Danny Czerwinski
Section618.com
BENTON – In the seeming blink of an eye, the high football season hit the final game of the regular season. The Benton Rangers rolled to their eighth straight win, a 55-14 victory over Anna-Jonesboro on Senior Night at Tabor Field.
The Rangers and Wildcats have had a non-conference Week 9 date for years. With the Rangers switching to the Mississippi Division next year, this will now be a conference matchup played in week five.
After A-J won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, the Rangers took the opening possession and marched 74 yards in eight plays capped by Jacob Kinsman’s 2-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead 3:23 into the game.
The Wildcats methodically moved down the field, using 14 plays to reach the Benton 1-yard line. The Rangers’ defense turned the momentum as Grant Owens intercepted Payton Denny and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown, putting Benton up 14-0 with 45.3 seconds left in the first quarter.
The scoring wasn’t finished for the opening frame yet. On A-J’s next play from scrimmage, the Rangers sacked Denny, forcing a fumble. Lukas Wilson scooped it up and raced in for a 20-yard TD giving Benton a 21-0 lead after one quarter.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, so 21-0 was the score heading into the half.
The Wildcats put together a good drive to open the third quarter, but eventually turned it over on downs at the Benton 28. The Rangers took advantage with an 8-play, 72-yard drive that ended with Kinsman’s second score of the night. The 8-yard touchdown run gave Benton a 28-0 lead with 6:06 left in the third quarter.
A-J answered with another lengthy drive, this time going 73 yards in 13 plays eating up 7:30 off the clock. Denny found TJ Macy for a 6-yard touchdown pass cutting the deficit to 28-7.
A-J then tried an onside kick, but Benton’s Ryder Watson picked it up and sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown, killing any momentum for the Wildcats, giving the Rangers a 34-7 lead with 10:19 left in the game.
The teams would combine for four more touchdowns, with Benton pulling away for the 41-point win.
The Rangers finish the regular season 8-1 and should be back at home next week in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats finished their season 2-7.