Sports
Bobcats put it all on the line Friday
Trophy, conference and state seeding up for grabs in rival match
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Before even taking a regular-season snap, Benson quarterback Mark Mabry said the road to a third consecutive title would likely go through Willcox.
While Mabry didn't have a crystal ball in August, the senior was correct in his assessment that under new coach John Hughes, and with a high-powered offense, Willcox is a force to be reckoned with.
The Bobcats will learn the strength of that force Friday night when they go head to head with the 2A East rival.
Bobcats' defensive coach Casey Woodall told his players "it doesn't get any better than this. It's the last game at home and the stands are going to be packed, and everyone is going to be here to see the fight."
The Bobcats' obvious advantage is they will host Willcox in a game where everything is on the line. The winner of the final regular-season contest will take control of the Seney-Lohman Trophy, otherwise known as the traveling trophy, will win the 2A East Conference, and will earn a top-five seeding in the 2A state playoffs, therefore guaranteeing them at least one home game in the post season.
"I think this is going to be an exciting game," said Willcox Coach Jim Hughes. "You want to have a playoff atmosphere in your last game. You want it to be a prepatory game for state, and that's what this game is going to be. We are definitely looking forward to it."
In his first season as the Willcox head coach, Hughes has led the Cowboys' team from a dismal 2-8 record in 2008 to a conference-tying 8-1 record.
Benson won the conference title in 2007 and 2008 and is looking for a third crown. However, players like Dain Dastrup and Kyle Graf said they know it's going to be tough.
"If we want to win, we have to prepare for Willcox right now," Dastrup said. "They are playing really good football right now and we have to do what we need to do to prepare."
Benson currently has the edge in the state power points, ranking second with 62.7 points, and Willcox isn't far behind, positioned at third with 62.2 points.
Bobcats' Coach Chris Determan told Benson players Friday night that they better get ready for a tough opponent. Willcox has a dominant defense, and has a fast, high-scoring offense that will prove to be a true test, he said.
"The trophy, the conference, a top five seed in state, if you want it, you have to beat Willcox," he said. "
Hughes said both Benson and Willcox have a good rushing game, good quarterbacks and the supporting cast for both teams works hard.
But Hughes said there is no doubt that his defense will have to key in on Bobcats' leading rusher Kyle Graf to be successful. Graf, a two-season conference leader, has racked up more than 1,000 yards this season.
"We will have to stop number 12. That's the game plan," Hughes said. "If he runs wild on us like he has everyone else, it's going to be a long night. Benson also has a nice supporting cast like we do, so I think it's going to be a good game."
That supporting cast includes workhorse Dastrup, who took most of the reps last week, to rush for 228 yards and on a weekly basis leads the defense in tackles.
It is not uncommon for the Bobcats' ground attack to rack up more than 300 yards a game, which points to a strong offensive line.
Willcox is looking to not only win the conference, but they are also looking to regain possession of the traveling trophy. Benson has had it the last two seasons, and Willcox had the replica of the Lombardi Trophy the seven years before that.
The rivalry between Willcox and Benson dates back to the 1960s. The traveling trophy first came into existence as a friendly competition between the town's fuel distributors, Martin Lohman, from Benson, and E.A. Seney of Willcox.
The two companies paid to have the trophy made, and each year the winning team keeps it.
This is the first season in a long time where both teams are performing well, and have a chance to win the trophy. Over the last decade, the tradition has been that either Willcox is the dominating team in the conference, or Benson is. It has been rare that both teams come in with a chance to win it all.
With the stands expected to be packed for the showdown, kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night.
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Before even taking a regular-season snap, Benson quarterback Mark Mabry said the road to a third consecutive title would likely go through Willcox.
While Mabry didn't have a crystal ball in August, the senior was correct in his assessment that under new coach John Hughes, and with a high-powered offense, Willcox is a force to be reckoned with.
The Bobcats will learn the strength of that force Friday night when they go head to head with the 2A East rival.
Bobcats' defensive coach Casey Woodall told his players "it doesn't get any better than this. It's the last game at home and the stands are going to be packed, and everyone is going to be here to see the fight."
The Bobcats' obvious advantage is they will host Willcox in a game where everything is on the line. The winner of the final regular-season contest will take control of the Seney-Lohman Trophy, otherwise known as the traveling trophy, will win the 2A East Conference, and will earn a top-five seeding in the 2A state playoffs, therefore guaranteeing them at least one home game in the post season.
"I think this is going to be an exciting game," said Willcox Coach Jim Hughes. "You want to have a playoff atmosphere in your last game. You want it to be a prepatory game for state, and that's what this game is going to be. We are definitely looking forward to it."
In his first season as the Willcox head coach, Hughes has led the Cowboys' team from a dismal 2-8 record in 2008 to a conference-tying 8-1 record.
Benson won the conference title in 2007 and 2008 and is looking for a third crown. However, players like Dain Dastrup and Kyle Graf said they know it's going to be tough.
"If we want to win, we have to prepare for Willcox right now," Dastrup said. "They are playing really good football right now and we have to do what we need to do to prepare."
Benson currently has the edge in the state power points, ranking second with 62.7 points, and Willcox isn't far behind, positioned at third with 62.2 points.
Bobcats' Coach Chris Determan told Benson players Friday night that they better get ready for a tough opponent. Willcox has a dominant defense, and has a fast, high-scoring offense that will prove to be a true test, he said.
"The trophy, the conference, a top five seed in state, if you want it, you have to beat Willcox," he said. "
Hughes said both Benson and Willcox have a good rushing game, good quarterbacks and the supporting cast for both teams works hard.
But Hughes said there is no doubt that his defense will have to key in on Bobcats' leading rusher Kyle Graf to be successful. Graf, a two-season conference leader, has racked up more than 1,000 yards this season.
"We will have to stop number 12. That's the game plan," Hughes said. "If he runs wild on us like he has everyone else, it's going to be a long night. Benson also has a nice supporting cast like we do, so I think it's going to be a good game."
That supporting cast includes workhorse Dastrup, who took most of the reps last week, to rush for 228 yards and on a weekly basis leads the defense in tackles.
It is not uncommon for the Bobcats' ground attack to rack up more than 300 yards a game, which points to a strong offensive line.
Willcox is looking to not only win the conference, but they are also looking to regain possession of the traveling trophy. Benson has had it the last two seasons, and Willcox had the replica of the Lombardi Trophy the seven years before that.
The rivalry between Willcox and Benson dates back to the 1960s. The traveling trophy first came into existence as a friendly competition between the town's fuel distributors, Martin Lohman, from Benson, and E.A. Seney of Willcox.
The two companies paid to have the trophy made, and each year the winning team keeps it.
This is the first season in a long time where both teams are performing well, and have a chance to win the trophy. Over the last decade, the tradition has been that either Willcox is the dominating team in the conference, or Benson is. It has been rare that both teams come in with a chance to win it all.
With the stands expected to be packed for the showdown, kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night.
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