Danny Czerwinski
Section618.com

CARTERVILLE — What a difference a year can make. The talented and experienced Carterville Lions rolled to a 28-0 season-opening win over the youthful Benton Rangers, a near complete scenario reversal and how the game played out a year ago when the Rangers won 23-6.

On a warm, steamy night on their new turf, the Lions were able to use that experience to their advantage. Carterville took advantage of a Benton special teams miscue in the first quarter. After recovering a fumbled snap on a punt, the Lions marched 47 yards in five plays, capped by a four-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Hellreigel to Peyton Bittle. The two-point conversion was good giving the Lions an 8-0 lead with 6:42 to go in the opening quarter.

That was the score at halftime as well. Both teams played a relatively clean first half with very few penalties. Carterville ran 35 offensive plays compared to Benton’s 25, but it was still a one-score game.

In the third quarter, Carterville took advantage of another short field with a quick, three-play, 22-yard drive that ended with Nolan Hartford scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run. The Rangers stopped the two-point conversion. Carterville led 14-0 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions took advantage of another Rangers’ fumble, taking over on the Benton 11-yard line. Two plays later, Hartford scored his second touchdown of the night for a 21-0 lead with 7:28 to go in the game.

The Lions’ special teams came up big once again with a blocked punt. That set up Bryce Smith’s 13-yard touchdown run to put the game completely out of reach.

Carterville (1-0) will head on the road next Friday night to visit Herrin. Benton (0-1) will be back on the road as the Rangers will head to Chester next Friday.