Drew Davis dazzles as Benton overwhelms Jonesboro late

Benton 55, Jonesboro 24

Benton turned a tense 28–24 third quarter into a rout, closing with 27 unanswered points to defeat Jonesboro in the 6A East opener at Centennial Bank Stadium. The Panthers set the tone with explosive plays and a relentless ground game, while the Hurricane countered with timely strikes before fading late.

Benton quarterback Drew Davis engineered seven scoring drives and accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing). His 64‑yard keeper midway through the third swung momentum for good, and he later added a 3‑yard clincher. Davis also found John Curtis Barger for a 26‑yard score before halftime and hit Carson Colet on a 58‑yard strike in the fourth.

Jonesboro hung in behind quarterback Asa Myers and receiver Cam Davis, who teamed for two touchdowns (25 and 30 yards), the latter on 4th‑and‑26 to open the second half. TJ Brown added a 15‑yard rushing score and sparked the return game with an 87‑yard kickoff burst that set up early points. Defensively, Jaylen Alexander had an interception, and Noah Windle registered multiple tackles for loss to stall red‑zone trips.

Special teams tilted Benton’s way. Kicker Gabe Wilbur drilled field goals of 22 and 49 yards and converted seven PATs, repeatedly cashing in after the Panthers’ defense produced stops.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Benton – Gunnar Deon 2 run (Wilbur kick), BEN 7‑0
Jonesboro – Alex Glomsky 24 FG, BEN 7‑3
Benton – Drew Davis 7 run (Wilbur kick), BEN 14‑3
Jonesboro – Cam Davis 25 pass from Myers (Glomsky kick), BEN 14‑10
Benton – Davis 7 run (Wilbur kick), BEN 21‑10

2nd Quarter
Jonesboro – TJ Brown 15 run (Glomsky kick), BEN 21‑17
Benton – Barger 26 pass from Davis (Wilbur kick), BEN 28‑17

3rd Quarter
Jonesboro – Cam Davis 30 pass from Myers (Glomsky kick), BEN 28‑24
Benton – Davis 64 run (Wilbur kick), BEN 35‑24
Benton – Wilbur 22 FG, BEN 38‑24

4th Quarter
Benton – Colet 58 pass from Davis (Wilbur kick), BEN 45‑24
Benton – Davis 3 run (Wilbur kick), BEN 52‑24
Benton – Wilbur 49 FG, BEN 55‑24

Standouts

• Drew Davis (Benton QB): 350 pass yds, 2 TD; 96 rush yds, 4 TD.

• Karson Collatt (Benton WR): 7 rec, 148 yds, TD.

• Gabe Wilbur (Benton K): 2 FGs (22, 49), 7/7 PAT.

• Cam Davis (Jonesboro WR): 2 TD receptions (24, 30).

• T.J. Brown (Jonesboro RB): 15‑yd TD run.