Benton has proven itself a formidable opponent even in the best of times under Coach Brad Harris. But the Panthers are downright terrifying when you play them without eight starters, as Marion did on Friday night. Down its leading rusher, passer, two starting offensive linemen, its kicker and punter, a four-year defensive stalwart and all the makings were there for a 55-13 Benton victory over Marion at Premier Bank Stadium. Benton (3-2 overall, 3-1 6A East) scored on all six of its first-half possessions to lead 33-0 at halftime. BHS junior tailback and Arkansas commit Braylen Russell rushed for 173 yards and four TDs in the initial two quarters. The injuries prevented Marion (3-2, 3-1) from giving the state of Arkansas the showdown for conference supremacy that most expected in the preseason. The Pats managed just 77 yards in the first half, down six offensive starters. “The guys that we had competed, for the most part,” said Marion coach Lance Clark. “Ultimately, we had too many guys playing out of position to execute the way we needed to win a big game.” Benton led 14-0 following a pair of Russell touchdown plunges when the junior zigged and zagged across the field for an 83-yard touchdown run that gave the Panthers a 21-0 lead with 1:49 left in the first quarter. “I thought we played particularly well, especially early on,” said Benton coach Brad Harris. “I know they're shorthanded tonight, but I thought we traveled well and handled business.” Benton kicker Lucas Wilbur added field goals of 29 and 42 yards to push the Panther advantage to 27-0 midway through the second quarter. Benton's final drive of the first half was a microcosm of the contest for the Patriots. The Marion defense allowed 1 yard on three Benton carries from inside the Marion 3-yard line, the last of which appeared to run the clock out with the Panthers leading 27-0. Instead, Marion drew an offside penalty that gave Benton one untimed down that Russell converted for a 2-yard scoring plunge that made it 33-0 at the break. The Marion defense forced stops on the first three Benton second-half drives, and Marion got a pair of TD passes from sophomore Carson Catt to senior receiver Donnie Cheers. Cheers' first scoring grab covered 54 yards, and his 21-yarder later in the third made it 33-13 Benton, but the Panthers led 40-13 after three quarters. “I appreciated how we responded after halftime,” said Clark. “It would have been very easy to pack it in and give up, but we didn't, even with the difficulties in the game.” Marion travels on Friday night to Searcy in a contest that will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Cheers won his second consecutive Crittenden County Farm Bureau Player of the Week award after snagging a pair of TD passes and kicking an extra point. Antanius Tiggs earned Patriot of the Week after playing most of the snaps on offense and defense. Aqeelo Allen earned his second Offensive Lineman of the Week award of the season after earning the highest blocking grade and recording the most pancake blocks against Benton. CHEERS CHASING HISTORY With four TD catches in the past two weeks, Donnie Cheers continues to scale the Marion receiving record books. The senior all-conference performer is now second in school history with 17 career touchdown receptions. Collin Chambers caught 24 TD passes between 2014 and 2016 to establish the school record. RARE LOSS Benton's victory on Friday night was just Marion's second home loss under Lance Clark. Marion finished 5-1 on the field last season at Premier Bank Stadium, with eventual Class 4A state champion Joe T. Robinson escaping Marion 21-19 last September. The Pats won their last four at home following that loss, including conference wins over Searcy, Pine Bluff, and Jonesboro, and a playoff conquest of Russellville in the first meeting of those schools. Marion is 2-1 so far in 2022 at home following a dramatic 27-23 victory over defending state champion El Dorado on September 9 and a 49-18 homecoming win over Jacksonville two weeks ago. Marion's next home game is October 14 against West Memphis. MUSICAL CHAIRS ON OFFENSE With Carter Benton and Carius Curne missing the Benton contest, Marion started its fifth offensive line combination in as many weeks last Friday night. Benton missed his second consecutive start after starting 16 straight games up front, while Curne started Marion's previous game at Greene County Tech before exiting on the Pats' first drive. But it didn't stop there. Catt's start at QB gave Marion three signal-callers in three weeks. Ashton Gray started against Jacksonville but sustained an injury that kept him out of action at Greene County Tech and against Benton. Sophomore tailback Jalen Smith shifted to QB at Tech and amassed 234 yards and three scores in just over three quarters, but he suffered an injury that kept him out of the Benton game. WEEK 5 6A EAST RESULTS Benton 55, Marion 13 El Dorado 56, Searcy 35 Greene Co. Tech 28, Jacksonville 14 LR Catholic 37, West Memphis 16 Sylvan Hills 28, Sheridan 27 6A EAST STANDINGS SCHOOL RECORD TIEBREAKER POINTS LR Catholic 4-0 52 Benton 3-1 39 Marion 3-1 30 West Memphis 3-1 33 El Dorado 2-2 26 Sheridan 2-2 17 Greene Co. Tech 1-3 13 Searcy 1-3 6 Sylvan Hills 1-3 1 Jacksonville 0-4 WEEK 6 6A EAST SCHEDULE Marion at Searcy Greene Co. Tech at Benton Sylvan Hills at Jacksonville LR Catholic at Sheridan El Dorado at West Memphis