HISTORIC PANTHER SEASON COMES TO AN END IN SEMIFINAL LOSS

A historic  Benton Panther season came to a disappointing end on Black Friday with a 63-45 loss to the Greenwood Bulldogs at Smith Robinson Stadium. The Panthers end the year 9-3 overall.

The Panthers went 6-1 in the Class 6-A East Conference earning them a third consecutive championship, shared this season with the upstart Sylvan Hills Bears. The senior class garnered 29 wins in their three-year high school careers, tying them with last year’s senior class for the most wins over a three-year span in Benton football history.

And to show how much being a Benton Panther matters, look no further than Antonio Shelton. The senior outside linebacker who finished second on the PDC in tackles with 106 refused to take off his uniform for the last night, wearing it, pads and helmet included, on the bus ride back to Benton.

During the year, Brad Harris surpassed the legendary Dwight Fite as the winningest head coach in Benton High School history. The win over LR Catholic (63-0) on week eight gave Harris 84 wins vaulting him ahead of Fite’s 83 wins. Harris’ record at Benton now stands at 87-33, good for a 73% win percentage.

This season also marked the first time in Benton football history that the Panthers have played in four consecutive semifinal round postseasons. To practice on Thanksgiving Day and play on Black Friday has become the norm for the Panthers.

Drew Davis rewrote the record book over his three seasons leading the Panthers at Quarterback. He now holds every passing record in Benton football history, save one (the single season pass completions record of 243 set by Cason Maertens in 2014). Drew finished the season 237 of 357 for 3,496 yards and 41 touchdowns. For his career, the future SAU Mulerider completed 583 passes for 9,366 yards and 119 touchdowns while rushing 185 times for 1,041 yards and 23 touchdowns.

His receiving duo of Will Carter and Karson Collatt also achieved history, becoming the first Panther tandem to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark. Carter, who holds an offer from SAU, caught 63 passes for 1,142 yards and 17 touchdowns, breaking the previous single-season touchdown receiving record of 16 set by Drew Harris in 2014. Collatt, receiving interest from Arkansas Tech and Henderson, caught 67 passes for 1,004 and 12 touchdowns.

And where would the Panthers have been this year without Gabe Wilbur? The junior placekicker was stellar all season, a perfect 70-for-70 on extra points and 11-for-13 on field goals with a long of 49 yards. Wilbur consistently pinned teams deep with booming touchbacks on kickoffs.

Defensively, junior linebacker Weston Monson (118 tackles) and Shelton (106 tackles) passed the century mark. Senior Konnor Stephens led the PDC in tackles-for-loss with 12 while Shelton was the sack leader with 7. Bryson Matyja, Monson and Stephens led the defense with 15 QB hurries each while senior free safety Cordell Payne intercepted 8 passes, including a 39-yard pick six.

Beyond the playing field, this year’s Panthers, and especially the senior class, inspired the entire community through their faith, unity and commitment to each other. While the season didn’t end on the field the way they wanted, the wins they stacked up this season off the field will never be forgotten.