South Range topples Rebels

The Raiders won 21-7 to set up a regional final matchup with Warren JFK.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- When it seemed that Crestview was making progress and picking up momentum, South Range responded.
Ahead 7-0 at halftime, South Range tacked on a touchdown in each of the last two quarters to beat its Inter Tri-County League rival, 21-7, in a Division V, Region 17 semifinal at Bo Rein Stadium Saturday night.
Sophomore quarterback Jack Dawson threw to Steve Bensinger for one TD and ran 91 yards for the clincher to stay undefeated at 12-0.
Crestview had three passes intercepted and was rebuffed on several offensive attempts to advance against the Raiders.
"We pulled together as a team," coach Dan Yeagley said of his Raiders. "We're starting to mature as a team and it's especially crucial at this time of the year, whether it's against Crestview or JFK."
JFK will be South Range's opponent in a Region 17 championship game Saturday.
Dawson registered a game-high 157 yards rushing on 12 carries.
The Raiders were strong on both sides of the ball, rolling up 370 yards and stopping the Rebels when necessary.
"We were outplayed," Crestview coach Paul Cusick said.
Sole score
Crestview's only points came late in the third quarter when Zech Parker ran 37 yards up the middle and Cameron Reynolds added an extra point kick to tie the game, 7-7, with 2:56 remaining.
However, in a little more than a minute, the Raiders scored on the pass to Bensinger and J.C. Willison's PAT.
South Range put the game away when the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Dawson scampered 91 yards for the game's final tally with 4:33 left.
"That was a waggle keeper, a misdirection keeper," Yeagley said. "He got a good block by a lineman before getting more help downfield."
Preceding the play, Crestview punter Reynolds had his kick roll to Range's 9-yard line.
Charlie Lengyel had an interception late in the first half and Jordan Razo added one late in the game as the Rebels attempted to mount scoring threats.
A pickoff by David Rach with 1:09 remaining, took the last wind out of Crestview.
South Range scores
Tommy Shives put South Range on the board first when his 3-yard run capped a a 70-yard drive on the Raiders' second possession.
An 11-yard run by Bensinger was the big gainer in the series.
On the game's opening drive, Crestview reached Range's 30 before getting halted on a fourth-and-2 attempt.
In the drive leading to Parker's touchdown, Corey Hill had a 10-yard pickup.
Parker was Crestview's leading ground gainer with 81 yards on 11 carries, while 10 carries by Hill netted him 67 yards. Hill was injured an removed from the field midway through the fourth quarter.
On Bensinger's TD, the junior made the catch at the 15-yard line while backpeddling, then turned to sprint the final distance to snap the tie.
Bensinger had 64 yards rushing on 16 carries and his four catches totaled 102 yards.
Dawson completed 9 of 15 passes for 134 yards and had one interception (by Hill), while Crestview quarterback Tony Britton hit on eight of 22 aerials for 62 yards.
Willison had three PATs on the night.
"They're backing each other," Yeagley said of his players at this stage of the season. "If they play as individuals, they'll struggle."
Crestview, which bowed out at 9-3, lost to South Range earlier in the season, 7-6, after trailing at halftime, 7-0.
bassetti@vindy.com