BENTON -- Riding a two-game winning streak, the Benton Rangers are counting on a victory at home Friday that will take them one step closer to postseason aspirations.
Winless Massac County (0-6) will be this week's opposition ay 7 p.m.
"They (the players) know what it's going to take and how important every week is and they know what games we have coming up. It's a step closer to where we want to be. That's for sure," said Benton coach Bob Pankey, following last week's 35-28 victory over Harrisburg.
"We have to continue to be locked in and focused on the process day to day … continuing to elevate our play," Pankey continued.
Massac County, coached by Fairfield native John Warren, lost to Herrin last Friday and to Harrisburg two weeks ago.
The Patriots are hungry for a victory and would like nothing better than to catch Benton napping.
"Massac has some very athletic kids and we will need to play well to have success," Pankey said. "They have the ability to make big, explosive plays."
Senior wide receiver Isaiah Thompson is "as good an athlete as we've seen all year," according to Pankey.
Meanwhile, the Rangers continue rolling with an explosive passing attack. Quarterback Hamilton Page threw three for 272 yards against Harrisburg, including three passes. Senior receiver Cade Thomas had a big game for the Rangers with 11 catches for 185 yards.
"That throw to Cade over here on our sideline might have been the best throw I've seen Hamilton throw (in his career) and I've seen some good ones in four years," said Pankey. "On a night when they (Harrisburg) did a good job of putting us in coverage situations that made it tough, we were still able to find open routes and get kids in places where we could get the ball to them."
Pankey said special teams play was also solid last week -- none bigger than the 75-yard kickoff return from Ty Gordon late in the game.
Even though the Rangers were outrushed by a significant amount, giving up 383 yards, the Bulldogs were 4-of-9 in passing for under 85 yards. Harrisburg rushed 55 times, compared to just 20 for the Rangers.
