BENTON 49, WEST MEMPHIS 19

Friday night, the Benton Panthers took care of business by dispatching the West Memphis Blue Devils 49-19 at Hamilton-Schultz Field. The win improves the Panthers to 7-2 overall, 5-1 in the 6-A East and allows them to keep pace with Sylvan Hills for at least a share of the conference championship.

Panther senior safety Cordell Payne forced a fumble on West Memphis’ third snap of the game that Benton turned into points in just one play when Drew Davis connected with Karson Collatt on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Gabe Wilbur’s extra point gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 9:42 remaining in the first quarter.

The Panthers pushed the lead to 14-0 with 13 seconds left in the first quarter on a 9-play, 69-yard drive culminated with a Davis to Will Carter TD pass of 19 yards.

Benton extended the lead to 21-0 with 7:11 left in the first half when Davis and Carter hooked up again, this time on an 18-yard touchdown.

The Blue Devils cut the lead to 21-7 with 2:52 remaining in the first half on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that finished with Carlos Williams’ 14-yard touchdown run.

Benton answered the score when Davis found Collatt for a 13-yard touchdown pass to go up 28-7.

West Memphis’ ensuing possession saw Noah Roberson force a fumble that Bryson Matyja recovered to set up the Panthers at the Blue Devil 17-yard line. One play later, Collatt took a swing pass and fired downfield to a wide-open Will Carter for the touchdown and a 35-7 lead.

The final drive of the first half was truly tricky for a game played on Halloween night. Blue Devil quarterback Andrew Clay broke loose on a 50-yard run to set up the Devils at the Panther 30-yard line. Clay was injured at the end of the run and left the game, replaced by Micah Ingle who’s first pass was picked off by Corey Anderson and returned 85 yards for an apparent pick-six. However, the officials flagged the Panthers for roughing the passer giving West Memphis first down at the Benton 15-yard line. On the final play of the first half, Williams caught a pass and raced to the end zone and the teams went to halftime with the Panthers ahead 35-13.

The opening possession of the second half saw the Panthers go 80 yards, all courtesy of Brenden Murdock on the ground. Murdock ran for 24 yards then busted loose for a 56-yard touchdown run to up the score to 42-13.

Later in the third quarter, Davis and Collatt connected on their third touchdown pass of the game to invoke the AAA Sportsmanship rule and a running clock courtesy of a 36-point lead, 49-13.

West Memphis scored on the game’s final play on a 14-yard touchdown pass to set the final at 49-19.

Benton outgained the Blue Devils 388 to 289. Davis completed 19 of 24 passes for 225 yards and five touchdowns, giving him 110 touchdown passes as a Panther. His favorite targets were once again Carter (8-127) and Collatt (8-85) who both hauled in three touchdown catches. Murdock led the Panthers on the ground with 105 yards on six carries.

Defensively, Weston Monson led the PDC with seven tackles while Anderson and Konnor Stephens chipped in six. Antonion Shelton had two sacks on back-to-back plays in the third quarter while Matyja and Stephens each had a sack.

The Panthers conclude the regular season and 6-A East Conference schedule on Friday at the Palace. It is Senior Night and the always dangerous Marion Patriots (6-3, 4-2) will come to town. Senior Night festivities will begin at 6:30 with kickoff slated for 7:00.