Football Preview: Season-ending skid won’t redefine Chester’s recent rise

CHESTER >> The first district playoff game in the history of Chester High’s football program ended in soul-crushing fashion, a 31-28 home defeat against Kennett.

The loss in the first round of the District 1 Class 5A tournament capped a disappointing end to a 2021 fall season that started with so much promise and progress.

The returning players on the 2022 Clippers prefer to keep those memories tucked away, but they cannot completely escape them. And they are motivated to redeem themselves.

After a 7-0 start to the year, the Clippers closed out with four straight losses. Three of those setbacks were by six points or less.

The bitter conclusion of 2021 has not overshadowed the impressive strides Chester football has made under head coach Ladontay Bell, who is also the school’s athletic director.

Since the start of the 2019 season, the team has posted a 19-8 overall record. That includes a 5-1 record during the spring of 2021 (the Del Val League did not have a 2020 season due to the pandemic). There’s no question that Chester is a contender to win the Del Val and return to the district playoffs.

“We still think about last year, we know how we ended the season and everything. But now our goal, which has always been our goal, is to go to the state championship,” said Colin Ferrell, a senior safety and running back. “We already went to the first round. That’s in the past and now we have to go to the second round, third and fourth. However many rounds there are to get to that state championship, we need to get there and we’re working hard to do it.”

The Clippers lost their MVP to graduation, quarterback Isaiah Freeman, who threw for 1,559 yards and 15 touchdowns during his outstanding senior campaign. He also rushed for 600-plus yards and 10 TDs. Freeman’s replacement is 6-1, 155-pound freshman Jalen Harris, who has a big arm and advanced maturity. His twin brother, Daron, will see action at receiver and defensive back. Sophomore and varsity newcomer Nahree Melvin (5-7, 160) could emerge as the team’s go-to running back.

Chester is fortunate to have 10 seniors, all of whom started last fall, back on the roster.

Senior Noble Thompson (5-9, 190) is a returning All-Delco linebacker, leading the squad in tackles (89), interceptions (two) and fumble recoveries (three) last year. He also paced the Clippers in rushing with 336 yards. He is joined at linebacker by his twin brother Charles Thompson (5-9, 160) and Jeremiah Gates (5-11, 190), both of whom also play running back. One of Chester’s top strengths is its depth at most of the skill positions, but its defense could be problematic for most opposing teams. Last season the Clippers allowed 14 points or less in six of their 11 games.

“We know we can be good,” Noble Thompson said. “We want to take the feeling of losing those last four games into this year and just get better. We’ve got to stay together.”

Senior Keyon Staples (6-3, 270) is the big man on the offensive and defensive lines. Juniors LaFennis Mays (6-3, 200) and Dominic Toy (6-5, 270) are tall and athletic defensive ends and tight ends. Jabree Davis (6-0, 240) is a returning running back and defensive lineman. David Williams (5-11, 250) and Jerry Young (6-4, 280) are experienced two-way linemen with size and strength.

Senior wide receiver Malachi Holmes (6-1, 165) has potential to be a game changer in the passing game.

Senior Cymeer Brown (6-0, 170) will have an increased role in the running game while also starting defensive secondary. Ferrell (5-11, 170) is a versatile senior safety and one of the Clippers’ leaders. Kesean Chambers (5-9, 135) is also a key member of the secondary.

Other players new to varsity expected to make an impact are senior linemen Dasmen Williams (6-0, 240) and Tony Campbell (6-0, 280), junior defensive back Shamar Williams (5-11, 145), sophomore defensive back Jaiden Holmes (5-7, 150), and sophomore receivers Quamere Cosby (5-9, 155) and Aqeel Austin (5-11, 170).

“We have a lot of seniors and we’ve got to go out with a bang,” said Ferrell, who posted 69 tackles, four sacks and four passes defensed last year. “There’s got to be a lot of hard-nosed hitting. Me, Jabree and Noble, specifically, because we like to tackle. It’s our last chance to really push ourselves to get to the next level. We’ve got to go out like there’s no tomorrow.”