Rangers hold off pesky Harrisburg
BENTON - Fans were treated to an offensive explosion in the second half at Tabor Field in Benton on Friday.
Benton and Harrisburg combined for 63 points, including six touchdowns in the second half. In the end, Benton survived with a 35-28 homecoming victory.
Harrisburg scored 28 points in the second half - surrendering 19 unanswered in the first half - and gave up a 75-yard kickoff return late in the contest that sealed the victory for the Rangers.
Benton senior Ty Gordon deflated the Bulldogs' rally with 5:33 remaining in the game with the key return, coming after Harrisburg had cut the deficit to 27-21 moments earlier on a 50-yard pass play from quarterback Isaac Crabb to Carl Russ.
"He (Gordon) blew coverage on a wheel to give up a touchdown and then immediately comes right back and runs the kickoff back for a touchdown. Way to recover from a mistake and be a senior and be a leader and do what's necessary," said Benton coach Bob Pankey.
Harrisburg answered on its next possession. Jordan Bartok scored from one yard out with just under two minutes remaining resulting in the final outcome.
After completing three straight passes that got the ball deep in Harrisburg territory, the Rangers ran out the clock to ensure the victory.
Benton scored on its opening possession of the game. Quarterback Hamilton Page tossed a 27-yard pass to Bailey Hopson in the left corner of the end zone two minutes into the contest.
A turnover set up the Rangers' second score. Benton's Warren Smothers recovered a fumble deep in Harrisburg territory. Four plays later, Page hit Cade Thomas on a 3-yard pass play. Thomas had a huge receiving night for the Rangers. He caught 11 passes for 185 yards, including two touchdowns. He and Page hooked up on a 68-yard pass play in the third quarter.
A second fumble by Harrisburg midway through the second quarter led to Benton's third touchdown of the half. Taking over near midfield, the Rangers completed four passes and Page finished off the drive with a 12-yard rushing touchdown.
Harrisburg used a 75-yard drive to get on the board to start the second half. Bartok scored the first of his two touchdowns from 12 yards out.
Following the Page to Thomas long ball, the Bulldogs answered when Russ rambled 68 yards to paydirt. Stopping the Rangers from advancing on its next possession, Harrisburg made it interesting late with the 50-yard bomb that cut the Rangers' lead to six. That led to Gordon's heroics that put the Rangers back up by 14 with time running out.
"We made some mistakes early - a turnover, some defensive breakdowns and they capitalized," said Harrisburg coach Gabe Angelly. "The kids came out and played hard in the second half. We got a couple of big plays when we needed them and battled right back in. Hats off to Benton tonight. They made play after play."
Angelly said he was proud of the way his team fought back in the second half. He said the team talked about fixing mistakes at halftime.
"They switched around defensively on us so we made some adjustments on the offensive line. We've been in this situation before and that's what's great about this team. They are just a scrappy bunch of kids that battle," he said.
Benton improves to 4-2 with its final home game against Massac County on Friday. The Rangers need to win two of its last three games to be in playoff contention.
"We try not to talk about it too much. We take it a day, week and game at a time. They know what it's going to take. It's a step closer to where we want to be," Pankey said.
Harrisburg fell to 3-3. The Bulldogs tackle Murphysboro this weekend.<object id="Extra Pictures" type="x-im/image" uuid="911A24FB-2FC6-42B4-A32F-5B709EEB0176"><links><link rel="self" type="x-im/image" uri="im://image/911A24FB-2FC6-42B4-A32F-5B709EEB0176.jpg" uuid="911A24FB-2FC6-42B4-A32F-5B709EEB0176"><data><title><![CDATA[