By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
One game doesn’t make a season, but Benton’s 34-26 victory at Northwood, one of the winningest programs locally in the last decade, sent an very encouraging signal to Tigers’ second-year coach Stephen Dennis.
His first Benton team won two games, which doubled the 2024 season total. So going to Jerry Burton Stadium and knocking off the Falcons in the season opener was especially gratifying – and it made Benton the first Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week for 2026.
“That was a big step for us,” said Dennis. ”This off season, the kids worked very hard. They understand what the legacy is here at Benton, and that our performance the last couple of years has not met the standard of that legacy. These kids, especially these seniors, feel a real responsibility to reestablish what Benton football is.
“It’s a special community that deserves our best. The kids the last couple of years gave it their best. They just didn’t execute at the level they needed to be successful. We spent a lot of time this off season working on execution, working on the things that we need to do to be successful,” he said. “By design, it was really a tough, tough offseason. I think it paid dividends Friday night.”
Benton has two high-profile seniors, and won without one at Northwood. Defensive end Xaiver Villamor, committed to the Air Force Academy, sat out with an injury. SMU commit Malachi Zeigler sparkled as usual at quarterback, steering a run-heavy scheme that piled up nearly 400 yards on the ground.
The versatility of senior tight end/running back/wide receiver Madden Raymond is a key attribute.
“He’s a do-it-all. We move him all around,” said Dennis. “Friday night he had a touchdown catch. He had 15 carries. We move him all around. He had about nine carries in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for us and a two-point conversion that was critical.
“We’re going to try to get him 20- 25 touches a night in different ways.”
Rolling up the rushing yards meant the big guys up front played well.
“I’m really, really proud of the offensive line. Those guys are putting it together,” said Dennis.
Senior Kyler Reynolds is the pacesetter, playing left tackle after earning All-District 1-5A as a guard last year. Senior Maddox Tullos is the left guard and Brady Bennett, who started at center as a sophomore last season, was the top grader among the group last week. Senior Cole Franks at right guard is another key figure, along with junior Micaiah Estepa at tight end.
Northwood scored on a blocked field goal so the Tigers’ 26-point yield was better than it looks. Dennis is pleased with his defensive front, led by two seniors, end Carson Stubbs and J.T. Young at tackle, along with Villamor.
“Xavier’s a big playmaker for us, so to win there without him, I thought was very good and very special,” said the coach.
Although 2025 was a struggle, Dennis said it has helped lay the foundation for returning the program to district relevance.
“Going through spring, coaches get to know the kids, but if you haven’t been through the wars with them in the fall, it’s not the best insight. Last season allowed us to identify some areas we needed to improve upon. Helping to fit the pieces a little better, knowing each kid’s individual skill set. I think that’s why we saw an improved performance on the field last Friday.”
The Tigers make their homefield debut this Friday against the steadily-improving Booker T. Washington Lions, led by Dennis’ longtime friend and coaching colleague, Gary Cooper, whose offensive repertoire is a particular concern.
Benton cannot settle into the afterglow of winning at Northwood, Dennis said.
“It was a big step, but I told the kids, you know, it’s a 1-0 mentality every week. It doesn’t mean anything next Friday if we don’t take care of business in our home opener.
“BTW is not going to come in there and roll over,” he said. “We have to execute at a higher level in order to walk off happy.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com