CHS FOOTBALL: Berner repeats as BDC MVP
<span>It's twice as nice for Jordan Berner, as the Chester senior has repeated as the Black Diamond Conference MVP for 2015.</span>
<span>The BDC revealed its all-conference selections on Friday, which traditionally happens once all teams have been eliminated from the postseason. The conference's coaches vote for the selections and the MVP.</span>
<span>Chester grabbed 12 all-conference picks, including six first-teamers.</span>
<span>"Jordan got MVP because Jordan did it all," said Chester coach Jeremy Blechle. "He ran for touchdowns, passed for touchdowns, caught touchdowns and held down the middle linebacker spot for us defensively.</span>
<span>"If you imply the MVP of a team or the MVP of a conference, he would be the person who fits that role perfectly."</span>
<span>Berner has been the Yellow Jackets' version of a Swiss Army knife this season and even had his own formation - the Wildcat - which allowed Chester to use the 6-foot-6, 250-pound, SIU-bound standout's talents to full effect.</span>
<span>Berner finished with 652 total yards and seven touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets, who finished the season 7-3 and 7-1 in the BDC.</span>
<span>Defensively, he led Chester with 78 tackles, 42 of which were solo efforts.</span>
<span>"We had a number of kids deserving of that all-conference award," Blechle said. "If you put together an all-conference team in the Black Diamond, Chester was well-represented.</span>
<span>"I think it's well-deserved, well-earned and I'm proud of the guys."</span>
<span>Other first team selections were Tyler Redeker (offense), Blake Eggemeyer (offense), Garret Hoffman (defense), Jake Golding (defense), Luke Hartman (defense) and Berner (defense).</span>
<span>Second-team selections were Savion Smith (offense), Wyatt Roth (defense), Chris Lang (defense) and Demontae Martin (defense).</span>
<span>Chester seniors Zack Conner and Klayton Owens also received Honorable Mention nods.</span>
<span>"It was heated at times," Blechle said of the all-conference meeting, which was held at Johnston City on Oct. 28. "I felt offensively, we could have gotten a few more on, because if you notice the numbers, they're pretty lopsided in there's a lot more defensively than offensively.</span>
<span>"Our offense was hard to stop at times this year and put a lot of points up, but maybe we could have done better in that realm."</span>
<span>Although coming well short of his goal of 1,000 yards this season, Eggemeyer still finished his varsity football career with an impressive 1,676 yards and 33 touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry for his career, with five games of 100 or more yards.</span>
<span>Looking toward 2016, Blechle could have five all-conference selections (Golding, Smith, Roth, Lang and Martin) to build around, with Golding leading the team in sacks with 8.5 at defensive end.</span>
<span>Add in sophomore Curt Meyer's near-1,000-yard performance at quarterback and the Yellow Jackets look to be competitive again next season.</span>
<span>"Knowing that you have five all-conference kids coming back, that's a great group to build around," Blechle said. "Jake Golding especially being our defensive specialist, he's a guy you've got to build around.</span>
<span>"He's very passionate, very vocal and works hard."</span>
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