The 2017 Benton Rangers

by Steve Dunford

Rangers Roster

Rangers Schedule

Nickname: Rangers
Head Coach: Bob Pankey
2016 Record: 4-5
2017 Classification Enrollment: 564.00

Aug 25 7:00 H Carterville 581.00
Sep 1 7:00 A Sparta 336.00
Sep 8 7:00 H Pinckneyville 418.00
Sep 15 7:00 A Herrin (H.S.) 757.00
Sep 23 12:00 A West Frankfort (Frankfort) 517.00
Sep 29 7:00 H Harrisburg 542.00
Oct 6 7:00 H Metropolis (Massac County) 591.00
Oct 13 7:00 A Murphysboro [Coop] 743.00
Oct 20 7:00 A Anna (A.-Jonesboro) 514.00

Link to WSIL-TV’s Sports Extra Preview

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36194120/veteran-skill-players-leading-bentons-offense

One more win last season, and the Rangers would have been playing in week 10.  With one of the better quarterbacks that I watched last year, Hamilton Page, and Blaine Pankey in the backfield, the Rangers will be in the thick of things in the SIRR-Ohio.

Pankey will be behind the line waiting on the oppositions backfield in the linebacker slot.  Besides Page and Pankey returning starters for the Rangers are WR/DB’s Joey Craig and Cade Thomas, OL/LB Warren Smothers, offensive lineman Carston Sanders, linebacker Andrew Dunn, and defensive backs Neal Carlton and Ty Gordon.

The Rangers will have a tall task, going against the veteran Carterville coach Dennis Drust and TE/LB Luke Ford.  Ford verbally committed to Arkansas last spring, and pulled his commitment.  Several publications have Ford listed in the top two high school tight ends in the country.   He has drawn interest in most of the Big 10 and SEC programs, with Alabama coach Nick Saban has been in frequent contact with him.

Here is what Benton Coach Bob Pankey had to say about facing the Lions tonight, “Expect Carterville to be well coached and have some athletic kids, obviously Luke Ford is the biggest threat. We have to play sound technique football with few mistakes.”

About the Rangers overall this year, Coach Pankey had this to say about his team, “Our skill positions have a ton of experience with most as returning starters. We are still having to plug some holes in the offensive line. Our biggest weakness this year is lack of depth. We will have to be smart with how we practice and play to keep kids healthy.”

Each week, when I preview a game I will have a game of the week the four programs in Franklin County are participating in.  This is the week 1 game of the week.  I have watched Luke Ford play on film several times and live on the basketball floor.  This will be the opportunity to see a power five conference recruit.

This might be the Rangers toughest test of the year out of the gate.  If Benton stays healthy, there could be some Saturday afternoon November football beyond week nine.