Benson accounts for five touchdowns as Baptist Prep defeats Hazen
Baptist Prep 40, Hazen 14
LITTLE ROCK — Quarterback Titus Benson threw two touchdown passes and ran for three scores, all before halftime, as Baptist Prep scored on its first six possessions and defeated Hazen 40-14 Friday night at Eagle Creek Field.
Brodie Babcock recovered two first-half fumbles, and Boaz Benson scored rushing and receiving touchdowns. The Eagles built a 40-0 halftime lead in the 2A-4 conference opener, improving to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Hazen, now 3-1 and 0-1, received both its second-half touchdowns from Noah Adkins.
Baptist Prep opened at its own 29 and completed passes to Brock Mashburn, Aaron Fielder, Boaz Benson and Landon Thornton. After establishing its screen game, Titus Benson faked another short throw and found Fielder behind the defense for a touchdown with 9:39 remaining in the first quarter. Hazen blocked the extra point, leaving the score 6-0.
Josh Bledsoe and Boaz Benson helped stop Morgan Berg’s fourth-and-one keeper near midfield. A measurement confirmed Baptist Prep’s possession, and Brock Mashburn’s downfield block helped Fielder turn another screen into a gain inside the 10. Titus Benson finished with a bootleg touchdown, extending the lead to 13-0.
Andrew Mashburn then hit Berg on a rollout, and Babcock recovered the fumble at Hazen’s 26. Titus Benson ran 20 yards on the next snap and scored from six yards on the following play. Luke Bell’s kick made it 20-0 with 1:21 left in the quarter.
Fielder supplied another pivotal catch on the next drive, taking a fourth-and-10 throw away from a defender after pressure forced Benson to release the ball. Shep Garrison’s run helped move the Eagles inside the 5. Boaz Benson took a direct snap on fourth down and scored on a short run for a 27-0 advantage.
Hazen answered with sustained rushing gains from Dalton Jones and Adkins. Jones gained five or six yards on several carries, while Adkins converted first downs as the Hornets crossed midfield.
Babcock ended that possession by breaking up a pitch and recovering the loose ball. Fielder’s ensuing reception carried Baptist Prep to the 1, and Titus Benson scored his third rushing touchdown with 5:47 remaining before halftime.
Canton Hatcher broke up two second-quarter passes. Offensively, Brock Mashburn added a screen reception for a first down before Titus Benson lofted a touchdown pass to Boaz Benson. Bell’s extra point made it 40-0 with 1:28 left.
Hazen produced the second half’s scoring. Jordan Kelly broke up a pass, then intercepted a deflected throw to return possession to the Hornets at their own 46. Adkins broke a run to Baptist Prep’s 10, and a penalty moved the ball to the 5. He scored on the next carry.
Adkins added a special-teams touchdown in the fourth quarter, blocking a punt, recovering it and returning it to the end zone. Jose Luis Dubon Vicente’s second extra point brought Hazen within 40-14.
The second half was played with a running clock. Hazen kept Baptist Prep scoreless after halftime and forced another late punt before the game ended.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Baptist Prep – Aaron Fielder touchdown pass from Titus Benson (kick blocked), Baptist Prep 6, Hazen 0.
Baptist Prep – Titus Benson touchdown run on a bootleg (Luke Bell kick), Baptist Prep 13, Hazen 0.
Baptist Prep – Titus Benson six-yard touchdown run (Bell kick), Baptist Prep 20, Hazen 0.
2nd Quarter
Baptist Prep – Boaz Benson short touchdown run on fourth down (Bell kick), Baptist Prep 27, Hazen 0.
Baptist Prep – Titus Benson one-yard touchdown run (two-point pass incomplete), Baptist Prep 33, Hazen 0.
Baptist Prep – Boaz Benson touchdown pass from Titus Benson (Bell kick), Baptist Prep 40, Hazen 0.
3rd Quarter
Hazen – Noah Adkins five-yard touchdown run (Jose Luis Dubon Vicente kick), Baptist Prep 40, Hazen 7.
4th Quarter
Hazen – Noah Adkins blocked punt recovery returned for a touchdown (Dubon Vicente kick), Baptist Prep 40, Hazen 14.
Players Who Stood Out
Titus Benson, Baptist Prep, quarterback — Accounted for five first-half touchdowns: three rushing and two passing. Threw scoring passes to Aaron Fielder and Boaz Benson. Followed a first-quarter fumble recovery with consecutive runs of 20 and six yards, the second for a touchdown.
Boaz Benson, Baptist Prep — Scored a rushing touchdown on a fourth-down direct snap and caught a touchdown pass from Titus Benson before halftime. Helped stop Hazen’s opening possession on fourth-and-one and tackled Morgan Berg on a second-quarter counter.
Brodie Babcock, Baptist Prep — Recovered two first-half fumbles, both followed by two-play touchdown drives. His first recovery came after Andrew Mashburn hit Berg on a rollout. On the second, Babcock disrupted a pitch and recovered the loose ball.
Noah Adkins, Hazen — Scored both Hornets touchdowns: a five-yard third-quarter run and a fourth-quarter return after blocking and recovering a punt. His long run to Baptist Prep’s 10 helped set up Hazen’s first score.
Jordan Kelly, Hazen — Broke up a third-quarter pass intended for Boaz Benson, then intercepted a deflected throw during the same possession. His interception gave Hazen the ball at its own 46 and set up the Hornets’ first touchdown drive.