Danny Czerwinski
Section618.com
BENTON – For the fourth season in a row and the final time in the foreseeable future, supremacy in the SIRR Ohio Division came down to Benton and Murphysboro. The Rangers won the previous two matchups handily, and taking advantage of four Red Devils’ turnovers, Benton made it three straight with a 31-19 win to take the conference title outright on their home turf.
As with all prized boxing matches, there was a feeling out process between the two teams. Benton’s first drive ended with a punt, and Murphysboro turned the ball over on downs.
Benton took its second possession and took the lead for good. It was a 6 play, 66 yard drive that took 3:30. Wyatt Upton scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns from 14 yards out to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead 48 seconds left in the first quarter.
However the scoring by the maroon and white for the quarter wasn’t done. On the very next possession, the Red Devils attempted a double handoff in their backfield, fumbled and Benton recovered. The Rangers immediately scored as Tiffin Kouzoukas found Upton for an 18 yard touchdown pass putting Benton up 14-0 after the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Benton went with the onside kick and recovered. Two plays later, Murphysboro came up with the interception. The Red Devils took advantage, going on an eight play, 43-yard drive ending with a Devon Clemons’ 5-yard touchdown run to cut Benton’s lead to 14-7.
As the second quarter continued, each team had a drive that stalled. With 2:33 left in the quarter, the Rangers came through on a clutch drive. Starting at their own 25 yard line, Benton went 12 plays, ending with a Jesser Zepeda 32-yard field goal to send the Rangers to halftime with a 17-7 lead.
The Red Devils did not take long to get back within striking distance. On the opening possession of the third quarter, Clemons turned on the afterburners to streak down the sideline for a 67-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, so Murphysboro trailed 17-13 with 10:18 left in the third.
The defenses took over from there until a Red Devils’ special teams mistake opened the door for Benton. Murphysboro fumbled a punt, and the Rangers recovered. Three plays, and 35 seconds later, Upton had his third touchdown of the night, a 5-yard run to give the Rangers a 24-13 lead with 2:17 left in the quarter.
The Red Devils tried to answer, but their drive eventually ended in another turnover as Isaiah Ward picked off a Drew Caldwell pass. For the third time of the game, the Rangers capitalized on a Murphysboro turnover as Upton found the endzone for the fourth time, this time an 11-yard TD run as Bentont extended its lead to 31-13 with 7:00 left in the game.
The Red Devils tacked on a cosmetic touchdown late, but that was the end of the scoring.
As Benton switches to the Mississippi Division next year, the Rangers leave with 15 straight Ohio Division wins, four straight Ohio Division championships, the last three outright.
The Rangers improve to 7-1 overall and finish 5-0 in the conference. They will host Anna-Jonesboro next Friday on Senior Night in the regular season finale.
Murphysboro falls to 6-2 overall and finishes 4-1 in the conference. The Red Devils will host Du Quoin for their Senior Night to close the regular season.