SYLVAN HILLS 40, BENTON 35

Easton Snellings hauls in a Drew Davis pass for the Panthers first touchdown

Sylvan Hills (4-1, 1-1) spoiled Homecoming 2025 with a 40-35 come-from-behind win over the Benton Panthers (3-2, 1-1). The seesaw affair saw three ties and three lead changes with the Bears scoring the final 12 points to take the victory.

The Panthers failed to capitalize on advantageous field position throughout the game. The Panthers average starting position was the plus-48 yard line with six of 15 possessions on the Sylvan Hills side of the 50. The Bears, meanwhile, never started a drive beyond their own 31 yard line with their averaging starting field position the minus-19.

Benton senior safety Cordell Payne picked off a Tyler Hampton pass on the Bears first possession and the Panthers turned that into points when Drew Davis connected with Easton Snellings on a 19 yard touchdown pass.

Sylvan Hills answered with a 12-play, 80 yard drive that ended in the end zone on a 24 yard touchdown pass from Hampton to Lakobe Bryant. The PAT failed leaving Benton ahead 7-6.

The Panthers pushed the lead to 14-6 with 10:26 remaining in the second quarter on a two yard Gunner Deaton touchdown run. Deaton carried the final five plays on the nine-play drive.

Benton’s next possession was halted at the Bear 28 yard line when Karson Collatt was stopped short on a fourth-and-one attempt. Sylvan Hills responded with an 8-play, 71 yard march with Hampton scoring on a one yard run. E.J. Duckery ran in the two-point play to knot it at 14.

Benton answered right back with an eight play, 54 yard drive capped by Davis’ five yard touchdown run. Gabe Wilbur, who was five-for-five in the game on PATs, booted the extra point to give Benton a 21-14 halftime lead.

The teams traded three-and-outs to open the second half before Isaiah Howell scampered 33 yards and Chase Isaac converted the PAT to tie the game at 21 with 6:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Benton’s PDC stopped Sylvan Hills on a fourth-and-three from their own 14 yard line at 4:34 in the quarter, setting up the Panthers in the red zone. But on first down, the snap to quarterback Drew Davis sailed over his head and the Bears recovered the loose ball at their 31 yard line. On fourth-and-ten from that spot, Hampton found Bryant alone due to a busted coverage for a 69 yard touchdown and a 28-21 Bear lead.

But the resilient Panthers responded with an eight play, 65 yard drive capped by Deaton’s one yard touchdown run to tie it up at 28.

The Panthers took the lead with 10:47 remaining on a 10 yard scamper by Davis.

But, unfortunately, a fumble at the Bear 12 yard line prevented Benton from going up two scores and the Bears took advantage. Duckery raced 51 yards to make it 35-34. The Bears elected to go for two, but the PDC snuffed out the play and stopped it to maintain a one point lead.

A Benton three-and-out and a booming Dawson Daves punt of 50 yards pinned the Bears at their own three yard line with 3:51 remaining. But the Bears traversed the 97 yards in seven plays with Isaiah Howell busting loose for a 72 yard run with 2:02 remaining to go up 40-35.

Benton reached the Sylvan Hills red zone on their final possession, thanks in part to a 37 yard toss from Davis to Collatt. But a fourth-and-four trick play was diagnosed by the Bear defense and Snellings throwback pass to Davis fell incomplete to secure the Sylvan Hills win.

The Bears outgained Benton 572 to 320. Deaton (15-55, 2 TD) and Davis (17-35, 2 TD) led the Benton ground game. Davis completed 21 of 32 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, adding to his all-time school record of 90 touchdown passes. Collatt (10-107), Snellings (3-57, TD), Corey Anderson (4-46) and Jon Curtis Barger (3-25) led the Panther receivers.

Defensively, Payne picked off two passes – the first two interceptions by the PDC this season. Unofficially, Antonio Shelton recorded 12 tackles, Weston Monson had 10, and Bryson Matyja added nine tackles. Konnor Stephens had two sacks while Noah Roberson collected one sack.

Significant to the outcome was Sylvan Hills converting six of nine fourth down tries, including conversions at their own 28, 19, 31, 36, and 7 yard line. A PDC stop on any of those would’ve given Benton the ball in plus territory. However, the Panthers were only five of eight on red zone chances leaving plenty of points on the field that could’ve led to a win.

After two weeks, the 6-A East conference standings are jumbled. El Dorado (2-0) sits alone atop the conference thanks to a 28-21 win at Marion on Friday. Benton, Jonesboro, LR Catholic, Marion, Sheridan, and Sylvan Hills are all 1-1 with West Memphis in the basement at 0-2.

The Panthers stay at home next Friday when they host Sheridan (2-3, 1-1). The Yellowjackets lost to Jonesboro at home on Friday, 48-42. Kickoff for the Battle of Highway 35 will be at 7:00.