Rangers get key fifth victory on Senior Night

BENTON -- Benton became playoff eligible on Friday night with a 53-13 victory over Massac County on Senior Night.
The Rangers are now 5-2 with games remaining on the road at Murphysboro and Anna-Jonesboro.
Leading by a 15-13 margin early in the second quarter, the defense made a stand that turned the momentum in Benton's favor. The Rangers would score twice before halftime to take a 28-13 lead and shut out the Patriots in the second half.
Benton would score four touchdowns in the second half -- getting a running clock early in the fourth quarter after senior Blane Pankey scored his third touchdown of the night on a 4-yard run. Pankey also scored on runs of 9 and 4 yards for the trifecta.
Senior quarterback Hamilton Page had another big night for the Rangers. He scored three rushing touchdowns on runs of 5, 7 and 40 yards and passed a 17-yard TD to classmate Bailey Hopson with time running out in the first half.
Page led all rushers with 128 yards as the Rangers tallied nearly 475 yards of total offense. Page was 20-of-38 for 221 yards. Neal Carlton led Benton receivers with five catches for 72 yards.
Benton jumped out to a 15-0 lead, scoring on its first two possessions.
A 45-yard pass play set up Massac's initial touchdown with running back Blake Baird taking it in from 2 yards out.
A 61-yard pass play from quarterback Mason Corzine to Isaiah Thompson cut the lead to 15-13 after the Patriots' two-point conversion failed.
Massac was able to run 13 plays on its next possession but came up empty. The Rangers followed up by methodically driving 70 yards on eight plays with Page scoring on his 7-yard run.
The Page to Hopson pass came with 15.3 seconds remaining in the half after the ball was deflected by Thompson.
Benton's defense held Massac to just under 100 yards rushing.
Ten seniors and their parents were recognized before kickoff.