Chester freshmen begin 2014 season with new staff
<span>CHESTER -- With a new staff and new jerseys, the Chester freshman football program heads into the 2014 season in the midst of one of its most successful stretch runs in program history.</span>
<span>Former Chester High School quarterback Jake Cowan takes over as coach and offensive coordinator, while new assistant coach Chase Caron will call the defense.</span>
<span>The Yellow Jackets are three years removed from their last Black Diamond Conference title in 2011 and are 29-5 since 2009 with runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2012.</span>
<span>"Just make sure we get better each and every day," Cowan said on the team's goals for the season. "We know we obviously want to win games, but the overall goal is to get better each and every rep."</span>
<span>With five straight winning seasons, the Chester freshmen have tied the program record set from 2002-06 under then-freshman coach Jim Howie, who is now the varsity offensive coordinator and head assistant coach for Chester.</span>
<span>Howie led the Yellow Jackets to a 31-8 record in that stretch and is the program's all-time winningest coach with 79 wins in 14 seasons from 1994 to 2007.</span>
<span>At quarterback, Curt Meyer has returned to football after taking a year off and the Chester Grade School alumnus has a talented backfield that includes Wyatt Roth (St. John Lutheran), Nick Heffernan (St. Mary's Catholic) and Jack Hathaway (Chester Grade School).</span>
<span>"I think we're coming together pretty good, working as a team in figuring out the plays," Meyer said. "It means a lot to me to be here on this field."</span>
<span>Brandon Wright and Pierson Lyons are also part of Chester's stacked backfield. Up front, linemen Adam Shipley, Jared Meyer, Brady Kelkhoff, Russ Stallman, Garrett Welker and Alexander Hamilton will lead the battle in the trenches.</span>
<span>Much like it was last season, speed seems to be an asset for the freshmen again in 2014.</span>
<span>In 2013, all four running backs - Chris Lang, Colt Ramos, Jacob "Tank" Golding and Demontae Martin - finished with at least 20 carries, three touchdowns and averaged more than five yards per carry.</span>
<span>"Just seeing all the guys come together has really been something special," Cowan said. "We start with a bunch of individuals and at the start of the season, it's just one team.</span>
<span>"That's all they care about."</span>
<span>Hamilton County had not fielded a freshman team since 2011 and Chester will make the two-hour bus trip to McLeansboro on Aug. 30 for the 5 p.m. contest.</span>
<span>"I know (Hamilton County) runs the spread," Cowan said. "They like to throw it around a little bit, they like to jet, they're going to be quick and a good test for us."</span>
<span>The Yellow Jackets will then return to Chester on Sept. 4 against Vienna-Goreville for the first of only two home dates on the 2014 six-game schedule.</span>
<span>The other home game is against Johnston City in Week 5.</span>
<span>"To come down here and wear the jersey on the field means a lot to us," said Chester freshman tight end and defensive end Clayton Richelman. "We're going to go (to Hamilton County) and see how we do."</span>
Last time against Hamilton County:
<span>Andrew Frazer's 8-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 3.1 seconds left gave the Chester freshmen a 28-24 lead, and the Yellow Jackets hung on for a 30-24 victory after Nick Rinehart's two-point conversion to clinch a share of the Black Diamond Conference crown.</span>
<span>Frazer finished with 76 yards on 16 carries, while Rinehart added 90 yards on 22 carries.</span>