The Airline Vikings defeated the Benton Tigers 57-38 in a District 1-5A game Friday night at M.D. Ray Field at Airline Stadium.
Airline improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in district. Benton fell to 3-3 and 1-2.
The game was tied at 15 after a quarter. The Vikings took control in the second quarter with three unanswered touchdowns thanks in part to a pair of interceptions.
Pierre Watson’s interception set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Nathan White. Late in the second quarter Caleb Beaver returned an interception for a touchdown.
The Vikings also scored on an 89-yard, 10-play drive capped by a 16-yard run by Terrance Hays in the quarter.
Airline Head Coach Justin Scogin said the Vikings played almost as well as they have all season coming off a close victory against Natchitoches Central.
“I don’t think we played a complete game, but I think we were vastly improved in all three aspects,” he said.
He said the play of the offensive line enabled the Vikings to run the ball effectively.
“We got into a little groove there where we were lining up and running the ball,” he said. And it’s not something we really do a whole lot of.
“We don’t really make our living running the ball, but I really thought even going into the season our m offensive line is really good and we have a couple of really good backs and we got in a little groove and, very uncharacteristically, we just lined up and just tried to pound it down the field. We did a really good job of it. So that’s only going to help us going forward.”
Airline drove 80 yards in 14 plays for its first touchdown, a 1-yard run by quarterback Chase Williams. Terrance Hays scored a two-point conversion,
After a 39-yard kickoff return, the Vikings went 27 yards in five plays for their second touchdown, a 5-yard run by Hays.
Benton drove 80 yards in nine plays for its first touchdown, a 3-yard run by Madden Raymond. Raymond scored a two-point conversion.
The Tigers went 34 yards in two plays for their second touchdown, a 6-yard run by quarterback Malachi Zeigler.
Airline led 36-15 at the half.
The Vikings’ second-half touchdowns came on passes of 26 and 11 yards to Sir’Charles Marshall and a 48-yard run by White. Caleb Nunn had a 69-yard reception on the second touchdown drive.
Airline extended its lead to 57-22.
Raymond scored second-half touchdowns on runs of 3 and 1 yards. Zeigler scored the Tigers’ final touchdown on a 12-yard run.
Williams completed 14-of-26 passes for 191 yards.
Chris Hart led the Vikings on the ground with 92 yards on 16 carries. White rushed for 83 on seven. Hays had 40 on seven.
Marshall had three catches for 51 yards.
Dylan Jones kicked four extra points.
Per stats kept for the Benton Tigers Sports Network broadcast, Benton had 317 yards rushing.
Zeigler led the team with 143 on 11 carries. Drake Perkins had 85 on 14. Raymond had 48 on 11.
Airline plays Huntington Friday at Independence Stadium. The Raiders (1-5, 1-2) defeated Byrd 33-28 Thursday night.
Benton visits Parkway. The Panthers (3-3, 1-2) lost to Captain Shreve 61-48 Friday night.