Benton Academy’s magical season came to an end last Friday in the MAIS Class 1A-Division I playoffs with a 39-20 quarterfinal loss to Prairie View Academy.
“I’m very proud of our team,” said BA head coach Bryan Dendy. “We came a long way throughout the season. I am thankful that our seniors can go out on a good note.”
For a while it looked as though those seniors had one more week in them as they stuck close to PVA most of the game.
Prairie View jumped out to a 13-0 lead after a 61 -yard touchdown pass and a 30-yard touchdown run, but Benton scored on a 54-yard pass from Clayton Saxton to Peyton McGlawn to keep PVA in arms reach at 13-6.
Another Saxton to McGlawn TD connection, this one for 45 yards, gave the Raiders the lead, 14-13, midway through the second quarter.
Prairie View re-took the lead moments later on a 63-yard pass and added to that cushion with a 43-yard pass late in the first half for a 27-14 lead.
Benton scored just before halftime on a 44-yard pass from Saxton to Brett Pierce to pull to within seven, 27-20, at the half.
Unfortunately that’s as close as they would get as PVA scored twice in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
Saxton had 56 yards rushing followed by McGlawn and Dalton Robles with 21 yards apiece.
Saxton also threw for 189 yards and 3 TDs, McGlawn had 155 receiving yards and two TDs, Pierce had one catch for 44 yards, and Cullen McCain had one catch for 29 yards.
Robles and Drake Carpenter both had six tackles.
