Bradley, Wilbur help Benton rally past Sylvan Hills
Benton 44, Sylvan Hills 40
SHERWOOD — Lamarion Bradley rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and Gabe Wilbur kicked three field goals as Benton erased a 14-point deficit and held off Sylvan Hills 44-40 Friday night at Bill Blackwood Field.
The Panthers improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the 6A-East after stopping the Bears on four consecutive passes in the final 90 seconds. Sylvan Hills fell to 3-2 and 1-1.
Benton trailed 21-7 after one quarter and 27-14 in the second before scoring 27 consecutive points. Chase Cobb threw three touchdown passes, including two to AP Lewis, while Carter Knowles supplied an interception and a critical late pass breakup.
Sylvan Hills struck first when Caden Burnett found Jeremiah Carey for a 30-yard touchdown on fourth-and-nine. CJ Sellers returned the ensuing kickoff into Bears territory, setting up Cobb’s 44-yard scoring pass to Lewis. Wilbur’s extra point tied it 7-7 with 3:46 left in the first quarter.
The Bears capitalized on consecutive turnovers. Harrison Merchant recovered a fumble before Burnett hit Ezekiel Carrethers for a long touchdown. Ryan Parham then intercepted Cobb and returned it for a score with 45 seconds remaining. Jesse Velazquez’s extra point made it 21-7.
Bradley broke a 61-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the second quarter. Sylvan Hills answered with EJ Duckery’s 39-yard run on fourth-and-one, but Weston Monson blocked the extra point, leaving the Bears ahead 27-14 with 9:21 remaining.
Benton took control of the rest of the half. Cobb found sophomore Jayden Johnson for a five-yard touchdown, and Bradley’s one-yard run and Wilbur’s kick gave the Panthers their first lead, 28-27, with 2:37 left. Knowles intercepted Burnett and returned the ball to the Bears’ 10. Wilbur converted a 23-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining for a 31-27 halftime advantage.
A long Jake Cloud reception opened the second half and set up Wilbur’s 27-yard field goal at the 10:42 mark. Benton’s defense then held on fourth down, and Bradley carried three times to move the Panthers from their 36 to the Sylvan Hills 42. Cobb lofted a touchdown pass to Lewis, who stayed in bounds along the sideline. Wilbur’s kick extended the lead to 41-27 with 5:58 left in the third quarter.
Burnett’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Carey cut the margin to seven at 2:45. Wilbur’s third field goal made it 44-34 with 8:19 remaining in the fourth, but Preston Strong scored from a yard out on fourth-and-goal with 4:28 left. Velazquez’s extra point struck an upright.
Benton moved the ball with Bradley and Cobb, then lost possession on a fourth-down exchange with 1:30 remaining. Drake Woodard pressured Burnett on third down, and Knowles broke up the pass. Jaxon White covered the final fourth-down throw, which sailed incomplete, allowing the Panthers to kneel out the victory.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Sylvan Hills — Jeremiah Carey 30-yard pass from Caden Burnett (Jesse Velazquez kick). Sylvan Hills 7, Benton 0.
Benton — AP Lewis 44-yard pass from Chase Cobb (Gabe Wilbur kick). Benton 7, Sylvan Hills 7. 3:46.
Sylvan Hills — Ezekiel Carrethers touchdown pass from Burnett (Velazquez kick). Sylvan Hills 14, Benton 7.
Sylvan Hills — Ryan Parham interception return (Velazquez kick). Sylvan Hills 21, Benton 7. 0:45.
Second Quarter
Benton — Lamarion Bradley 61-yard run (Wilbur kick). Sylvan Hills 21, Benton 14.
Sylvan Hills — EJ Duckery 39-yard run (Velazquez kick blocked by Weston Monson). Sylvan Hills 27, Benton 14. 9:21.
Benton — Jayden Johnson five-yard pass from Cobb (Wilbur kick). Sylvan Hills 27, Benton 21. 6:26.
Benton — Bradley one-yard run (Wilbur kick). Benton 28, Sylvan Hills 27. 2:37.
Benton — Wilbur 23-yard field goal. Benton 31, Sylvan Hills 27. 0:22.
Third Quarter
Benton — Wilbur 27-yard field goal. Benton 34, Sylvan Hills 27. 10:42.
Benton — Lewis 42-yard pass from Cobb (Wilbur kick). Benton 41, Sylvan Hills 27. 5:58.
Sylvan Hills — Carey 23-yard pass from Burnett (Velazquez kick). Benton 41, Sylvan Hills 34. 2:45.
Fourth Quarter
Benton — Wilbur field goal. Benton 44, Sylvan Hills 34. 8:19.
Sylvan Hills — Preston Strong one-yard run (Velazquez kick failed). Benton 44, Sylvan Hills 40. 4:28.
Players Who Stood Out
Lamarion Bradley, Benton — Rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns, including a 61-yard score to begin the second quarter. Added consecutive first-down runs on Benton’s final possession.
Gabe Wilbur, Benton — Made all three field-goal attempts and five extra points for 14 points. His third field goal provided a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.
Chase Cobb, Benton — Threw three touchdown passes, finding AP Lewis for scores of 44 and 42 yards and Jayden Johnson for a five-yard touchdown. Added first-down keepers during second-half possessions.
AP Lewis, Benton — Caught two long touchdown passes. His 42-yard score capped Benton’s 27-point run and gave the Panthers a 41-27 lead.
Carter Knowles, Benton — Returned an interception to the Sylvan Hills 10 to set up a field goal before halftime. Broke up a third-down pass on the Bears’ final possession.
Weston Monson, Benton — Blocked a second-quarter extra point and stopped Isaiah Howell short of the goal line in the fourth quarter. The broadcast’s unofficial count credited him with 19 tackles.
Caden Burnett, Sylvan Hills — Threw three touchdown passes, two to Jeremiah Carey and one to Ezekiel Carrethers.
Jeremiah Carey, Sylvan Hills — Caught touchdown passes of 30 and 23 yards. The second ended Benton’s run of 27 consecutive points.
Ryan Parham, Sylvan Hills — Returned an interception for a first-quarter touchdown that helped the Bears establish a 21-7 lead.