Benton knows what it is getting into when the Rangers open the 2016 season Friday night at Carterville.
It’s a Southern Illinois River to River Conference crossover matchup. Benton is coming off a 2-7 season, 1-4 in the Ohio Division, while Carterville went 6-4, 4-1 in the Mississippi Division.
“We play four crossover games, they are four really good games for us,” first-year Benton coach Bob Pankey said. “This has been a great, great matchup for us. It’s the sixth or seventh year and we are close to 50-50 with them. It’s a great opening game for us. That will be a challenge right out of the gate. They have great athletes, they are very well coached by Dennis (Drust).”
In last year’s matchup with the Lions, Benton won 20-13 in overtime. The Rangers return their quarterback, junior Hamilton Page.
Page has been one of the bright spots for Pankey as he prepares for his first year as head coach after six in the program as an assistant.
“Lots of energy and lots of learning and installing our offense and defense,” Pankey said of the practices leading up to the opener. “Not sure if we had any surprises really as far as players go. Hamilton Page and Blane Pankey are going to be a good one-two punch on the offensive side of the ball.”
Coach Pankey said senior Oliver Davis and sophomore Joe Craig are settling in as the team’s “go-to” receivers. Junior Cade Thomas also will see some throws.
Pankey retained about half of the staff from last year including the school’s athletic director, Ryan Miller, who will serve as the offensive coordinator.
Miller has an exciting player to build around in Page, who started as a sophomore last season.
Page ran 131 times last year for 748 yards and 9 touchdowns out of a spread attack, more than the rest of the team’s 5 rushing touchdowns combined. He averaged 5.7 yards a carry.
Page is working hard on improving his passing numbers. He completed just under 50 percent last year, 73 for 150, for 897 yards, 8 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. This summer Page attended several quarterback camps including the Manning camp at Nicholls State in Louisiana.
“I’m pretty excited because last year I had some success,” said Page, a three-sport standout. “Pretty much starting fresh with a new group. We have to see how it works. Been trying to get everything nailed to where it needs to be. I’m trying to work on passing a lot more because that’s one of my weaknesses.”
Pankey calls senior Bryden Picklesimer the “anchor” of the offensive line.
A 1992 graduate of Benton High School, Pankey will continue to coordinate the defense, where two-way players Picklesimer and Pankey will be counted on.
“Our linebacker core is very solid led by Pankey and Picklesimer, and our defensive backs bring back some athleticism with Davis and Craig,” said Pankey who also is counting on solid play from junior defensive lineman Warren Smothers and senior defensive lineman Eli Lampley.
“We see a lot of spread football, we have to be able to defend it,” Pankey said. “We are going to rely a lot on speed and athleticism and try to be as physical and aggressive as we can.
“We hammer on fundamental techniques. We have to use our quickness and make up for some of our lack of size.”
Pankey expects to be challenged right off the bat from Carterville’s speed. He said winning the turnover battle will be key — that has been the deciding factor the past couple years.
Pankey said Carterville’s attack is quite similar. They utilize the spread offense to run the ball.
“Carterville is very well coached and always has good athletes,” Pankey said. “We have to respect both their run game and air game. No mental mistakes, minimize turnovers.”
Benton’s last winning season came in 2013 when the Rangers finished 9-2. Pankey is hoping to surprise this fall.
“It could be a group that people don’t recognize a lot of names or whatever, but we still may surprise some people in some ways,” Pankey said. “I’m hopeful, I’m excited, I really like this group of juniors and seniors. I have a lot of excitement of what they can do and hopeful we can stay healthy and can really surprise some people.”
