Benton hangs on against Siloam Springs

BENTON 28, SILOAM SPRINGS 26

SILOAM SPRINGS — Siloam Springs had its opportunities to send the big homecoming crowd home happy Friday but came up short in the end.

Benton survived a fourth-quarter Siloam Springs comeback to hold on for a 28-26 victory in a 6A-West Conference game at Panther Stadium.

Down 28-13 in the fourth quarter, Siloam Springs (2-3, 1-0) got a 13-yard interception return for a touchdown from Camden Collins to cut the Benton lead to 28-20 with 7 minutes, 8 seconds remaining.

Siloam Springs’ defense — which played well after an early first-quarter ambush — got another defensive stop and got the ball back to the offense for a chance to tie.

Quarterback Taylor Pool hit Tanner Broyles for a 26-yard pass on fourth-and-9 to keep a drive alive, then Pool ran in from 2 yards out to pull Siloam Springs within 28-26 with 2:24 remaining.

Siloam Springs lined up for a two-point conversion, but tight end Jordan Stewart was unable to secure a jump pass from Pool to tie the game.

“We had plenty of opportunities,” said Siloam Springs coach Brandon Craig. “Defense I thought played outstanding

football, from the standpoint of other things we’ve always been worried about — keeping containment, tackling in space — they did a tremendous job of that. We got a lot of stops tonight. We didn’t have a great night offensively. They have a very good defense.”

Benton (2-3, 2-0) recovered an onside kick, but Siloam Springs’ defense got the offense one more opportunity with 34 seconds remaining.

Pool hit 3 of 5 passes for 31 yards into Benton territory, but Pool was sacked at the 50 on the final play of the game as Benton held on for the win.

“We found a way to win another ball game here at the end,” said Benton coach Brad Harris. “Defense did a good job holding on right there at the end. We gave up some big plays, but we also made some big plays you know?”

Benton finished with 375 yards of offense despite not having senior wide receiver Gavin Wells, who had to sit out because of an ejection last week against Russellville.

Running back D’Anthony Harper also chipped a bone in his thumb and sat out the entire first half because of a coaches’ decision. Harper came in the second half and rushed nine times for 65 yards, including a 11-yard run to put Benton up 28-13 early in the fourth quarter.

Casey Johnson rushed 24 times for 103 yards for Benton, while quarterback Garrett Brown completed 19 of 36 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns.

Brown threw touchdown passes to Braden Murdock and Jaden Nash in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.

Siloam Springs, after an interception from Christian Ledeker, came back with a pair of scored to pull within 14-13. Pool ran in from eight yards out for the first score and Collins scored on a fouryard run.

Johnson scored on a 28-yard swing pass to put Benton ahead 21-13 right before halftime.

FOUR DOWNS

• Siloam Springs senior Oren Stafford caught a career-high six passes for 148 yards.

• Taylor Pool completed 17 of 37 passes for 261 yards.

• Benton had two players ejected in the fourth quarter, sophomore wide receiver Andre Lane and senior lineman Austin Jones.

• Siloam Springs plays at topranked Greenwood next Friday, while Benton hosts Little Rock Hall.