Socia catches four touchdowns as Sheridan rallies past Benton

Sheridan 59, Benton 49

October 9 2026

SHERIDAN — Hunter Socia caught four touchdown passes, and Sheridan turned a recovered kickoff and two late defensive takeaways into a 59–49 victory over Benton on Friday, Oct. 9, at Yellow Jacket Stadium. The Yellowjackets scored 19 unanswered fourth-quarter points after surrendering the lead on the quarter’s first play.

Easton Barksdale’s reported final line was 31-of-40 passing for 390 yards and seven touchdowns, with Socia accounting for 12 receptions and 155 yards. Zay Stephens added 197 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Sheridan improved to 6–0 overall and 3–0 in 6A-East, setting up a home showdown with unbeaten Searcy next Friday.

The decisive stretch began with Sheridan trailing 42–40. A false start made a fourth-down conversion more difficult, but Barksdale found Socia across the middle for a touchdown with 9:04 remaining. The conversion failed, leaving the Yellowjackets ahead 46–42. Enzo Miranda then kicked beyond Benton’s front line, and Ross Stevens raced to recover the untouched ball near the sideline at the Panthers’ 5. Wylie DePriest scored on the next play, stretching the margin to 10 with 8:59 left.

Sheridan’s defense immediately supplied another opportunity. Pressure on Chase Cobb, including a rush by Jacob Livingston, forced a hurried throw that Rashod Litzsey intercepted. Stephens helped move the ensuing possession out of Sheridan territory, and Barksdale converted another third down with a keeper. Barksdale’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Socia made it 58–42 with 4:13 remaining. After two procedure penalties, Miranda converted a 30-yard extra point.

Laighton Tarter ended Benton’s next drive by stripping Cobb and returning the ball deep into Panthers territory. Sheridan did not add points, and Cobb’s touchdown run with 13 seconds left produced the final margin. Livingston secured the ensuing onside kick before Barksdale took a knee.

The finish followed a first half with five lead changes. Stephens scored on Sheridan’s fourth offensive play, just 49 seconds into the game, but Benton answered twice to lead 14–6. Sheridan escaped third-and-18 on a Barksdale completion to Dylan Smith, then finished the possession with Stephens’ fourth-and-goal touchdown with six seconds left in the opening quarter.

Stephens’ 45-yard run from deep in Sheridan territory helped launch the next scoring drive. Barksdale found Socia for a touchdown and ran for the conversion to make it 20–14. Cobb answered with a 25-yard touchdown pass to AP Lewis. After Benton recovered an onside kick, Sheridan stopped the Panthers on fourth-and-1 and drove for Socia’s second touchdown. Lewis answered again with 57 seconds left, putting Benton ahead 28–26 at halftime.

Lamarion Bradley’s 5-yard scoring run opened a 35–26 Benton lead in the third quarter. Barksdale answered with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Smith and a conversion pass to Socia. Sheridan then recovered a fumble after sacking Cobb, setting up Smith’s 31-yard touchdown catch on third-and-16. Cobb’s short touchdown run briefly restored Benton’s advantage at 42–40 before Sheridan took control.

Verified Named Scoring Plays

First Quarter

Sheridan — Zay Stephens touchdown run (Two-point pass incomplete), Sheridan 6–0. 11:11 remaining.

Benton — Lamarion Bradley short touchdown run (Kick good), Benton 14–6. 5:51 remaining.

Sheridan — Zay Stephens short run on fourth-and-goal (Stephens two-point run stopped), Benton 14–12. 0:06 remaining.

Second Quarter

Sheridan — Hunter Socia 22-yard pass from Easton Barksdale (Barksdale two-point run), Sheridan 20–14. 9:04 remaining.

Benton — AP Lewis 25-yard pass from Chase Cobb (Kick good), Benton 21–20.

Sheridan — Hunter Socia 15-yard pass from Easton Barksdale (Walker Shields two-point attempt stopped), Sheridan 26–21. 1:41 remaining.

Benton — AP Lewis touchdown pass from Chase Cobb (Gabe Wilbur kick), Benton 28–26. 0:57 remaining.

Third Quarter

Benton — Lamarion Bradley 5-yard run (Gabe Wilbur kick), Benton 35–26. 8:41 remaining.

Sheridan — Dylan Smith 51-yard pass from Easton Barksdale (Barksdale pass to Hunter Socia for two), Benton 35–34. 6:38 remaining.

Sheridan — Dylan Smith 31-yard pass from Easton Barksdale (Two-point pass incomplete), Sheridan 40–35. 2:06 remaining.

Fourth Quarter

Benton — Chase Cobb short touchdown run (Gabe Wilbur kick), Benton 42–40. 11:55 remaining.

Sheridan — Hunter Socia touchdown pass from Easton Barksdale on fourth down (Barksdale stopped on two-point attempt; penalty declined), Sheridan 46–42. 9:04 remaining.

Sheridan — Wylie DePriest 5-yard touchdown on a short toss (Two-point pass incomplete), Sheridan 52–42. 8:59 remaining.

Sheridan — Hunter Socia 19-yard pass from Easton Barksdale (Enzo Miranda kick from 30 yards after two penalties), Sheridan 59–42. 4:13 remaining.

Benton — Chase Cobb touchdown run (Gabe Wilbur kick), Sheridan 59–49. 0:13 remaining.

Players Who Stood Out

Easton Barksdale, Sheridan — Reported full game: 31-of-40 passing for 390 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception; four carries for 30 yards. Broadcast confirms four TD passes to Hunter Socia and two to Dylan Smith; DePriest’s shovel play supplies the seventh in the statistical report.

Hunter Socia, Sheridan — Reported full game: 12 catches for 155 yards and four touchdowns. Broadcast confirms four touchdown catches and a two-point reception.

Zay Stephens, Sheridan — Reported full game: 23 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns; three catches for 29 yards. Broadcast confirms both first-quarter rushing scores and a 45-yard second-quarter run.

Dylan Smith, Sheridan — Touchdown catches of 51 and 31 yards in the third quarter; earlier converted third-and-18 to extend Sheridan’s second touchdown drive.

Ross Stevens, Sheridan — Recovered the untouched fourth-quarter kickoff at Benton’s 5, setting up a touchdown on the next play; broke up a late end-zone pass intended for AP Lewis.

Rashod Litzsey, Sheridan — Fourth-quarter interception set up the possession that ended in Socia’s fourth touchdown catch.

Laighton Tarter, Sheridan — Stripped Chase Cobb and returned the ball to deep Benton territory with 2:37 remaining. Exact return yardage is not established by the broadcast.

Enzo Miranda, Sheridan — Kickoff produced Ross Stevens’ fourth-quarter recovery; made a 30-yard PAT after two penalties.

AP Lewis, Benton — Two second-quarter touchdown catches from Chase Cobb, including the score with 57 seconds left before halftime; also made an acrobatic third-quarter catch to set up a later score.

Lamarion Bradley, Benton — Broadcast credits him with first-quarter and third-quarter rushing touchdowns; no verified full-game rushing total is available in the reviewed sources.

Chase Cobb, Benton — Two touchdown passes to AP Lewis and two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns.

Gabe Wilbur, Benton — Seven successful extra points; broadcast identifies Benton’s kicker as Wilbur and No. 6, matching the roster.