Burton leads Cardinals over Dragons

Benton quarterback Cooper Burton accounted for all four touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to a 30-7 victory over the Cameron Dragons in MEC football at Dave Goodwin Field Friday night.

The Dragons record drops to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the MEC while Benton improves to 4-4 on the year and 3-3 in the conference

The Dragons took the lead in the second quarter when QB Caleb Shanks completed a pass in the left flat to Logan Cantwell, who then went up the left sideline and into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown play. Joe Bryant’s extra point kick gave CHS a 7-0 lead with 11:12 to play in the half.

The Cardinals then took advantage of two Cameron miscues to take the lead.

The first occurred when a short snap to CHS punter Tanner Gordon resulted in the Cardinals getting the ball at the Cameron 22-yard line. After a loss, Burton threw a 28-yard TD pass to T.J. Rice on a fourth down play and Noah Fleshman ran in the two-point conversion to put Benton in front, 8-7.

Benton’s Draetyn Hughes then intercepted a Shanks pass at the Cardinals 43-yard line on Cameron’s next possession. Burton capped the 57-yard scoring drive with a 12-yard pass to Ubong Udom and then Burton ran in the two-point conversion and the Cardinals had a 16-7 lead at the half.

Midway through the third quarter, Burton capped a 69-yard drive with a six-yard run for a 22-7 advantage.

Following a Gordon punt that rolled down to the Benton nine-yard line, on the first play from scrimmage, Burton took off up the middle, hit the left sideline and raced 91 yards into the end zone. He added a two-point conversion run with 9:52 remaining for a 30-7 lead.

The Dragons close out the regular season schedule next Friday when they host the Smithville Warriors.