Yellow Jacket football begins contact practice

Chester football is joining the rest of prep players in Illinois high schools in holding "contact" practices for 20 days over the next six weeks.

Prep football has been postponed to spring, but the IHSA is giving teams a chance to practice with contact for a limited number of days, to keep the cobwebs from forming. They are allowed to have 20 days of contact practice between Sept. 7 and Oct. 31.

Head Coach Billy Belton said the team is working out three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the CHS practice field. IHSA allows two-hour workouts, but most days they are practicing from 6-7:30 p.m.

"The boys have been showing up and are very excited to be back on the gridiron once again," Belton said. "Most are in decent shape and are really working hard throughout the sessions."

He explained that even though the workouts are called "contact" days, COVID-19 restrictions don't allow for the players to have physical contact with one another. Instead, "contact" refers to coaches being able to have contact with the players.

Belton said the defense has been working with Coach Charlie Colvis, using the two-man sled, hitting bags and blocking stations. He said quarterbacks Dylan Kelkhoff and Ethen Stumpe, have been pretty accurate with their passes to the wide receivers, and all players are working on ball security.

Coaches Trevor Kelkhoff and Curt Eggemeyer are providing direction and education each evening during the sessions and mentor all players.

"Everyone has been working hard and with a lot of energy," Belton said. "The seniors are offering great leadership to the underclassmen and Coach Jake Cowan is teaching the freshmen the ropes.

"Right now we are very happy with the boys and their enthusiasm."

Chester opens the regular season on Feb. 15 and Belton says that the first game will likely be the first weekend in March 2021, probably on a Saturday afternoon.

"We will be ready in March," he promised, despite the lack of direct contact among players, or tackling or head-to-head blocking.

"We must wear masks and have to social distance, but for now, we are thankful to be on the field preparing for what is to come!"