BENTON — The Benton Rangers used a familiar formula in the first round of the playoffs to take down Piasa Southwestern at Tabor Field. Senior quarterback Keegan Glover and the offense piled points on the scoreboard while the Rangers’ defense kept Piasa Birds off of it in a 42-0 romp. Glover even found a new way to score along the way.

On a cold and cloudy day, perfect weather for football, the Class 3A State Football Playoffs started with a matchup of teams not familiar with each other. Piasa Southwestern was making its first appearance in the State Playoffs since 2009, while the Rangers were trying to extend an undefeated season to the second round.

It was a stalemate early as both teams used lots of energy and early play to feel each other out. However, the Birds were the first team to blink with a turnover. On a first down play after solidly running the ball, Piasa elected to throw, and the pass was picked off by Benton’s Kaleb Vaughn. Vaughn returned it to the Birds’ 5-yard line. Two plays later it was Keegan Glover on a quarterback keeper from two yards out to put Benton up 6-0. The extra point was blocked.

After a Rangers’ defensive stand on downs, it didn’t take long for Benton to score again. One play, 46 yards, as Glover found Reid Baumgarte for a touchdown. The two point pass was good, and Benton lead 14-0 after the first quarter.

The second quarter didn’t see much scoring for a while, however the Rangers changed that with a couple of quick strikes. First, the Rangers scored for the third time on the day with another quarterback keeper by Glover capping a 9-play, five minute, 46 yard drive. Late in the half, the Rangers made it 28-0 Wyatt Upton’s 11-yard touchdown run.

Benton made sure to drop the hammer in third quarter. Glover returned the second half opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, giving the Rangers a 35-0 lead just 13 seconds into the third quarter. The Rangers weren’t done, taking advantage of Piasa’s third turnover of the day. Glover found Isaiah Ward for a 17-yard touchdown pass to put the Rangers up 42-0 and start the running clock. Glover finished the day with five touchdowns–two passing, two rushing, and the kickoff return.

That was the end of the scoring, as the Rangers improve to 10-0 and advance to the second round where they will host the 8-2 Monticello Sages at 2:00 next Saturday. Piasa ends the season at 5-5.