Panthers lose to Wolves
GARY GARNER Sports writer

READY BRENDA GARNER PHOTO The Benton Panthers listen to head coach Marcus Jones before they played Lake Hamilton in Pearcy.

Not even Congress could pass a big enough bailout package to save the Benton Panthers Friday night.

The Panther offense needed stimulating and the defense needed pork. Lake Hamilton's quarterback, Phillip Butterfield, looked like a five-star general as he led the Curly Wolves over the under-matched Benton Panthers, 56-21 — not in his passing, but his general direction of the Wolves' offense. The mercy rule was in effect by halftime largely because Butterfield had a 'Profit and a Church'.

Josh Profit got Lake Hamilton on the scoreboard first but Benton was about to see a lot of Church on this Friday night.

Colby Roberts started at quarterback for the Panthers and led Benton to a three and out on the first possession. Punter Josh Creel cranked a 51- yard punt to pen back the Wolves, but they still managed to score.

This time Wolf running back David Church had the honors of crossing the goal line.

BENTON BRENDA GARNER PHOTOS Above, the Benton coaches watch the action on the football field. Below, Austin Sams goes out for a catch during the game.

It was a habit Church would have during the game. He scored four times, for a 14-0 lead.

Grant Jones then entered the game as quarterback to try and jump start the Panther offense, but Creel was called on again to punt.

With defensive pressure from Lee Richardson and Cody Wineland, Tulsa bound quarterback, Butterfield, hooked up with Profit for a 62-yard pass play on a screen pass.

Lake Hamilton had a 21- 0 lead at the end of the first quarter. With just under 10 minutes to play in the second quarter, the Wolves went back to Church. He scored another touchdown and the lead was 28-0.

But Jones came back in and settled down in his role as the team quarterback. Jones hit fellow sophomore Ashton Roberts on a pass down the sidelines and then hit Colby Roberts on a long pass play over the middle to inside the 5-yard line.

Tony Swopes tried his magic at quarterback from the Wild Panther formation. Swopes ran over left tackle for a touchdown to get Benton on the scoreboard. Cole Durham, playing in his first game since getting hurt at the beginning of the season, kicked the extra point cutting into the lead 28-7.

The Panthers quickly got another dose of Church, as he scored again to make the score 35-7.

Benton got the ball back and once again called on Creel to punt, this time Lake Hamilton was able to come up the middle and block it. With under 2:30 remaining in the first half, Church scored again giving Lake Hamilton enough points for the mercy rule, as they led 42-7.

Thinking that all the scoring was done for the first half, Butterfield hit Profit with a long pass down to the 1-yard line. Profit got the call and went in for the touchdown on the next play, making the halftime score 49-7.

Jones came out in the second half and hit Ashton Roberts for a first down, but the Wolves' Cam Sanders intercepted Jones and took the ball into Panther territory. On the first play after the interception, Nathan Bell went the distance for another Lake Hamilton touchdown to make it 56-7.

MORE PANTHERS BRENDA GARNER PHOTO Above Benton Panther Josh Davis heads down field on a play against Lake Hamilton.

The Panthers were able to get a little offense going in the second half.

Benton came out running the ball when they had it deep in their own territory after a short kick off return. A mixture of Colby Roberts, Cory Dabney and Edrick Coggins got the ball to midfield. Then senior Kody Hamlin entered the game at quarterback and was able to hit Colby Roberts for a short pass and scramble for positive yards.

Then Swopes entered the game at quarterback again.

With the Panthers in Lake Hamilton territory, Swopes got a first down on third-and- 4. With a first and goal, the Wolves stopped Swopes, but Hamlin ran for eight yards down to the one and sneaked over for a touchdown on the next play. The extra point attempt was no good and the Panthers trailed 56-13.

With Lake Hamilton clearing their bench for the homecoming crowd. Benton scored once more to make the score look a little more respectable. Hamlin hit Ashton Roberts on a positive pass play, then coach Marc Jones called Coggins number and he went over from the two for a touchdown. Hamlin hit Austin Sams in the end zone for the two-point conversion and makes the final score 56- 21.

Benton hosts Texarkana next week.