Week Six Preview: Harrisburg (3-2)(1-1) at Benton (3-2)(1-1)

by Steve Dunford

Benton football players and cheerleaders visit a BGS classroom during homecoming week.

Both teams enter tonight with identical record.  Benton is coming off a big 47-14 victory over West Frankfort.  Harrisburg  went down to Metropolis and beat Massac County 34-14 without their two top running backs.

I talked to Bulldog coach Gabe Angelly this afternoon.  He said that Hunter Smith is out for the season with a torn ACL.  Division 1 prospect Jordan Bartok played defensively against Massac, but not on offense.

I asked Coach Angelly what the keys of the game will be against the Rangers and he said. “How well we contain number 10 (Benton QB Hamilton Page) will be the key.  His passing game is at a new level.  He put on a clinic against West Frankfort.”

When I watched Harrisburg in game one against Mt. Carmel on film, one thing that stuck out was that Mt. Carmel had to go to the air to move the ball.  As far as when they played West Frankfort, all I can say was it was a different team that played down at Harrisburg than showed up at Johnson Field last Saturday.

Here is one thing that I noticed when West Frankfort played down at Harrisburg.  When they had to go to the air, they were able to execute.

Hamilton Page is going to cause the Bulldogs some problems.  They are not as strong in the secondary as they are at the linebacker position.  I would be one bit surprised if he passes for over 300+ again tonight.  I can also see the Ranger linebacker corps led by Blaine Pankey, causing QB Isaac Crabb some problems as well if he has to roll out of the pocket.

Bartok is going to be limited, but he is key to playing the grind it out style of Harrisburg football.   I say how much he is able to answer the bell will be a huge factor.

I am going with the Rangers by seven.  It seems historically Harrisburg has the Rangers number over the years.  The more the game gets in a shootout, the more it is to the Rangers advantage.

This game will have potential playoff implications.   Tonight’s game could go along way in determining whether each team will be 6-3 or 5-4 on the season.  Harrisburg still has to face Herrin.  Benton will have Anna-Jonesboro staring down their necks on Week 9.  I would not be one bit surprised if the Wildcats will be 8-0 coming into that game.   Harrisburg will face the Carbondale Terriers which has struggled.

Both teams will be in decent shape if they are 5-4.  What will hurt the Rangers is the strong possibility of only getting one point from Pinckneyville and Sparta combined.  Carterville will help Benton.  DuQuoin, Mt. Carmel and Booneville IN will help Harrisburg.

We are in the homestretch of the 2017 season which seems to have flown by.