Danny Czerwinski
Section618.com

METROPOLIS – With a showdown looming next week with Murphysboro for the SIRR Ohio championship, the Benton Rangers took care of their business this week winning at Massac County 57-14, clinching a playoff spot in the process with their sixth win of the season.

Veterans and young players in all phases and sides of the football played key roles in the Rangers’ rout.

Phase one of the work was on the defensive side for the Rangers. After stopping the Patriots on downs, Benton scored on its first drive of the game. The key play of this drive was a 4th and 5 conversion from their own 48 courtesy a Tiffin Kouzousek to Lukas Wilson 47 yard pass. This set up their first touchdown as Kouzousek ran in from two yards out to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

As with the first, the second quarter scoring was all Benton. Both defenses forced the other team to punt or turn the ball over on several drives in a row. However, the Rangers found their groove on a drive with five minutes left in the first half. Benton went 62 yards in eight plays capped by an AJ Craven 20-yard touchdown run giving the Rangers a 14-0 lead with 2:09 left in the half.

An efficient Benton drive to end the half kind of started to seal the game. The Rangers covered 75 yards in six plays in just a minute, ending with a Kozouzek to Lukas Wilson 5-yard touchdown pass for a 21-0 lead at the half.

If you like offense, the third quarter was for you. The teams combined to score five touchdowns in the quarter.

The first was Massac County getting a 70 yard touchdown pass from Brody Smallman to Kris Garnett cutting the deficit to 21-6.

However, the Rangers answered with a drive of their own ending with a Jacob Kinsman 20-yard touchdown run. With 6:57 left in the third quarter, Benton led 28-6.

After a stop on downs, the Rangers scored again. Wyatt Upton returned to the scoring column with a 28-yard touchdown run to put Benton up 35-6 with 3:55 left in the third quarter.

Jacob Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Patriots back within 35-14 with 3:39 left in the third quarter.

The Rangers ended the barrage of scoring in the quarter with a 35-yard Kozouzek to Wilson touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion made it 43-14 Benton at the end of three quarters.

The Rangers added two more touchdowns in the fourth with Upton scoring on an 8-yard TD run and Kouzouzek connecting with Schafer for an 8-yard TD pass.

Benton improves to 6-1, 4-0 in Ohio Division play. The Rangers have now won 14 straight conference games. They will host Murphysboro next Friday night with the outright Ohio Division Championship on the line.

Massac County drops to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in Ohio Division play. The Patriots will host West Frankfort next Friday.