PANTHERS 24, NORTH LITTLE ROCK 7

Drew Davis fires a pass in Friday's win at North Little Rock. With three TD passes in the game, Davis added to his school-record high 81 career TD passes (photo credit, Blake Fogelman of Tony Gatlin Photography)

The Benton Panthers defeated the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats 24-7 in a game that was halted at halftime due to a random act of violence.

The father of a Benton band student was randomly struck by a bullet that seemed to have been fired from outside the stadium. Security, medical and law enforcement help was very quick to respond and transported the injured father to a hospital where he is doing well and in good spirits today. Following the incident, school officials ended the game in the best interest of the safety and well-being of all participants and fans.

The Benton Touchdown Club, Panther football team and entire community lift our mutual prayers for the health and healing of the father. The North Little Rock Police Department has initiated an investigation of the incident.

Prior to the untimely end to the game, the Panthers played well and raced out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.

Benton went 58 yards in just five plays on the game’s opening possession as Drew Davis threw 24 yards to Jon Curtis Barger, 23 yards to Gunner Deaton, and three yards for the score to Easton Snellings. Gabe Wilbur’s extra point gave Benton a 7-0 lead just 1:20 into the contest.

A quick three-and-out by the PDC (Panther Demolition Crew) resulted in an NLR punt that netted just eight yards and gave Benton possession at the Wildcat 20-yard line. The Panthers mustered only one yard in three plays before Wilbur drilled a 37-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead at the 7:58 mark of the first quarter.

The Wildcats went on an extended drive deep into Panther territory on their ensuing possession. With first-and-goal at the Benton two-yard line, the Wildcats were penalized and had to settle for a 32-yard field goal try that was missed.

The momentum seized by the stop turned into points for the Panthers as Benton drove 80 yards in 10 plays culminated by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Deaton for a 17-0 lead.

North Little Rock’s lone score in the game came with 1:33 remaining in the first half when sophomore and University of Arkansas commit Jamari Lee raced 13 yards to cut the Panther lead to 17-7.

But Brad Harris and the Panthers reached into their bag of tricks on the kickoff following the NLR score. Chase Cobb received the kickoff and lateraled  the football to A.P. Lewis who reached the NLR 48-yard line. With good field position, the offense went to work. Davis and Barger connected for 26 yards. Following an NLR sack, Davis hit Snellings for 22 yards before finding Barger again on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Wilbur’s PAT made it 24-7 Panthers.

Davis had a stellar night engineering the offense, completing 12 of 16 passes for 193 yards with three touchdowns (giving him 81 touchdown passes in his career). He also led the ground attack with 49 yards on five carries. Barger (4-69), Snellings (4-63), and Deaton (2-33) led the Panther receiving corps.

Defensively, Logan Hipskind led the PDC with six tackles while Bryson Matyja, Antonio Shelton, Konnor Stephens, and Kasan Wright all recorded sacks.

Now 1-1 on the season, the Panthers return to the Palace on Friday to host the LR Parkview Patriots, the defending Class 5-A State Champions. The Patriots are also 1-1 on the season after suffering a 49-6 loss at Bryant on Friday night. Kickoff between the Panthers and Patriots is set for 7:00.