BENTON -- El Dorado got off to a good start but could not make it last as Benton pulled away for a 41-9 6A-West victory Friday.
El Dorado (3-4, 1-3 6A-West) jumped out to an early advantage. On Benton's second play from scrimmage, Lake Tucker tackled Benton quarterback Nate Beck in the backfield, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Wildcats' Donovan Walter at the 43.
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A pass interference penalty moved the ball to the 27. El Dorado got to the Benton 5 before Brennan Claypoole booted a 25-yard field goal with 7:57 left in the first.
That would be El Dorado's highlight.
The Panthers drove 86 yards before Ty Callahan scored on a 2-yard run with 4:10 left in the first. The drive was helped by a roughing the punter penalty on fourth and 10.
Benton (5-2, 3-1) struck again in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run by Zach Wallace with 27.5 seconds remaining for a 14-3 lead.
El Dorado couldn't move the ball and the Panthers took over and drove 62 yards in six plays. Brandon Hunter took an option pitch and sprinted 35 yards for the touchdown. The try for two failed, leaving the Panthers with a 20-3 lead with 8:45 left in the second.
Benton took over again after a failed fake punt. Preston Stone cashed in the 40-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. The extra point pushed the margin to 27-3 with 5:38 left in the second.
The Panthers got the ball back after a fumble on a sack was recovered by Benton's Dawson Morris. On the next play, Beck threw a 34-yard TD pass to Trey Pepper as the lead swelled to 34-3 with 5:24 left in the half.
Benton would tack on a score with 10:20 left in the game on Beck's 10-yard pass to Callahan.
The Wildcats' final points came when sophomore Wanya Frazier found Jaylen Green for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Sports on 10/15/2016