Danny Czerwinski, Section618.com
West Frankfort — For the 107th time, the rivalry of east Franklin County wrote another chapter in the storied history. The Rangers went to West Frankfort looking to solidify their playoff chances. Meanwhile, the Redbirds looked to end a 4 game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive. In the first night game of the series since 2007, offense was the theme in the first half on homecoming night for the red and gray.
Benton was able to score of 4 of the first 5 drives they had the ball, while West Frankfort was able to score 2 of the first 5 times they had the football.
West Frankfort got the first points on the board. It was. Keagan Bowers on a 26 yard run to cap a 6 play, 80 yard drive in just over 2 minutes. The 2 point run was no good but the Redbirds lead 6-0.
Benton immediately answered back after a solid kick return and penalty on the end of the run back. The Rangers got their first score on a 4 yard touch down run by Izaiah Dalton ending a 7 play, 35 yard drive giving Benton their first lead of the night at 7-6.
On the ensuing drive, the red and gray answered with their second 80 yard drive which ended with a 35 yard touchdown pass from Melvin to Bowers. The Redbirds took their final lead of the game at 14-7 with 2:15 left in the first quarter.
Benton answered once again on nice, neat, and compact drive of 55 yards in 5 plays as Tiffin Kouzoukas ran in from 1 yard out ending the scoring for the first quarter tied at 14.
The second quarter saw the Rangers reach pay dirt two more times. The first of three touchdown runs happened for Riley Spencer. He ran in from 11 yards out giving Benton a 21-14 lead. After the Benton defense started to assert their dominance, Kouzoukas found Grant Owens for a 65 yard touchdown pass to give the Rangers a 28-14 lead into halftime.
As the maroon and white defense continue to stifle the red and gray, Spencer kept padding the Rangers lead. He had a 42 yard touchdown run in the third and followed it up with a 3 yard touchdown run to begin the fourth giving the Rangers a 42-14 lead. West Frankfort added a cosmetic touchdown as time expired in the game. It wasn’t enough as Benton won 42-20.
The Rangers climb over the .500 mark for the first time this year getting to 4-3 overall, 3-1 in the Mississippi Division and extend their winning streak to 5 over their arch-rivals. They will travel to Pinckneyville next week in a game you can hear on Q106.3 FM and the Section618.com App. West Frankfort drops to 2-5 overall, 1-3 in the Mississippi Division, and out of playoff contention. They will host AJ for a Saturday night game.