Visit the Benton Panthers sports coverage home page at www.mysaline.com/benton-panthers-sports – featuring writing and photography by Benton High School students.
The Panthers are coming off a heartbreaking loss in the Semi-finals of the State Playoffs, but Benton finished another very successful season. The Panthers finished their first season in the 6A East with a second-place finish.
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When asked how the season went head football Coach Brad Harris said “Overall I was very pleased with the growth of this team. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t know if we would make a deep run or not, and as the year went on, we got better and I felt like we had a chance to make a deep run.”
We saw the Panther’s offense play at a championship level through most of the season. The Panther defense also played well most of the season, only allowing 31 points in their last game against a well-coached Greenwood football team. Panther special teams also played extraordinarily this season. The Panthers will have revenge in their minds for next year, but for now, let’s look at the season leaders who got the Panthers to where they are now.
JR Braylen Russell runs for a first down against Sheridan. ( Photo by Abi Fogleman )
On the offensive side of the ball, the Panthers put up points in an impressive fashion. The Panthers scored over 50 points in 7 of the 12 games this year. The ground game this year was elite.
Harris added: “The running game was very crucial for us because it opened up a lot of pass alleys, and that allowed wide receivers Mattox Davis, Elias Payne, Logan Owen, and Drake Womack to have success on the outside.”
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In the run game this year, the Panthers were led by JR Braylen Russell who rushed for 1,643 yards and 26 touchdowns on the year. The Panthers were also led by JR Chris Barnard who rushed for 386 yards and 6 touchdowns on the year, he led the team with 10.7 yards per carry. With the Panthers’ veteran offensive line and talented running backs, Benton had little to no trouble running the ball this season, and will more than likely rely on it next year.
The Panther’s passing game was split between 2 Quarterbacks this season, and with a few trick plays, Benton threw for a total of 2,397 yards. SR Jack Woolbright who started for the Panthers at the beginning of the season ended with 770 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. He was doing a great job leading the Benton offense before he got hurt in Week 5. Since then JR Cline Hooten took over for the Panthers and played well passing for 1,278 yards and 11 touchdowns. JR Cline Hooten led the Panther offense to average 47 ppg and ended with a 6-1 record as a starter.
On the receiving end, Benton saw the growth of a talented group from week to week. SO Mattox Davis led the Panthers on the season with 723 yards and 5 touchdowns on 44 receptions. Davis really emerged halfway through the year as a go-to receiver, as he averaged 16.4 yards per catch and 65.7 yards per game. He was followed by SO Elias Payne with 456 yards with 5 touchdowns. SR Drake Womack also played well with 310 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Panther’s run game has really done well to set up the pass and the Panthers have taken advantage of this all year. With a core of young talent, the passing game looks to be bright for the future.
On defense, the Panthers played well and have been a constant for the Panthers. When asked how the defense played this year Harris said “We were not real good early in the season. The back end of our defense on pass coverage had hiccups throughout the year, but we got more sound and didn’t give up as many big plays as the season went on.”
Coach Harris later said “That this defense reminds me a lot of the 2014 defense that went to the state championship. The linebacker play and defensive line play was very similar.”
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JR Chris Barnard led the team with 119 tackles followed by SO Walter Hicks followed with 118 tackles, SR Patrick Shipp had 111 tackles, SR Jake Jones, and SO J. Thomas Pepper both with 100 tackles.
Jr Chase Harding recovers a fumble. ( Photo by Abi Fogleman )
The Panthers have struggled at times this year but rebounded through the final weeks of the season, only allowing 15 ppg in the last 3 games of the season. The Panther defense is led by their linebacker core and some aggressive safeties.
This includes SR Jake Jones, SO Walter Hicks, and JR Chase Harding totaling 305 tackles on the season combined. While safeties JR Chris Barnard, SR Patrick Shipp, and SO J. Thomas Pepper combined for 330 tackles. They were the unquestioned strength of the defense all year.
Special teams was another highlight all year. SR kicker Lucas Wilbur was almost always automatic with his longest field goal of the year being 49 yards. He went 12-17 on the year, going 2-2 with field goals over 40 yards. If the Panther offense crosses the 30-yard line they are almost always guaranteed some form of points.
