Danny Czerwinski
Section618.com

SPARTA — The Benton Rangers made sure the final time they would play Sparta in the regular season for the foreseeable future wouldn’t lead to a Bulldogs upset. The Rangers needed fewer than 20 plays to score seven offensive touchdowns in the first half and added another touchdown on a punt return to help ensure a 61-0 win at Pierce Field in Sparta.

The Rangers offense was prolific and efficient scoring four times in the first quarter and three times in the second quarter on drives that all started in Sparta territory. Isaiah Ward was the offensive leader opening the scoring with an 18-yard TD run in the first quarter. An 8-yard Keegan Glover to Landon Bolen scoring strike made it 14-0. A 1-yard touchdown run by Glover and another 1-yard touchdown pass from Glover to Bolen again gave Benton a 28-0 first quarter lead.

The Rangers’ offensive output in the second quarter was much the same. Glover found Reid Baumgarte on a pair of 10-yard touchdown passes. Wyatt Upton scored on a 10-yard run, and then Ward returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown giving Benton a 55-0 lead heading into the half.

On the other side of the field, the Rangers’ defense held Sparta to one first down the entire first half and didn’t allow the Bulldogs to get into Benton territory. In fact, Sparta didn’t make it into Benton territory until the opening kickoff of the fourth quarter.

The final scoring of the game for the Rangers saw Upton run in from 5 yards out for the final score of 61-0.

Benton (2-0) will host Pinckneyville next Saturday night at 7pm on Military Appreciation Night. Sparta (0-2) will travel to West Frankfort next Friday night.