely fast," Blechle said. "They're physical and they can be mentally tough. So, it's going to be putting all those pieces of the puzzle together."

A big change overall is a switch to a new offense, as Chester is turning away from the Wing T to better capitalize on its speed advantage.

"In a way, I think that worked to our advantage because it isn't the same old offense," Blechle said. "The same repetitions, and since they're learning something new, it made our offseason workouts and practices a little bit more engaging."

At quarterback, Curt Meyer returns after throwing for 988 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Savion Smith, who had 308 yards and seven touchdowns receiving as a junior in 2015, will be one of multiple targets for Meyer to throw to.

"Curt was a sophomore starting quarterback," Blechle said. "He went and got himself into some pretty big games and did the best he could as a sophomore."

With seven seniors, that also means some younger players will have to step up to fill the gaps.

"Wyatt Roth, as a junior, will be fun to watch," Blechle said. "If you go a little bit younger, there's going to be a couple starting sophomores on each side of the ball most likely.

"Drake Bollman and Nick Meyer could see some significant time and significant reps."

Friday, Chester will make the long trek to Fairfield to take on the Mules in the season opener for both teams. Kickoff at the Trainyard is scheduled for 7 p.m.

"Fairfield is very traditional in the things that they do," Blechle said. "We do know that they lost a large amount of offensive players.

"Fairfield's a good team. They always are a good team no matter who they throw out there."

WEEK 1: Chester at Fairfield

FRIDAY:

Chester at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

WEATHER:

Kickoff temperature is predicted to be 81 degrees (feels like 88) with 81 percent humidity under mostly cloudy skies. A chance of scattered thunderstorms is predicted for earlier in the day.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From Chester, take State Route 150 east to the Steeleville T and turn left onto State Route 4. Turn right onto Eden Road and follow it to State Route 154. Continue to follow Route 154 east through Pinckneyville and Sesser and get on Interstate 57 at Exit 77. Follow I-57 north to I-64 east at Mount Vernon. Follow I-64 east to exit 110 and turn left (north) onto U.S. 45. Follow U.S. 45 north to King Street and turn left. Follow King Street to Fairfield Community High School. Total distance: 115 miles (2 hours, 5 minutes).

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