Benton blasts Herrin behind Upton’s record night

Danny Czerwinski
Section618.com

BENTON – It took until week four for Benton to play a home game. Rangers’ senior Wyatt Upton made sure it was memorable, running for a school record 264 yards and five touchdowns, helping Benton to a 35-6 win over Herrin in the SIRR Ohio opener for both teams.

Upton has scored nine touchdowns over his last two games.

In addition to the firsts, with the Rangers moving to the Mississippi side next year, this was the last game between Herrin and Benton in football for the foreseeable future.

The game got off to a rough start for the Rangers. The opening kickoff was missed, rolled off the tee, and gave the Tigers the ball at the Rangers 41 yard line. Herrin could not take advantage and turned the ball over on downs.

As the Rangers have done most of the year so far, they took the momentum and turned it into points. Benton marched down the field for a 10-play, 66 yard, 5-minute drive. Upton began his touchdown assault on the night from five yards out, giving Benton a 7-0 lead after one quarter.

After the Tigers pinned Benton at the one yard line with a punt, the Rangers turned it into a 4-minute, 9-play, 99-yard drive capped by Upton’s second touchdown run of the night. This one was 16 yards and gave Benton a 14-0 lead with 11:06 left in the first half.
The teams traded possessions for most of the rest of the first half. However, Benton was able to use some trickery to end the first half on a high note. Taking over at the Herrin 44 with 49 seconds left in the half, the Rangers pitched the ball to Upton on a run, but he stopped and connected with Grant Owens for a 44-yard pass. Upton later plunged in from one yard out. His third TD gave Benton a 21-0 lead at halftime.

The Rangers opened the second half with a bang as Upton bolted through the line and scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 68-yard run, giving Benton a 28-0 lead.

Herrin was able to stop the 28-point run by the Rangers with 6:56 left to go in the third when Harrison ran in from 4 yards out cutting the deficit to 28-6.

Benton answered with Upton’s fifth touchdown run of the game. He ran in from 9 yards out ending a 5-play, 47-yard drive for the final score of the game.

Upton finished the game with a school record 264 yards on 21 carries, and 5 touchdowns. Uptons has scored nine touchdowns in his last two games.

Benton (3-1, 1-0) has now won 11 straight conference games. The Rangers will host West Frankfort next Saturday at noon. Herrin (1-3, 0-1) will visit Murphysboro next Friday.