MURPHYSBORO — The Benton Rangers entered Friday night’s showdown with Murphysboro for the SIRR Ohio championship sporting a 9-game conference winning streak. The Red Devils were the last Ohio team to beat Benton, nearly two years ago to the day.

The Rangers made sure this trip to Doc Bencini Field ended differently, rushing for 414 yards in a dominant 55-14 win to claim the Ohio championship.

Mother Nature delayed the start with rain, wind, and cold. That was about the only thing to stop the Rangers all night.

Following a three and out by Murphy, it didn’t take long for Benton to take advantage. With the wind at their backs, the Rangers needed only 3 plays to go 49 yards in 34 seconds capped by Keegan Glover’s 9-yard touchdown to put Benton up 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.

The Red Devils tried to answer, chewing up more than seven minutes with a 12-play drive, but the Rangers’ defense held on downs. Once again, the Benton offense went to work with another quick march down the field. Wyatt Upton capped a 67-yard, 3-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown. The Rangers led 14-0 after one quarter.

Murphysboro got on the board early in the second as Devon Clemons was able to break through the Benton defense for a 67-yard touchdown run to pull the Red Devils within 14-7.

Glover and the Rangers answered. The senior scampered 21 yards to put the Rangers up 21-7 with 5:35 left in the first half.

The Rangers started their next drive with great field position thanks to a big play from the special teams, who blocked a punt to give Benton the ball on Murphysboro’s 25. The Rangers took full advantage as Glover scored his third touchdown of the night, this one was from 11 yards to give Benton a 28-7 lead at the half, a half that saw all 213 yards of offense from the Rangers come on the ground. Benton threw only one pass in the first half, and it was incomplete. Glover finished with 102 yards rushing on the night.

The Rangers kept their foot on the gas pedal. Upton’s second touchdown of the night, a 5-yard run, pushed the lead to 35-7. Benton then converted a turnover into points. After forcing and recovering a fumble, Landon Bolen got in on the fun with a 5-yard TD, extending the Rangers’ lead to 42-7 after three quarters.

Early in the fourth, Upton’s third touchdown of the night triggered the running clock. The junior finished the night with 201 yards rushing. The Rangers’ defense tacked on another score as Ethan Furlow picked up a lateral pass for the scoop and score helping the Rangers win their second straight Ohio Division Championship and extend their 10-game winning streak in conference play.

The Rangers improve to 8-0 and will close out the regular season at Anna-Jonesboro next Friday night. Murphysboro falls to 6-2 and will close out the regular season Friday at Du Quoin.