Post Game Review: Benton vs. Catholic
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Coming into the game the Benton Panthers are coming off a dominating win against the Sylvan Hill Bears winning 58-24. On the other side of the ball, the Catholic Rockets are also coming off a solid win against Greene County…
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Continue ReadingComing into the game the Benton Panthers are coming off a dominating win against the Sylvan Hill Bears winning 58-24. On the other side of the ball, the Catholic Rockets are also coming off a solid win against Greene County Tech 38-16.
1st Half Notes
Passing the ball for the Panthers was almost obsolete. QB, Jack Woolbright was able to make some connections for short game out of the backfield and some short balls being thrown. On the other hand you had Catholic scoring on an almost 50 yard bomb to wide receiver Brooks Ward Brooks Ward 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Little Rock Catholic | 2024 State AR . Ward was able to make a couple of connections downfield and able to make some catches in the short game.
Running the ball for both teams is what is driving both teams down the field effectively. Catholics Dominic Keeton was able to follow his line and effectively have a couple of 10+ yard gains during the first half. Both teams were able to go into half time only putting up 55 yards rushing for the panthers and only 53 yards rushing for the Rockets.
2nd Half Notes
To start off the half Benton started with extra and not needed penalties that eventually lead to a touchdown being taken off the board. Once again to start off the Panther defense wasn’t able to silence the passing nor the running game in the third quarter to start off the second half. The Catholic offensive line was able to establish great push and effectively make a new line of scrimmage through the whole game. The Catholic Rockets running back, Dominic Keeton, was able to put up 129 rushing yards in only 22 rushing attempts.
Benton had some gleams of positivity in the second half later on in the fourth and late third quarter. One of the positives that I did notice was the screen game to either Braylen Russel, Arkansas Razorback commit, and to the young buck Elias Payne Elias Payne 5'8" | 165 lbs | WR Benton | 2025 State AR . Payne and Russel both were able to get outside a lot on the screen game and each had a couple of 15+ yard gains during the screen game.
After the final whistle blew Catholic came out on top against the Panthers 38-14.
Key Players
Dominic Keaton
Dominic Keaton
Keeton played lights out and was able to find the holes and effectively exposed the running defense against the Panthers. Keeton finished the night with 22 rushing attempts with 129 yards.
Cole Pace
Cole Pace
Pace was able to help out in both the rushing defense off the edge and some in the box being an outside linebacker. Pace had a phenomenal night with a solid showing and being able to build a resume for the second half of the season. Ending the game at about the 5 minute mark Pace was able to pick off Jack Woolbright to bring the Rockets to a 38 – 14.
Walter Hicks
Walter Hicks
Hicks is a young buck at Benton and was able to step up and make plays and force fourth downs. Walter Hicks is just a Sophomore at Benton and has plenty of room to grow as an elite linebacker at Benton.
Braylen Russel was able to make plays where plays weren’t Friday night. Russel played the best that he could with little blocking up the middle. He’s a strong running back that needed more blocking than he had against the rockets. He made some big plays up the middle and scored on the outside on some big runs. He ended the night with 20 carries for only 70 yards rushing.