Chesson Leads Ladue to Playoff Win

The high school game of the season will have an encore as Ladue and MICDS won  Class 4 regional games Wednesday.

MICDS rolled to its 47-12 win over Soldan while Ladue needed a huge effort from Jehu Chesson to help defeat Vashon 58-30 at Sumner High School.

Chesson did a little bit of everything, scoring on offense, defense and special teams.

That sets up a rematch of the wild and crazy first round district game between the Rams and Rams on Oct. 15. MICDS scored two touchdowns in the final 80 seconds for a come-from-behind 56-55 victory.

"We are really excited about playing them again," said Chesson, a 6-foot-3 senior. "We know that we have to bring our "A" game, a "B" or "C" game won't be good enough. We can do it though."

The tone of the game Wednesday was set on the first possessions by both teams, which resulted in touchdowns.

Vashon scored first on an 11-yard touchdown run by Tyler Lomas less than two minutes into the game.

That was answered by an 11-yard touchdown run by Daylen Dean, which was the first of four touchdowns for the senior who was starting in place of injured star Deavin Edwards.

Chesson scored his offensive touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Brandon Carr on the first play of the second quarter.

The combination of quarterback Derrick Mitchell and Carlee Hemphill combined for the first of four touchdown passes to cut the Ladue lead to 14-12 (Vashon missed all five of his point after attempts).

Dean followed with a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. The key play of the game came in the final minute of the first half as Chesson returned an interception 70 yards and the Rams had a 28-12 halftime advantage.

"I was spying and just broke for the ball," Chesson said. "Our coaches have emphasized to us that momentum is such a key to winning a game and that was a big momentum play for us."

Mitchell and Hemphill combined for two more touchdowns in the third quarter which was sandwiched by a 12-yard touchdown run by Dean.

The second Wolverine touchdown cut the Ram lead to 35-24 but Chesson returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

"That was the first kickoff return I have ever run," Chesson said. "Shawn Whitley had gotten hurt and I went back there and did what I had to do."

"Jehu has a super game tonight," Ladue coach Mike Tarpey said. "We needed him to have a game like that. He made some big plays and they definitely changed the momentum of the game."

Eric Stuber added a fourth quarter field goal and Dean and Ryan Glazer had rushing touchdowns as the Rams improved to 8-3 on the season.

"The next four days are going to be special and the fifth day is going to be real special," Tarpey said as his team prepares for the rematch against MICDS Monday  night. "We have an opportunity to do it again against a very good team which is undefeated for a reason."