BATESVILLE — For the first time this season, the St. Joseph Catholic School football team needed their two superstars, Trey Benson and Dillon Johnson, to play a complete four quarter game last Friday in the Irish’s 60-40 victory over North Delta.
And, just about each time their number was called, both Benson and Johnson delivered in a big way.
Benson finished the game with 298 yards rushing on 21 carries and four touchdowns. His night culminated with a 94-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Not to be overshadowed, Johnson, who played both quarterback and running back Friday, was similarly dominant. Johnson ran the ball 21 times for 240 yards and four touchdowns.
“This was a good check for both of them,” St. Joseph Catholic School coach John Baker said. “With players like those two, it makes play calling really easy.”
Johnson and Benson are both senior leaders this season. Before Johnson heads off to Mississippi State and Benson heads to the University of Oregon, they are trying to lead the Fighting Irish to their third straight state championship. With 16 straight victories, St. Joseph now has the longest active winning streak in the state of Mississippi in both public and private school football.
Because the Irish’s first four games of the season were so one-sided, neither Benson nor Johnson had more than 13 carries in each of St. Joe’s first four games. Friday night each had more than 20.
Baker noted that Johnson and Benson’s success would not have happened without a total team effort. He gave the Irish offensive line special credit. St. Joseph offensive linemen Brittain Virden, Fred Townsend, Michael Robinson, Jakory Williams and Jordan Scott all played exceptional games, said Baker.
While Baker and his staff are confident about their team, they know there is still work to be done.
The Class 3A Irish host Class 5A Central Hinds Academy this Friday night.
“Right now we are proving that we can run on anybody, but we also know that we are going to have to throw the ball better if we hope to beat all the good teams that are ahead of us,” Coach Baker said.
