Benton Community’s Colin Buch bombs Assumption with arm and leg

Benton's Colin Buch (7) drops back to pass during the second quarter of their game at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

VAN HORNE — On a hard-hitting night where every inch was earned, Benton Community seized control of Class 3A District 4 by briefly opening things up.

The Bobcats used a little hurry-up offense to grab momentum on their way to a 23-3 victory over ninth-ranked Davenport Assumption Friday night.

The Bobcats (6-1, 3-0) staked their claim to being included in next week’s rankings with a stout defensive effort and bludgeoning the Knights in the turnover battle, winning 5 to 0.

But the offensive fireworks to close the first half gave Benton the edge.

The Bobcats forced a punt as the first-half clock wound under a minute. Taking over at their own 33, Benton could have taken its 7-3 lead to the locker room. Instead, quarterback Colin Buch hit Aidan Harris in stride for a quick 32 yards.

“We knew we had a couple of timeouts left,” Buch said. “We knew we hadn’t taken some of our shots yet. Why not take a shot?”

Two plays later, the Bobcats sent their wideouts deep again. No one accounted for Buch’s legs as he scrambled for 24 yards to the Knights’ 11. On the next snap, Buch hit Harris with a back-shoulder throw for a touchdown as Benton put up 67 yards on four plays in the span of 29 seconds, taking a double-digit lead into the break.

“That got them back on their heels and we were firing on all cylinders,” Buch said. “It really showed that we came together as a team when we needed to.”

Assumption came out firing to start the third. Angelo Jackson ripped off a 35-yard run and Ayden Weiman hit John Argo for a 28-yard touchdown pass, but a holding penalty brought it back. The Bobcats sniffed out a flea-flicker and dropped Weiman back at the 50.

Just as important as anything he did, Buch’s second half punting was impeccable. One pinned the Knights (4-3, 2-1) at their own 4. A shotgun snap subsequently sailed past Weiman for a safety.

Another punt pinned Assumption at its own 2 early in the fourth quarter.

A third was fumbled to the Bobcats in a turnover that sealed the win.

“To get those late-game possessions and turnovers, all that stuff is important,” Buch said. “We won the turnover battle and that was so important for us.”

Jacob Brecht punctuated a night when everything went right for Benton with a 50-yard touchdown run. Brecht, who came into the night with 769 rushing yards, added a hard-earned 189 on 31 carries. The Bobcats held Assumption star running back Argo to 54 yards on 13 carries.

Davenport Assumption 3 0 0 0 - 3

Benton Community 0 14 2 7 - 23

DA – Billy Moore 27 FG.

BC – Colin Buch 3 run (Nathan Rottman kick).

BC – Aidan Harris 11 pass from Buch (Rottman kick).

BC – Safety

BC – Jacob Brecht 50 run (Rottman kick).

DA, BC

First Downs 13, 16

Rushes-Yards 35-145, 44-216

Comp-Att-Int 8-21-1, 7-14-0

Pass Yards 70, 114

Total Yards 215, 330

Fumbles-Lost 5-4, 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-32, 5-44

Punts-Avg 4-36.0, 6-32.5

Rushing – Assumption: Angelo Jackson 9-59, John Argo 13-54, Ayden Weiman 10-13, Derrick Bass 3-19. Benton: Jacob Brecht 31-189, Samuel Wallace 1-1, Colin Buch 10-34, Aidan Gallery 2-minus-8.

Passing – Assumption: Weiman 8-21-70-1. Benton: Buch 7-14-114-0.

Receiving – Assumption: Argo 1-15, Reese Harris 5-35, David Neuberger 2-20. Benton: Aidan Thompson 1-11, Aidan Gallery 1-0, William Shaw 2-56, Wallace 1-4, Aiden Harris 2-43.