by Steve Dunford

This high school football season has flown by.  It seems impossible that week eight is coming up.

The Benton Rangers 5-2 on the year and 3-1 on the Southern Illinois River to River, Ohio Division, will be travelling to Doc Bencini Field to take on the Murphysboro Red Devils.

Murpry Comes in to tonight’s game with a 1-6 record, and 1-3 in the conference.  Their only win was against Massac County who they defeated 42-20.  They had a heartbreaking loss to West Frankfort 42-36 in overtime.  They lost another heartbreaker to Harrisburg last week 17-14 on a last second field goal.

Here is what Benton coach Bob Pankey had to say about the Red Devils,  “Murphy is playing a lot of young guys. They are athletic but inexperienced. They do have the ability to make big plays. Their style of offense incorporates lots of motion and misdirection, so we have to play defense with disciplined eyes and be assignment-sound.”

Bailey Hopson, along with Cade Thomas, one of Hamilton Page’s favorite targets throughout the season.

Murphysboro Coach Gary Carter had this to say about the matchup with the Rangers.  “Benton is good at what they do on offense. The QB can throw and run and the spread formations makes it even more difficult to defend. The receivers from Benton do a nice job with their routes and catch the ball well. Defensively, I am impressed with their linebackers especially the Pankey kid, he is a good football player. We will have to play well to have a chance to win.”

Jamarr McZeke  can scramble out of the pocket.  The start against WF was either his first or second start.  He liked hooking up Jordan Haskins on that drive against the Redbirds that tied the game up in the closing seconds,  Haskins also ran back the 95 yard fumble in the closing seconds and had an interception.

Braden Caldwell is good both sides of the ball, and shows some senior leadership to this young team.   Sophmore Zane Caraway will be one of the best running backs in the Ohio his senior year.  He is one of the top ones already.  Another sophomore Jake Hoppendstedt, will be a good one as well, and is a significant contributor for the Red Devils.

Benton will have a big advantage on the line.  Offensively, Hamilton Page will have a lot of time to pass.  He could hit 200 yards.  Defensively, the linebacker corps of the Rangers could cause McZeke some problems.

I thought the linebacker corps for Benton and Harrisburg are comparable.  McZeke was 1-5 with two interceptions against Harrisburg.  However Murphy picked up 287 yards on the ground.

This is a must win for the Rangers tonight.  They will not have enough playoff points to get in at 5-4.  It is going to be a war down at A-J next week.

I am going with the Rangers by 20.  This game has the potential to be a shootout.  It is a great atmosphere for High School football and I would encourage you to make the trip down there tonight.

Links

Ranger Stats

https://stats.digitalscout.com/illinois/school/benton-consolidated-rangers-ettes/football/varsity/boys

Story of the Murphysboro-Harrisburg Game from the Harrisburg Register

http://www.dailyregister.com/sports/20171006/prep-football-cowserts-kick-keeps-harrisburgs-playoff-hopes-alive

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.