Perfection achieved: Four local teams run the table

Nolan Schafer (Benton Rangers) in the Military Appreciation game vs the DuQuoin Indians.

Week 9 of the high school football season has wrapped up for all of our area teams and we finish the regular season with four teams still undefeated: Benton out of the SIRR Mississippi, Carterville out of the SIRR Ohio, Johnston City out of the Black Diamond and Richland County out of the Little Illini Conference.

Benton Rangers 9-0 (5-0): The Benton Rangers outscored their opponents 418-59 this season averaging 46.4 points per game and scoring 50 or more points four times.

Defensively they were flat-out dominant allowing just 59 points all season which comes out to only 6.5 points a game. They recorded three shutouts and held every opponent under seven points except one, a 34-24 win over Nashville. The question everyone’s been asking has been answered. The Benton Rangers are the #3 seed in the 3A playoffs. They’ll face the #14 seed St. Joseph Ogden Spartans at home on November 1st with kickoff set for 2:00.

Jonathan Miller (Carterville Lions) in the backfield vs the Herrin Tigers, Photo Courtesy: Field Focus

Carterville Lions 9-0 (4-0): The Carterville Lions have been an absolute force this season and it all starts up front. Their offensive line is anchored by four year starter and senior Jaxon Smith standing 6’5” and 380 pounds. Smith sets the tone in the trenches and has been a huge reason why this offense has been one of the best in Southern Illinois.

The Lions outscored opponents 354-97. If you take out Week 1 where they pulled off a 35-34 thriller at home against Marion, they only allowed 63 points the next eight weeks and just 21 total in their last four games. Behind that big line, junior running back Johnathan Miller put up 1,312 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. The Carterville Lions are a 4A team and the #2 seed taking on Alton Marquette.

Marcus Leitzen (Johnston City) after scoring a touchdown in the week one vs Carmi-White County

Johnston City Indians 9-0 (9-0): The Johnston City Indians ran the table in the Black Diamond Conference going a perfect 9-0. The Indians outscored opponents 379-107 on the year. They’ll play in the 2A bracket as the #1 seed going up against the #16 seed Wesclin Warriors. Don’t sleep on Wesclin though, they’ve won four straight and are sitting at 5-4 heading into the postseason.

Richland County Tigers 9-0 (7-0): The Richland County Tigers put up 416 points this season averaging 46.4 points per game. They scored 50 or more four different times and were held under 30 only once a 28-27 thriller for the conference title against Casey-Westfield. The Tigers are in 4A and locked in as the #1 seed. They’ll face the #16 seed Jackson Crimsons who come in at 5-4.