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The Panther’s kick/punt return game is also lethal and can completely change the game. Anytime SO returner Elias Payne gets the ball there is always a chance he takes it to the house. On kick returns, he averaged 25.3 yards per return with his longest return of the year being 99 yards for a touchdown. While on punt returns he averaged 28.7 yards per return and had 2 touchdowns. He has had multiple returns this year and most times when he didn’t score he still put the Panthers in prime field job.
Sr Lucas Wilbur kicks a field goal. ( Photo by Abi Fogleman )
Overall, the Panthers’ season may have ended sadly, but you can’t be disappointed with a 9-3 record, winning 8 games in a row before falling in the Playoffs. The Panthers reached new heights this year, especially on offense.
Next year, even though the Panthers will lose many seniors on both sides of the ball, they will have many returning starters. Now those starters have experience and will know what to expect from high school football. Next year, the opponents better watch out for this now very experienced and talented Panther team.
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This is Benton Panthers sports coverage, with writing and photography by Benton High School students. Visit their home page at www.mysaline.com/benton-panthers-sports. Writers are Devon Hunt, Jack Woolbright, Whit Warford & Bentley Stamper.
Here’s a photo gallery from the Benton Panthers in action during the 2022 season:
Jr Running back Braylen Russell breaks a tackle vs Sheridan. Also in the photo is Sr wide receiver Drake Womack (23) and Sophomore offensive lineman, Parker Glaze (71). Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Jr Quarterback Cline Hooten (12) hands the ball off to Jr Running back Chris Barnard (35). Photo by Abi Fogleman.
The Panthers student section. Photo by Abi Fogleman
JR Running back Braylen Russell breaks away on a run in last week’s game against West Memphis. Photo by Abi Fogleman
JR Cornerback Gary Rideout makes a tackle against West Memphis. Photo by Abi Fogleman
JR Defensive Linemen Peyton McNeely makes a tackle along with sophomore Walter Hicks In last week’s game against West Memphis. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Braylen Russell breaks through a hole. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Cline Hooten loads up to throw. Photo by Abi Fogleman
Benton’s defense recovers a fumble. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pictured are Panthers on the road at Greene County Tech on October 7, 2022, (l. to r.) #15 SO wide receiver Tennyson Hobson, #19 SR defensive back Daniel Lunsford, #38 SR Defensive Back Bentley Stamper. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pictured are Panthers on the road at Greene County Tech on October 7, 2022, (l. to r.) #56 SR offensive lineman Walker Davis, #12 JR quarterback Cline Hooten, and #52 JR offensive lineman Tanner Holden. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pictured are Panthers on the road at Greene County Tech on October 7, 2022, (l. to r.) #1 SO wide receiver Elias Payne and #5 SO wide receiver/QB Maddox Davis. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
SR Logan Owen (7) holds the ball as SR Lucas Wilbur (83) hits a field goal. Picture by Abi Fogleman.
Sr QB Jack Woolbright prepares to pass the ball against Marion. Picture by Abi Fogleman.
JR CB Gary Ridout Returns an interception in Marion’s game. Also featured in the photo is JR FS Chris Bernard. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Jr Chris Bernard and Sophomore Omarcus tackle El Dorado Wide Receiver. See game article at this link. Photo by Abi Fogleman
Jr Braylen Russell Lifts up Sr Logan Owen in celebration after a touchdown against El Dorado. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Braylen Russell breaks away from El Dorado defenders on a long run. Photo by Abi Fogleman
SR CB Pervarious Perkins locks down Catholic Receiver. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
SR QB Jack Woolbright begins to throw to his intended target. Photo by Abi Fogleman.
SR QB Jack Woolbright hands the ball off to JR running back Braelyn Russell. Also featured are SR C Carter Sanders(64), SR G Conor Morgan(72), and SO WR Mattox Davis(5). Photo by Abi Fogleman
#22, sophomore J Thomas Pepper plays Defensive Back for the Panthers. Photo by Benton High School EAST.
#6, senior Jack Woolbright, is quarterback/defensive back for the Panthers. Photo by Benton High School EAST.
Benton Panthers defense at work on the field versus Saline County rivals Bryant Hornets. Photo by Benton High School EAST.