No. 8 Benton Community knocks off No. 1 Williamsburg to earn Class 3A District 5 title

VAN HORNE — If you’re sleeping on Benton Community, quit hitting the snooze button and open your eyes.

The Bobcats are a tough, hard-nosed football team that’s making a habit of humbling highly-ranked teams. For the second time this season, they have knocked off a top-ranked opponent.

Benton produced a stingy defense and Dylan LeFebvere rushed for three touchdowns, including two in the final 3:24, to drop No. 1 Williamsburg, 21-0, and claim the Class 3A District 5 title Friday night at home.

“It was a great opportunity, great team win,” LeFebvere said. “Coaches really pushed us this week. We wanted to win this. We want to be district champions. All of us wanted this all year long.”

The Bobcats improved to 7-2 overall and finished with a 5-0 district mark. They knew they had the potential from the preseason and focused on this feat.

“We knew from the beginning we could be one of the top teams,” senior linebacker Blayke Heying said. “We just stuck to our work and got it done.”

Both teams competed in a football version of a bare-knuckle brawl with stout defenses landing most of the blows. Neither team scored in the first and third quarters.

“We’ve talked to the kids for the last three or four weeks that if we’re going to win games, they’ve got to be a grind,” Bobcats co-head coach Jeff Zittergruen said. “They have to try to impose their will and be as physical as we can be. They’ve bought in to that mentality. I think you kind of saw that play tonight.”

The lone first-half points was LeFebvere’s 5-yard TD run, capping an 80-yard, 10-play drive that melted 4:47 off the clock and giving the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 8:20 left before halftime. Nine of the plays were rushed with one reception for 10 yards.

The series was indicative of Benton’s bully-like run game that amassed 209 yards and didn’t need to throw a pass in the second half. Quarterback Carson Nolan led Benton with 108 yards on the ground and LeFebvere added 96.

“Yeah, that's our main goal in a game is to control ground game, control the run, control the line of scrimmage,” LeFebvere said. “The offensive line did a great job at blocking.”

Benton’s defense came through with a key turnover a couple series later. Williamsburg drove to the Benton 18 but Heying jumped a route for an interception to deny the Raiders.

“I knew sometimes they run inside slants,” Heying said. “I stayed set and looked up and the ball was coming right at me. I just went for it.”

The Bobcats made two crucial goal-line stands. Williamsburg recovered a fumble and began a drive at the Bobcats 10 but a holding penalty and sack on fourth-and-goal ended the threat.

The Raiders had another opportunity bridging the final two quarters. After a defensive pass interference penalty gave the Raiders another shot from the 3, the Benton defense stuffed a run to main a 7-0 lead.

“Our defense has been locked in the whole time,” Heying said. “Just keep sticking to our (game) plan. Wrap up and make a tackle.”

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Photos: Williamsburg at Benton Community high school football

Benton iced the game in the final minutes, capitalizing on a short field after Elijah Kupka’s 62-yard punt flipped the field by putting Williamsburg on its 1.

LeFebvere capped the drive with a 7-yard score and added a 5-yarder after Benton recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. He loves finishing drives and has a nose for the goal.

“Once I get there I know I can drive my feet and get in the end zone,” LeFebvere said. “That’s my goal. I love getting in the end zone.”

Special teams made a huge impact in the final quarter.

“That’s awesome,” Zittergruen said. “Those teams are important and they have to be special. They played their part tonight.”

Williamsburg (7-2, 4-1) was held to 187 yards of offense but made crucial mistakes, including penalties that negated big plays.

“You find out who you are and who you aren’t,” Williamsburg Coach Curt Ritchie said. “I thought they were better at blocking and tackling and more physical at every single level.

“We just have to go back to work on Monday.”

The district contains three ranked teams and playoff contender Grinnell. This was a tough district and rough and tough, right up Benton’s alley.

We had a really good week of practice,” Zittergruen said. “Anytime you get a chance to play for a district title, it’s cool. In this district, there are so many good football teams. I’m hoping four get in. To have a chance to say you won this district definitely means something. We’ve earned that with how we come out. They just work hard and try to get better each week.”

Benton Community 21, Williamsburg 0

AT VAN HORNE

WILL BC

First Downs 10 13

Rushes-yards 26-72 39-209

Passing yards 115 14

Comp-att-int 16-22-1 2-8-1-14

Total yards 187 223

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1

Punts-avg. 5-36.6 5-41.6

Penalties-yards 10-75 6-57

Williamsburg 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Benton Community 0 7 0 14 -- 21

BC – Dylan LeFebvere 5 run (Elijah Kupka kick)

BC– LeFebvere 7 run (Kupka kick)

BC – LeFebvere 5 run (Kupka kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Williamsburg: Nile Sinn 18-65, Grant Hocker 4-12, Owen Scott 2-2, Rayce Heitman 1-(minus 3), Team 1-(minus 4). Carson Nolan 18-108, LeFebvere 19-96, Logan Upah 1-5, Elias Bieschke 1-0.

PASSING – Williamsburg: Hocker 16-22-1-115. Benton Community: Nolan 2-8-1-14.

RECEIVING – Williamsburg: Heitman 10-70, Sinn 2-24, Grady Wetjen 2-14, Cael Moore 1-3, Dylan Weisskopf 1-0. Benton Community: Gavin Brooks 1-10, Upah 1-4.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com