CHS football: Week 5 Jackets improve to 4-1 with 39-16 thumping of Carmi

The CHS Yellow Jackets traveled to Carmi-White County Saturday afternoon April 17 to take on the Black Diamond Conference rival Bulldogs. Under the leadership of backup quarterback Ethan Stumpe, Chester scored six times to defeat the Dogs, 39-16, to improve to 4-1 for the season.

Stumpe was in for Quarterback Dylan Kelkhoff, who broke his thumb last Monday against Sesser-Valier.

Carmi led 8-7 after one quarter of play, but the Yellow Jackets ground out 19 points in the second quarter and held the Bulldogs scoreless to lead, 26-8 at halftime. In the third, Carmi shut out the Jackets, 8-0, but still trailed by 10 points, 26-10, going into the fourth quarter. Down the stretch, Chester outscored Carmi-White County, 13-0.

Key players for the Yellow Jackets included Ethan Stumpe who threw 149 yards; Jordan Merideth who ran for 95 yards and Cooper Eggemeyer who had 113 yards receiving. Carmi's Ty Stubblefield recorded 25 yards receiving. The rest of the Bulldogs team rushed for 203 yards and the rest of the Carmi squad had 47 yards passing.

Chester Coach Billy Belton had compliments for every phase of the game.

"It was just an all-around great team win," he enthused. "It's always hard to go across the state and play a game, but the boys were ready. I am very proud of the boys. They just keep fighting and playing hard!"

With the win Chester improves to an overall record of 4-1 and an identical Black Diamond Conference record of 4-1. The Jackets will close out the 2021 season this Friday, April 23 when they host the Christopher Bearcats at 7 p.m. It will be "Senior Night" at W.O. Smith Field. Senior football players and cheerleaders will be honored at 6:30 p.m. during pregame; while the marching band and dance team seniors will be honored at halftime.

In the win, Chester ran 55 plays vs. Carmi's 61 plays, but the Jackets had more total yards - 312 yards to Carmi's 265 yards. The Chester offense was balanced, with 149 yards passing and 163 yards rushing. Carmi, on the other hand, stayed mostly on the ground, with 218 yards rushing and 47 yards passing.

The Yellow Jackets had 15 first downs and the Bulldogs recorded 13 first downs. Regarding 3rd down efficiency, CHS was 4 for 11 or 36%, while Carmi was 2 of 12 or 17%. On 4th down efficiency the Jackets were 2 for 3 for 67% and the Dogs were 2 for 6 for 33%.

Chester played a clean game, with five penalties and no turnovers. The Bulldogs by contrast had three fumbles lost and six penalties.

Coach Belton handed out postgame kudos. "Aiden Kennon scored a big TD late to put the game out of reach," he said. "And the defense did a good job of keeping the Bulldogs out of the end zone.

"Hayden Gendron had a great game blocking a punt, getting a couple of sacks and several good tackles. Tyler Holm played great on the d-line and Isaac Jany played really well. Nate Heffernan and Jared Landeros played great in the secondary and Jacob Cowell had another big game with a bunch of tackles."

Belton said special teams did a great job controlling field position for the Jackets all game long.

"Ethan Stumpe and Cooper Eggemeyer had a big day. The offense played really well. We were balanced and did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage."

Game highlights

1st quarter scoring

Stumpe hits Cooper Eggemeyer for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Jared Landeros kick is good. CHS 7-0.

4-yard touchdown run by Bulldog Kit Harris. Ty Stubblefield runs for two-point conversion. CWC 8-7.

2nd quarter scoring

Stumpe hits Eggemeyer again for 39-yard TD pass. Kick misses. CHS 13-8.

Stumpe hits Jordan Merideth with 36-yard TD pass. Two-point conversion fails. CHS 19-8.

Merideth runs 16 yards into end zone. Landeros' kick is good. CHS 26-8

3rd quarter scoring

Bulldogs get a safety. CHS 26-10.

Bulldogs core on 2-yard run. Two-point conversion fails. CHS 26-16.

4th quarter scoring

Stumpe hits Eggemeyer for the third time with a 54-yard TD pass. Extra point misses. CHS 32-16.

Running back Aidan Kennon runs for 29 yards and a TD. Kick is good. CHS 39-16.

Passing

Stumpe completed 7 of 14, including four TD throws, for 149 yards. CWC completed 4 of 12 passes for 47 yards.

Running

CHS ran 37 times for 163 yards, led by Jordan Merideth who ran 16 times for 95 yards and 1 TD. Aidan Kennon ran four times for 32 yards and 1 TD. Lucas Rader went 5 for 17; Jacob Cowell, 3 for 9; Daigen Hunter, 2 for 8; Ethan Stumpe, 1 for -6. The rest of the team: 6 for 8.

Receiving

Cooper Eggemeyer who caught six passes for 113 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jordan Merideth caught one touchdown pass for 36 yards.

Kicking

Jared Landeros had seven kickoffs for 239 yards, three punts averaging 41 yards, and three extra-point kicks.

Defense

Jackets had 26 solo tackles and 42 tackle assists. Tyler Holm had four solo tackles and four assists; Jared Landeros, 4 solo tackles; Jacob Cowell, 3 solos and 7 assists; Daigen Hunter, 2 solos and 3 assists; Isaac Jany, 2 solo tackles and 8 assists; Nate Heffernan, 2 solos and 3 assists; Lucas Rader (1 solo, 2 assists); Nate Fricke (1 solo, 1 assist); Jacob Copple (1 solo, 1 assist); Brendan Baughman (1 solo); Justin Clendenin (1 assist); Bradley Ruch (1 assist); and the rest of the team (5 solos and 10 tackle assists).