Salt Bowl: Bryant 40, Benton 10 – NOTES

Published On: August 31, 2025Categories: Uncategorized, High School, News

Salt Bowl: Bryant 40, Benton 10

Bryant kept its iron grip on Saline County with a 40-10 win at Panther Stadium, the first Salt Bowl played away from War Memorial Stadium in 25 years. The Hornets extended their series unbeaten streak to 20 years. It’s the 9th Salt Bowl decided by 30+ points and the 6th time Bryant’s delivered that margin.

Explosive Hornet offense

Total yards: Bryant 430 to Benton 198; first downs: 22–11.
Rushing: Bryant 166 to Benton 63; passing: Bryant 264 to Benton 135.
Halftime: Bryant led 19-3, piling up 256 yards and 14 first downs (to 122 and 7 for Benton).
Backfield star: Kollin Robinson gashed Benton for 118 yards and 2 TDs on 8 carries, including a 28‑yardfirst‑half score and a 39‑yard sprint on the first play of the third quarter.
QB tandem:
- Jeremiah Motes (Sr.): 9/16, 144 yards, 2 TD — strikes of 12 yards to Caleb Tucker and 17 yards to Kamauri Austin in the third quarter.
- Kyler Shelby (Jr.): 7/10, 120 yards, plus a 4‑yard rushing TD; engineered 3 TDs on his first 4 drives.
RB depth: Zekariah Kertis‑Jones added a 5‑yard TD. (Room also features transfer Terry Hodges, a D‑I‑offered talent—Bryant’s RB stable stays loaded.)

Defense set the tone

The Hornets limited Benton to 198 yards and kept the Panthers out of the end zone until the 4th.
Even with 2 first‑half turnovers, Bryant’s defense and depth controlled the flow for four quarters.

Panther highlights

Benton struck first: Gabe Wilbur drilled a 47‑yard field goal (later missed from 44).
In the fourth, Chase Cobb (QB) connected with Jake Cloud for a 10‑yard TD, capping a drive that showed Benton’s resilience and playmaking outside the pocket.

Bryant’s No. 1 ranking looked the part—balanced offense, depth, and finishing power.
Benton’s takeaway: elite nonconference measuring stick achieved; the Panthers put early points on the board and found a late scoring connection—useful reps before the nine‑game grind.

Bottom line: Bryant’s dual‑QB efficiency (264 pass yards), a downhill run game (166 rush yards), and swarming defense added up to a definitive rivalry statement.