FOOTBALL: Panthers come up short, Benton remains unbeaten
PINCKNEYVILLE, IL - Pinckneyville took the lead twice in the fourth quarter, but with their defense getting thin near the end of the game, the Panthers were unable to stop Benton from completing a late 75-yard touchdown drive to win 20-16 on another rainy Friday night at PCHS's Quillman Field.
Panther quarterback Colton Nelson threw for a career-high 283 yards, but with the size advantage on the line, Benton was able to hold Pinckneyville in negative rushing yards for the game.
"We threw the ball (Friday) night as often as I usually throw it in half of a season," said PCHS head football coach Tod Rushing. "(Benton) was bringing people, trying to take the run away. I think they knew we were plugging some people in on the offensive line. It's tough enough when you've got young, unexperienced guys in there, it's even worse when they're bringing the house at you."
The game endured a nearly two-hour weather delay after lighting was spotted nearby early in the first quarter.
After play resumed with the score 0-0, Benton defensive back Cameron Rock stepped in front of a Nelson pass and raced into the end zone from 20 yards out with 2:20 to play in the first half. The interception was Rock's second of the game. Rock's pick-6 came on the heels of the Rangers coming up short on a fourth and 1 at the Pinckneyville 10.
"Our own mental miscues early in the game really hurt us," Rushing said. "I think we could have had three scores early, we've done that the first two weeks and were able to overcome it, but we were playing a better ball team this week."
Pinckneyville received the big play it was looking for when Ky Hamilton picked up a blocked 36 yard field goal attempt by Tyler Owens and raced 70 yards for the special teams TD. Nelson passed to Daulton Hubler, who just got the ball over the goal line before it was knocked loose by a defender, converting the two-point play to put the Panthers on top 8-7 with 11:46 remaining in the fourth.
Benton answered on its ensuing possession, marching 80 yards in 9 plays. Dylan Sheeks capped the drive with a one yard rushing TD at the 8:03 mark.
The Panthers struck quickly after that as Nelson completed a 35 yard scoring toss to Hamilton with 6:11 to play. Nelson's two-point pass was deflected but still found the hands of Hubler for a 16-13 lead.
Benton followed with another long drive that chewed up just over three minutes of the clock. Buntin capped the 10-play, 75-yard drive with a two yard TD run. Owens' PAT put Benton back on top with 2:52 to play.
"I'm proud of our offense because when it came down to it, they finished," said Benton football coach Jeremy Clodfelder. "They sustained blocks, they made plays. Running backs, quarterback, receivers made some plays. I was proud of the way they responded."
By the time the Rangers went ahead 20-16, the Panthers had as many as five defensive substitutes on the field.
"That really hurt," Rushing said. "When you're playing young, light in the pants sophomores at middle linebacker, they did a great job, but they never dreamed they'd be out there in that situation and it's tough. I thought we did a great job of coming back and going ahead, but we just ran out of time there."
A bad kickoff gave the Panthers a chance with a first-and-10 at the Rangers' 41, but Austin Myers picked off Nelson inside the five yard line with 2:32 remaining to ice the victory.
"We kind of pulled (our defense) over to the side there and said ok, it's 20-16 now this isn't where you back down, this is where you earn your money with the game on the line," Clodfelder said. "We've got a lot to do to get better, but at the end of the day we're glad to be 3-0."
Benton had 62 rushing attempts, gaining 373 yards (6.1 per carry). Sheeks led the attack with 152 yards on 22 carries. Buntin was 8-11 passing for 95 yards. He also ran for 150 yards on 22 carries. Dakota Cali gained 66 on 14 attempts.
"They're a lot bigger than us physically," Rushing said. "They had a great game plan, they knew they were going to come out and run the ball."
"I feel like if we could limit our mistakes, then we showed tonight that we can play with anybody on our schedule because I think they're probably one of the better teams we're going to see."
Nelson completed 17-of-38 passes, 6 of them going to Justyn Rushing for 83 yards. Hubler (4-56), Hamilton (3-40, TD), Chase Lazenby (1-79) and Dalton Bathon (3-25) also were on the receiving end for Pinckneyville. Bathon led the PCHS defense with 13 tackles, Lazenby had 10. Not a single Panther rushed for positive yardage against the Rangers.
"I liked the way our d-line played, linebackers when they came and got pressure, I know we knocked (Nelson) down a bunch," said Clodfelder. "He's a good football player, he's going to be a dandy. It's pouring down rain and he sticks it in there and throws it really well."
Pinckneyville (2-1) begins SIRR Mississippi Division play in week four when they host the Carterville Lions (1-2).
--Allen Parker of the Benton Evening News contributed to this story.