South Range is too tough, 55-7

The Raiders rolled to a 41-0 lead en route to their fourth win over Lisbon.

By RYAN JONES

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NORTH LIMA — When you’re leading 41-0 at intermission and lightning delays the start of the second half for 45 minutes, how do you pass the time?

If you’re South Range’s Steve Bensinger you try to relax.

“I talked about homecoming with some of the guys,” he said.

The senior chuckled and added, “I also talked with Jack Dawson [South Range’s quarterback] because he was cold.”

Bensinger and the rest of the starters didn’t see the field in the second half as the Raiders rolled their way to a 55-7 triumph over Lisbon.

“It was kind of a crazy night,” South Range coach Dan Yeagley said. “The lightning delay to start the half was the first one I’ve been through.

“We tried to get the kids to relax once we knew we were going to be delayed. We had them take off their shoulder pads and stretch a bit.”

Raiders’ defense delivers

The Raiders’ defense held Lisbon without a first down in the first half and stuffed the Blue Devils ground attack.

Although Rose finished with 96 yards, many of those came in the fourth quarter.

Yeagley said the focus of their game plan was to stop Lisbon’s tailback Dana Rose.

“He’s an explosive player,” Yeagley said. “We knew we had to contain him because they had some injuries at quarterback coming into this game.”

On offense, South Range (4-0) amassed 464 yards, with 357 of them coming on the ground. Ten different skill players touched the ball for the Raiders.

“We’ve been blessed with good running backs,” Yeagley said. “But none of those yards are possible without our offensive line. They’ve done a great job all year. They’ve opened the holes and made the plays for our skill players.”

Bensinger comes through

Bensinger, who had touchdown runs of 63 and 5 yards, said he is proud to be one of those skill players.

“Growing up we heard that our group didn’t have as good of skill players as others did,” he said. “But we’ve proven to ourselves what we are capable of doing.”

Nick Golec led the Raiders with 82 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Bensinger had 72 yards, Tyler Rach added 59 yards and Charlie Lengyel chipped in 37 yards and a score.

Dawson went 6-of-10 for 107 yards for South Range, and tossed a 40-yard touchdown to James Nell.

Rose paces Lisbon

Rose led the Blue Devils (2-2) with 96 yards on 23 carries.

The Raiders will face ITCL foe Crestivew next week.

“We’re taking it one game at a time,” Yeagley said. “Tomorrow we will start preparing for Crestview.

“It doesn’t matter how we have fared against them in the past. In this league if you don’t come ready to play each week you’re going to be in trouble.”