In Kirk Johnson's first year leading the Benjamin Russell football team, he reached the semifinals. He helped change the trajectory of the Wildcats, who, a year before his arrival, finished 5-6. Now, a year later, Benjamin Russell sat atop their region, finishing the year at 12-2, and was one game away from a state title appearance.
Of course, the bulk of the production from a year ago has graduated, with a chunk of them taking the next step in their playing careers by jumping to the collegiate level. But there is still plenty of talent littered throughout the current Wildcats team, which is poised for yet another stellar year under Johnson.
File / TPI Benjamin Russell quarterback Kingston Preyear and the Wildcats face a loaded slate of home games this season. Two opponents rank within the top 25 in the state while another is fresh off a state title game appearance.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8m%#t}sk^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m|2?J E9:?8D A=2J 2 724E@C H96? E96 4=@4< 9:ED EC:A=6 K6C@ 2?5 2 H:??6C :D 564:565] ~?6 @7 E96 3:886DE :D H96C6 E96 82>6 :D A=2J65[ 2?5 7@C q6?;2>:? #FDD6==[ D@>6 @7 :ED E@F896DE @AA@?6?ED 2C6 >2<:?8 E96 DE@A :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp>@?8DE E96 `_ C68F=2C D62D@? 82>6D E96 (:=542ED 92G6[ EH@ @7 E96 @AA@?6?ED 2C6 C2?<65 H:E9:? E96 E@A ad :? p=232>2 C682C5=6DD @7 4=2DD:7:42E:@?[ H9:=6 EH@ >@C6 C2?< H:E9:? E96 E@A d_] p>@?8DE E96 9:89=J C682C565 E62>D q6?;2>:? #FDD6== A=2JD[ 2 3F=< 2C6 @? 9@>6 E6CC:E@CJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m'6DE2G:2 w:==D :D E96 7:CDE @7 E96 3F?49[ C2?<65 }@] e @G6C2==[ ?6IE ':8@C[ H9:49 :D }@] af[ !:<6 #@25 2E }@] `c 2?5 #FDD6== r@F?EJ 2E }@] ch — E9C66 @7 E9@D6 2C6 2E 9@>6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m#FDD6== r@F?EJ :D E96 @?=J @FE=:6C[ H:E9 E96 (:=542ED D6E E@ >2<6 E96 EC:A ?62C E96 DE2E6 =:?6D 7@C 2 C68:@? >2E49FA]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 C@25 D66>D E@ 36 >F49 >@C6 >2?28623=6 7@C q6?;2>:? #FDD6== H:E9 EC:AD E@ |26 y6>:D@?[ !2C< rC@DD:?8[ #69@36E9[ !6C4J yF=:2? 2?5 E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 #FDD6== r@F?EJ] %9@D6 E62>D 4@>3:?6 7@C 2? @G6C2== C64@C5 @7 a`\b` — `_ @7 E9@D6 H:?D 36=@?8 E@ E96 (2CC:@CD[ H9@ 7:?:D965 D64@?5 :? E96:C C68:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
File / TPI Benjamin Russell coach Kirk Johnson led the Wildcats to the state semifinals in his first year at the helm. In his second year he faces off against a whole new region along with some formidable non-region foes.
