Red Devils post upset win over Rangers

MURPHYSBORO -- Benton dug itself into a 13-0 deficit, never recovering from a flat offensive performance, while dropping a 19-14 decision to Murphysboro Friday night.
Murphysboro came into the contest with just one victory after seven starts. With the victory, the Red Devils spoiled Benton's opportunity to clinch a postseason berth. The loss dropped the Rangers to 5-3.
"It's disappointing, obviously, and there are plenty of things to fix," said Benton coach Bob Pankey in a postgame interview. "Overall, we just couldn't get our offense clicking the way we wanted to, especially in the first half. We didn't have enough offense in the second half to dig out of the hole we dug for ourselves in the first half."
Murphysboro's winning touchdown came 65 seconds into the final quarter. Intercepting a Hamilton Page pass at midfield, the Red Devils took nine plays to find paydirt when Latrelle Spencer scored on a 7-yard run.
Benton moved downfield , getting inside the Red Devils' 5 when Page was sacked for a 9-yard loss. Blane Pankey fumbled on the next down, gaining a yard and recovering his own fumble. That set up a fourth and goal from the 11. Page attempted to hit favorite receiver -- Cade Thomas -- in the endzone but the pass fell incomplete.
The Red Devils ran out the final 5:07 of the game for the victory.
The Page to Thomas connection was good for a 32-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to cut Murphy's lead to 14-13. Page scored the point-after on a razzle-dazzle double reverse.
Benton's remaining touchdown was scored on a Pankey 14-yard romp early in the second quarter.
Thomas turned in the defensive play of the game. Murphysboro converted two fourth down plays and was inside Benton's 5 following the Thomas TD. The Red Devils were penalized for a false start on fourth-and-1. From the 9, Murphy's QB Jamarr McZeke attempted to throw a dart to Spencer but Thomas stepped in front of the defender and knocked down the pass.
"This is not the situation we wanted to put ourselves in. Now we get a chance to see what they're made of, how they handle adversity," Pankey said. "We have to find a way for this setback to not be a setback and not deter from us where we want to go moving forward."
Benton closes out the regular season Friday at undefeated Anna-Jonesboro.