Heading into last week’s regular season finale, Benton Academy head coach Bryan Dendy knew his Raiders were going to have to be firing on all cylinders to have a chance against powerhouse Humphreys Academy.
The Raiders came out swinging and struck the games first blow on a Clayton Saxton touchdown run.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, returned fire and scored five unanswered touchdowns, giving them a lead they would never relinquish en route to a 50-22 victory.
Benton ends the regular season at 6-4. The Raiders host Delta Streets this Friday in the opening round of the playoffs with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
After Saxton’s early score, HA scored on a 60-yard kickoff return, a three yard run and three long touchdown passes (72, 54, and 69 yards) to take a commanding 36-8 lead.
Saxton connected with Peyton McGlawn on a 45-yard touchdown pass and catch to make it 36-14, but Humphreys scored again before the close of the second quarter on a 30 yard run and led 42-14 at halftime.
Humphreys scored the third quarter’s only touchdown on a four-yard run followed by a two-point conversion pass to push the score to 50-14.
Benton’s Baylor Creel scored the games final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 33-yard run.
Gabe Irwin addded the two-point run for the final 50-22 score.
On the night, Saxton completed 3-of-12 passes for 116 yards with a TD and also rushed for 22 yards and a score on 10 carries.
Creel led Benton with 44 yards rushing, Irwin had eight yards, McGlawn had five yards and Dalton Robles had two.
McGlawn was the leading receiver with 102 yards and a touchdown.
Cullen McCain had one reception for 14 yards.
Defensively, Robles led the way with a team-high six tackles.
Creel had five, Banks Nixon and Aiden Arnold each had four tackles while Nixon had two pass break-ups and Arnold registered a QB sack.
McGlawn and Ricky Powell had three tackles apiece.
