Benbow leads Warriors to win over Dragons

J.D. Benbow rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another score to lead the Smithville Warriors to a 38-0 victory over the Cameron Dragons in MEC football at Dave Goodwin Field Friday night.

Benbow scored on runs of three, 70 and 42 yards and threw a 39-yard TD pass as Smithville finishes the regular season 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the MEC.

The Dragons fell to 1-8 and 0-7 in the league.

Cameron took the opening kickoff and drove down to the Smithville 11-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs. The Warriors then went on an 89-yard scoring drive, with Benbow going into the end zone on a three-yard run. Sam Aviles kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 3:58 to play in the first quarter.

After a Dragons punt, the Warriors scored again when Benbow took a pitchout from quarterback Mitchell Orr and then threw a 39-yard scoring strike to a wide open Riley Gesling to make it 14-0 with 2:32 to go.

Early in the second quarter, Benbow scored his second touchdown on a 70-yard run on the first play from scrimmage at the Smithville 30 after another CHS punt.

The Warriors closed out the first half on an eight-yard TD run by Zach Granger for a 28-0 lead.

Benbow scored his final touchdown on a 42-yard run to cap a 65-yard scoring drive on the Warriors first possession of the second half.

Aviles kicked a 32-yard field goal with 11:13 left to play in the game to complete the scoring.

The Dragons open the Class 3 District 8 playoffs next Friday when they travel to Chillicothe to face the Hornets.