BJH PANTHERS ZIP BY THE ZEBRAS

Camari Leaks scores the first of his three touchdowns in a 48-28 win over Pine Bluff (photo courtesy of Colt Gatlin of Tony Gatlin Photography)

Both Benton Junior High teams kicked off their Central Arkansas Junior High Conference schedule on Thursday with wins over Pine Bluff. The Freshman team (2-1, 1-0) were 48-28 victors over Pine Bluff while the 8^th grade Panthers (2-1, 1-0) defeated Pine Bluff 28-6.

Manny Payne scored on a one yard rushing touchdown, threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to J.C. Camarato, and returned a kickoff 76 yards. Camari Leaks had three rushing touchdowns of 13, eight and eight yards to lead the Freshman Panthers.

The Freshman Panthers took the game’s opening kickoff and marched 56 yards in five plays capped by Payne’s one yard touchdown run. Tyce Lewallen booted the first of his four PATs in the game to give Benton a 7-0 lead.

Pine Bluff fumbled the ensuing kickoff that Parker Street recovered. Six plays and 44 yards later, Benton pushed the lead to 14-0 on Leaks eight yard touchdown run.

Pine Bluff got on the board on their first possession of the game on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Lee Arthur Shelton to Trevion Goodwin to cut the lead to 14-6. Those two would account for all four Pine Bluff touchdowns on passes of 42, 25, 59, and 26 yards.

The Panthers answered right back with a five play, 52-yard drive that ended with Leaks scoring on another eight yard run. The PAT snapped was muffed but Street (the holder) scrambled out and found Oliver Clark in the end zone for a two-point play and a 22-6 Benton lead at the end of the first quarter.

The lead swelled to 29-6 midway through the second quarter on a nine yard touchdown pass from Seth Farmer to Jayden Johnson.

A three-and-out by the Panther defense forced a punt that gave Benton great field position at the Zebra 39-yard line. It took one play for another Benton score, a razzle-dazzle double pass from Farmer to Payne who hit J.C. Camarato in stride for the score.

The Zebras scored on the final play of the first half to send the teams to halftime with Benton up 35-14.

After a scoreless third quarter, Benton dented the scoreboard at the 5:48 mark of the fourth quarter on Leaks third touchdown run, this one from 13 yards out to culminate a 14 play, 84 yard.

After a Pine Bluff score cut the lead to 42-20, Payne returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards for a 48-20 lead.

The Zebras would end the scoring by recording a safety and a touchdown pass on the game’s final play.

Leaks (15-123) and Payne (6-50) led the Panther rushing attack. Seth Farmer completed 9 of 12 passes for 99 yards. Payne (5-50), Johnson (2-36), Camarato (1-39) and Leaks (1-13) caught passes for the Panthers.

Defensively, Nate Wagnon and Carlos Welch led Benton with five tackles, including three tackles-for-loss for Welch. Camarato and Street recovered Pine Bluff fumbles.

In the 8^th grade Panther win, Kaden Hyatt blocked a Pine Bluff punt in the first quarter to give Benton the ball at the Zebra one-yard line where Bennett Bradford punched it in and Brayden Bohanan booted the first of his two PATs.

After a Zebra score cut the Panther lead to 7-6, Benton scored 21 unanswered points on a Bennett Bullard two-yard touchdown run, a Bradford two-yard touchdown run, and Jacob Dixon’s 27-yard interception return for a pick-six touchdown.

Both Benton Junior High teams are back at home next Thursday to face the Cabot North Panthers in non-conference action. The 8^th grade game will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Freshman game to follow.