Meyer's 6 TDs lead Chester past Johnston City

It's been quite the season thus far for Chester junior quarterback Nick Meyer.

Meyer threw for 192 yards and five touchdowns, and added one more on 75 yards rushing, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 47-29 win over Johnston City on Friday at W.O. Smith Field.

Through five games for Chester (3-2, 3-2 Black Diamond), Meyer has 739 yards passing and 372 yards rushing with 19 total touchdowns. He leads the Yellow Jackets in all three categories.

"Nick Meyer made some big plays to stop their momentum early and it just kind of went from there," said Chester coach Billy Belton. "It's his second year in the offense. The offense is set up for a mobile quarterback and being a big, strong kid, he's able to run the ball like a tailback and has the arm of a quarterback."

Chester did most of its damage in the first half, leading 21-6 after the first quarter and 41-12 at halftime. Johnston City (1-4, 1-4) made things interesting by outscoring the Yellow Jackets 17-6 in the third, but the Indians weren't able to get any closer.

"We knew they were going to be a good opponent and they were better than their record," Belton said of Johnston City. "In the second half, we ended up tipping a pass that went for a long touchdown for them."

Calvin Clendenin and Clayton Richelman had big nights as well for Chester, with Clendenin finishing with 84 yards receiving and two touchdowns and Richelman adding 78 yards and a score as well.

In total, six different Yellow Jackets found the end zone against the Indians, with Nick Heffernan and Ethan Bert also recording touchdowns.

"There was a time in the second quarter where that game could've went either way and Nick stepped up and took charge of the offense," Belton said of Meyer. "The seniors have been great all year and they've been fun to coach and have been buying in and playing well."

Heffernan led the team in tackles with 10, while junior Keith Kiner added seven. Tristin Hobeck, another Chester junior, had one sack for a loss of six yards.

As a team, the Chester defense caused five turnovers.

"We're in a good position, we have to fix the little things," Belton said on where the team is at as the season passes the halfway mark. "Still too many penalties and we have to finish drives, but we're in a good place and I feel good about our football team."

Chester will get a big test next week when the Yellow Jackets travel to Carroll Kelly Field to face Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn. The Red Devils easily handled winless Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton, 66-0, on Friday to remain undefeated at 5-0.

"They've got some big linemen, they're very athletic," Belton said of S-V-W-W. "They run a buck sweep offense that tries to overwhelm you at the point of attack.

"We'll have our hands full this week."

Kickoff next Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m.