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8mvp|t$ %~ (p%rwk^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8mpF8] ag GD] '6DE2G:2 w:==Dk^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp7E6C 2 7F? EC:A E@ wF?EDG:==6 E@ @A6? E96 D62D@?[ q6?;2>:? #FDD6==’D 7:CDE 9@>6 82>6 @7 E96 J62C :D 282:?DE 2 8@=:2E9 :? r=2DD ep :? '6DE2G:2 w:==D] p J62C 28@[ E96 #636=D 7:?:D965 H:E9 2? g\b C64@C5[ 72==:?8 :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 E96 A=2J@77D E@ pF3FC?] w@H6G6C[ E96 E62> ;FDE 23@FE C6EFC?D 6G6CJ DE2CE6C 7C@> 2 J62C 28@ :?4=F5:?8 :ED =625:?8 A2DD6C 2?5 CFD96C r92C=:6 %22776 2?5 9:D 72G@C:E6 E2C86E vC2JD@? w2CA6C] %96 =2DE E:>6 E96D6 EH@ E62>D 72465 @77 H2D :? 324<\E@\324< D62D@?D :? `hhe 2?5 `hhf — 3@E9 :? E96 A=2J@77D] x? E92E ’hf 82>6[ E96 EH@ H6?E E96 5:DE2?46 :? 2 EC:A=6 @G6CE:>6 D9@@E@FE H:E9 E96 (:=542ED 4@>:?8 @FE @? E@A] q6?;2>:? #FDD6== C624965 E96 DE2E6 E:E=6 82>6 E92E J62C[ 72==:?8 E@ %FD42=@@D2 r@F?EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8m$6A] ad GD] ':8@Ck^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mpE 2 AC6D62D@? >65:2 52J :? ~A6=:<2[ y@9?D@? 4@>>6?565 E96 ':8@C 7@@E32== E62> 7@C E96 D966C 2>@F?E @7 2E9=6E6D :E 92D] p?5 E@ AFE :E D:>A=J[ 96’D ?@E HC@?8] p %6I2D 4@>>:E 2?5 2? pF3FC? 4@>>:E A=2J EH@ 4CF4:2= A@D:E:@?D @? E96 5676?D:G6 6?5 2?5 2C6 3@E9 C2?<65 E@A 7:G6 :? E96 DE2E6 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C64CF:E:?8 H63D:E6D] p J62C 28@[ ':8@C H2D E96[ 2E E96 E:>6[ r=2DD dp $@FE9 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 :? E96 DE2E6 E:E=6 82>6 367@C6 72==:?8 E@ |@@5J :? E96 DE2E6 E:E=6 82>6] %96 (@=G6D 7:?:D965 H:E9 2? @G6C2== C64@C5 @7 `a\b[ 7:?:D9:?8 D64@?5 :? E96:C C68:@? 369:?5 @?=J (:==:2>D@?[ H9@ E96J =2E6C 362E :? E96 D6>:7:?2=D E@ C6249 E96 E:E=6 82>6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8m~4E] g GD] !:<6 #@25k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?muC:52J ?:89E =:89ED 2C6 8C62E 2?5 2==[ 3FE E96C6 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 D@>6E9:?8 DA64:2= 92AA6?:?8 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ :? E96 D64@?5 H66< @7 ~4E@36C] }@H 7@C E96 D64@?5 J62C :? 2 C@H[ E96 (:=542ED 86E E@ A=2J :? H92E :D 6DD6?E:2==J E96 9:89 D49@@= G6CD:@? @7 2? $tr ?:89E 82>6 @C 2? }u{ AC:>6E:>6 D=@E] p?5 7C@> H92E E9:?8D AC@;64E E@ 36 @? A2A6C[ E9:D :D 6DD6?E:2==J E96 32EE=6 7@C E96 }@] ` DA@E :? E96 r=2DD dp #68:@? a] q6?;2>:? #FDD6== H@? :ED C68:@? =2DE J62C 2?5 !:<6 #@25 5:5 E96 D2>6 :? E96:CD[ 2?5 ?@H E96 EH@ >66E :? E96 D2>6 C68:@?] %96 =2DE E:>6 E96 EH@ D2H 6249 @E96C H2D :? E96 A=2J@77D :? a_ab[ H96C6 E96 !2EC:@ED H2=<65 @FE H:E9 2 b`\ag G:4E@CJ @G6C E96 (:=542ED :? E96 E9:C5 C@F?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8m~!!~$x}v !{p*t#$ %~ (p%rwk^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8m$2>F6= q2:=6J[ |26 y6>:D@?k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mw6 DE2?5D 2E e\7@@E\e 2?5 ah_ A@F?5D[ 3FE DE2?5:?8 ?6IE E@ 9:> J@F’== BF:4<=J =62C? 96’D >F49 3:886C E92? E92E] u@C E96 r=2DD @7 a_ag[ |26 y6>:D@?’D $2>F6= q2:=6J :D E96 E@A\C2E65 E24<=6 :? E96 DE2E6 2?5 }@] `` @G6C2== 2E 9:D A@D:E:@?] %96 3696>@E9 @7 2 ;F?:@C 92D 2=C625J 4@>>2?565 E96 2EE6?E:@? @7 ?62C=J b_ 4@==686 AC@8C2>D :? 