Benton makes jump to Class 5A

As a growing school, Benton is a hot school. As a growing football program, the Tigers are ready to accept the challenge of moving up in class.

The Tigers reached the Class 4A playoffs a year ago, falling in the opening round to Tioga. In 2019, Benton will compete in the state’s highest classification in 5A.

Entering his seven season on the job, Reynolds Moore is ready to take his team to the next level. He guided Benton to the quarterfinals in 2014 and 2016. The Tigers have reached the playoffs in all six seasons under Moore.

“I feel like the last couple of years, we can compete with the good 5A teams,” Moore said. “I think our biggest issue is depth. Talent-wise, I like our first bunch. The schedule will be challenging and we will have to stay healthy. It will be tough but we welcome the challenge. The 5A schools have larger numbers. Our kids are excited. They have faced those we will be playing on the playgrounds growing up.”

To make the transition, an experienced offense will certainly help.

It all starts at quarterback with a talented junior in Clint Lasiter (5-10, 185) returning. Lasiter has already committed to play college baseball at UL-Lafayette.

“Lasiter is tough as nails,” Moore said. “He is a winner. He is very competitive and has great ability. He will always challenge defenses. He is committed to play baseball at UL-Lafayette. He is one of the best baseball players in Louisiana. He kept a lot of plays alive last year as our offensive line, which was young, struggled. We had to have a mobile quarterback and we had that with Clint. He made plays when they were not there. He is learning and progressing in learning defenses.”

Senior Cameron Barnett (5-11, 205) is a gifted running back with power and blazing speed. Moore says he has clocked Barnett at 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.

“We’re excited about what Cameron can do,” Moore said. “We moved him over from defense and he was good as our second back a year ago. We expect he will step up to be the main guy this year. He has great speed and strength. Jastin Johnson is a junior whom we expect to come up big for us.”

Senior Malik Antoine (6-1, 175) leads the wide receiving corps. Antoine caught 33 passes for 483 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago. He is joined by another speedster in sophomore Evan Cole (5-9, 165), who has run a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and has a chance to be a special player. The other receivers are seniors Shaw Malley (5-10, 155) and Artis Cole.

“Malik moved to the outside last year,” Moore said. “We probably didn’t use him as well as we could have last year. We have to find ways to get him the ball. We like what he brings to the table. He is very aggressive, a great route-runner. He will go up and get the ball on anyone. Evan can really run. He is strong. He will make it tough for teams to double Malik. Evan’s brother, Artis, will play the slot for us. He is back from a knee injury a year ago.”

Sophomore Davis Sellers (6-2, 210) is a tight end who will also play defensive line, where he did a good job last year.

The offensive line was a weak spot a year ago but should be better this season. Leading the way is sophomore Charlie Nance (5-10, 210) who started at right guard as a freshman. He will be joined by seniors Trey Winkler and Hunter Womack, junior Nathan Hardin and sophomore Braysen Brown.

“We should be better up front,” Moore said. “We are still a work in progress but we are improving. We have six or seven guys who can rotate through there. They know their assignments and there is now an attitude that goes with him. We want them to have that mean streak that you need. I feel like that is now present. This may go from one of our biggest question marks to one of our biggest strengths.”

The defense is not as experienced but has some talent on hand.

Up front, Sellers and junior Cade Waites (5-11, 230) return. Waites had 43 tackles, including 11 for loss with three sacks a year ago. Senior Kershun Shepard and junior Rowe Thompson (6-1, 200) are the other starters.

“Waites is one of the strongest kids we have,” Moore said. “He is an incredibly hard worker. We think he will grow more and he is a formidable force. I feel we have some young guys who can step up and make plays. Rowe should be solid on the edge. We will rotate some younger guys up front.”

The linebackers should be a strength, led by junior Ashur Hall (5-10, 220) and sophomore Jaden Miller (6-3, 205), who has a great future. Junior Owen Wainscott is the third starter.

“Hall will call our defensive signals for us,” Moore said. “He does a really good job for us. We like what he brings to the table. Miller has grown significantly. He used to be a receiver and running back so he is a good athlete. He is good in pass coverage and in the run game. College coaches are asking about him already. He will turn a lot of heads the next couple of years.”

The secondary is led by senior Tyler Ivy (5-10, 175), who had three interceptions a year ago. Senior Justin Cleveland and sophomore Aiden Colvin (5-9, 160) are also expected to start while the fourth spot is up for grabs. Shaw Malley has moved from receiver to cornerback. Aaron Wheeler is coming back from a knee injury and should be cleared in time to contribute.

“Ivy is really the only answer we have in the deep right now,” Moore said. “We may play him at corner some, rather than safety. We need him on the back end of the defense, though, with his knowledge, so we will likely leave him at safety. We moved Malley to defense to help in the secondary. Cleveland has moved from receiver as well but he has some knee issues right now. Wheeler is coming back from injury as well and can make a difference.”

Sophomore RJ Moore (5-8, 150) returns to handle kicking duties. Moore made both field goal attempts and converted 37-of-41 extra point attempts a year ago. The punter is Wainscott.

The schedule opens at home against Oak Grove before the Tigers travel to Vicksburg, MS. Benton will face Huntington on Sept. 19 at Independence Stadium.

“It is hard to find a week one game in Louisiana,” Moore said. “We called Oak Grove and worked it out. I may have lost my mind scheduling them. They are very talented and very well coached. Either way, we will both walk away with good power points and find out where we are. I am from Mississippi and I know Vicksburg. They have lots of athletic ability and will be a good test. We like making a trip. It will prepare us for the playoffs. We are familiar with Huntington and it will be great to play at Independence Stadium.”

District 1-5A action begins on Sept. 27 at home against Parkway before the Tigers travel three straight weeks, facing Haughton, Captain Shreve and Byrd, the latter two at Lee Hedges Stadium. A pair of home games with Southwood and Airline follow before the regular season finale at Turpin Stadium against Natchitoches Central.

“Captain Shreve and Haughton have the most players returning,” Moore said. “They deserve to be favored in the league. We don’t know much about Natchitoches Central or Southwood. Parkway and Airline is a big deal to our guys. Our kids know their kids. Byrd is a really good football team every year. They do what they do very well. They will dress 100 kids. We will play in front of bigger crowds.

With a host of skill on offense, Benton is prepared to score in 2019 and should assimilate well into its new class.

“If we can stay healthy, we can compete with everyone,” Moore said. “We are a year or two away from the kind of depth you need but we like where we are as a program and we are looking forward. We want to announce our presence in 1-5A and in 5A, as a whole, with authority. We plan on making the playoffs and being a factor.”