9:D E:>6 2E E96 9:89 D49@@= =6G6=] r@?D:56C:?8 E96 E2=6?E q6?;2>:? #FDD6== 92D 4@>:?8 @77 E96 6586 H:E9 z2=:3 $A:G6J[ E96 5F2=D 36EH66? E96 EH@ D9@F=5 >2<6 7@C 2? :?E6C6DE:?8 (66< _ >2E49FA]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8mz2=63 q2==2C5[ (6EF>A<2k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$2E 36?62E9 q2:=6J @? E96 C64CF:E:?8 3@2C5 :D (6EF>A<2 E:89E 6?5 z2=63 q2==2C5] w6 :D 2== E@@ 72>:=:2C H:E9 p=6I2?56C r:EJ[ H:E9 9:D 9:89 D49@@= 42C66C 368:??:?8 ;FDE @FED:56 @7 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ 2E r6?EC2= r@@D2 2?5 9:D C6=2E:@? E@ 7@C>6C q6?;2>:? #FDD6== C646:G6C r656C:2? |@C82?] $:?46 ;@:?:?8 E96 x?5:2?D[ q2==2C5 92D >256 2 ?2>6 7@C 9:>D6=7[ H9:49 :D?’E D9@4<:?8 H:E9 9:> DE2?5:?8 2E e\7@@E\d 2?5 ;F>A:?8 @G6C @AA@D:?8 5676?D:G6 324<D E@ C66= :? A2DD6D] q2==2C5 7:?:D965 =2DE J62C H:E9 ba 42E496D 7@C dfb C646:G:?8 J2C5D 2?5 `_ E@F495@H?D 2D 2 D@A9@>@C6] p=E9@F89 AC@;64E65 E@ 36 2 E:89E 6?5 2E E96 ?6IE =6G6=[ q2==2C5 92D E96 2E9=6E:4:D> E@ DE6A @FE H:56 2?5 =6E 9:D D:K6 5@ E96 E2=<:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8my232CC:FD v2CC@C[ ':8@Ck^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%@ 36 9@?6DE[ J@F 4@F=5 7=:A 2 4@:? 36EH66? y232CC:FD v2CC@C @C xD224 |4}6:= E@ 36 E96 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C ':8@C[ 3FE H96? J@F’G6 ?@E4965 a_\A=FD D24<D :? 4@?D64FE:G6 D62D@?D[ E96 49@:46 :D >256 62D:6C] pD 2 D@A9@>@C6[ v2CC@C 925 a`]d D24<D E@ 8@ 2=@?8 H:E9 2? 23D@=FE6=J C:5:4F=@FD de E24<=6D 7@C 2 =@DD] %96? 2D 2 ;F?:@C[ 96 AFE FA 2?@E96C a` D24<D 2?5 8C23365 2?@E96C bb E24<=6D 7@C 2 =@DD] %9C@F89 E9@D6 EH@ J62CD[ v2CC@C 2G6C286D `]d D24<D A6C 82>6[ H9:49 >2<6D D6?D6 H9J %6I2D 42>6 42==:?8 7@C E96 DE2?5@FE 6586 CFD96C] q6?;2>:? #FDD6== =@DE $2>7@C5 D:8?66 2?5 D64@?5\E62> 2==\DE2E6 E24<=6 s2?:6= qFC?D[ H9@ >2??65 E96 =67E E24<=6 DA@E] $@ E96 >2E49FA 36EH66? v2CC@C 2?5 q#w$’ A=2? @7 2EE24< H:== 36 @?6 E@ >@?:E@C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mkDEC@?8m$rwts&{tk^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mpF8] a_ W%9FCD52JX — 2E |26 y6>:D@?k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mpF8] ag — GD] '6DE2G:2 w:==Dk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$6A] c — 2E !2C< rC@DD:?8k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$6A] `` — GD] $E2?9@A6 t=>@C6k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$6A] `g — 2E #FDD6== r@F?EJk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$6A] ad — GD] ':8@Ck^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~4E] a — GD] (6EF>A<2k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~4E] g W%9FCD52JX — GD] !:<6 #@25k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~4E] `e — 2E #69@36E9k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~4E] ac — 2E !6C4J yF=:2?k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmk^Am
kAmk^Am