Bennington Football Opens Class A Season with 42-13 Win Over Familiar Foe Elkhorn North

By Marisa Dawson
Photos by Marisa Dawson & Jeff Douglas

A football team in blue and white uniforms rushes onto the field, with players displaying enthusiasm and energy as they prepare for a game.

Bennington and Elkhorn North stepped onto the field Thursday night for their first games as Class A programs, but the matchup felt anything but new. The Badgers defeated the host Wolves 42-13 in a non-conference season opener that showcased familiar rivals settling into a higher classification.

Quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo powered Bennington’s attack, rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries while completing 8 of 13 passes for 60 yards. The senior’s dual-threat play set the tone as the Badgers improved to 1-0. Running back Will Gutz added three rushing touchdowns, and defensive back Dominic Driggs returned an interception 67 yards for a score.

Two football players in blue uniforms tackle a player in a black uniform on the field, with additional players in the background. — *Dominic Driggs (5) & Baylor Uhing (2) get the tackle on Elkhorn North’s player.*

A quarterback in a white football uniform with blue accents prepares to throw a football, while a teammate in a similar uniform runs nearby. — *Dominic Driggs (5) & Baylor Uhing (2) get the tackle on Elkhorn North’s player.*

Bennington head coach Kam Lenhart singled out Bouaphakeo’s performance after watching the senior develop through the offseason and fall camp. “He is phenomenal. That’s what everyone’s been seeing in the off season and you know, in the fall camp, the whistle gets blown so early. He’s finally able to let loose and show what he can really do. He was awesome.”

The coach noted Bouaphakeo’s (pictured below) growth from the end of last season. “I just thought the way he hit the end of the year, last year on a very high note. He knew coming in this was his year just to continue to make a big splash. And like I said, he took the offseason seriously. He progressed in the passing game. I thought we saw that tonight. But his feet are what make him great. He did everything.”

A football player in a white jersey with blue accents is attempting to throw a football while being pursued by a defender in a black jersey. The scene takes place on a football field during a game, with spectators in the background.

Bennington led 7-0 after Driggs’ pick-six in the first quarter. Elkhorn North answered with an 18-yard touchdown run, but Bouaphakeo responded with scoring runs of 3 and 28 yards. Elkhorn North hauled in a 71-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit, yet the Badgers took a 28-13 halftime lead after Will Gutz’s first score. Gutz (pictured below) added two more touchdowns in a second-half shutout that sealed the result.

A high school football player in a white jersey with blue stripes, wearing the number 20, runs with the ball while a defender in black attempts to tackle him. The background shows other players in motion and spectators watching the game.

Lenhart praised his defense for limiting Elkhorn North after the early exchange. “I think that’s because they see a good offense every day… I thought for the most part we tackled really well for the first week out. That was awesome. At the end of the day, we had kids just wanting to make a play on every ball.”

Below, Left to Right: Cohen Detjens (26) & Owen Vernon make the tackles.

Action shot of a high school football game with players in black and blue uniforms tackling each other on the field.

A football player in blue and white uniform attempts to tackle an opposing player in black during a game, with other players in the background.

Covering Elkhorn North’s skill players presented challenges. “They had all three of them out there. Those kids are phenomenal, talented. I thought our kids matched pretty well.”

Both programs moved up from Class B this season and have faced each other repeatedly in recent years. Lenhart said that history softened the Class A transition. “To be honest, it’s nothing really different because we’ve played Elkhorn North so many times. I don’t know if you consider it an A game.”

A high school football player in a white and blue uniform kicks a football while another player runs behind him. An opposing player in black is positioned to the left, observing the play. — *Jake Crawford (86) kicks off while Cooper Heller (36) rushes forward.*

He called it a solid start while keeping perspective. “I can’t be more happy with where we’re at, but this is nowhere near where we want to be.”

Looking ahead to this week’s trip to Millard West, Lenhart identified areas for improvement, particularly on the offensive line with young starters. “Obviously we want to start faster. We kind of got stifled right off the bat, and that’s just getting new kids in. We have a young guy starting at right tackle and right guard, depending on how you want to look at it… And so get in, see what we need to fix, and go from there.”

A high school football team in white uniforms with blue stripes gathers around their coach for a team talk after practice. — *Coach Kam Lenhart addresses the team after the game.*

The defense’s energy carried over from their recent scrimmage. “I said I thought our defense flew around last week, and I think it continued today. What mattered is how we tackled. And I thought we tackled really well. I think there’s some missed tackles for sure, but overall, I was excited. We got people to the ground.”

Bennington’s balanced effort in its Class A debut sets an early benchmark. The Badgers travel to Millard West on September 3.

A group of cheerleaders in black and blue uniforms posing in front of a crowd of students in black shirts at a sporting event, with a banner that reads 'it's DARK out, hope you brought your SUN!'

A football team in white and blue uniforms marching onto the field, led by a coach and referee, with spectators observing in the background.

A cheerleading squad in matching uniforms stands on the sidelines of a sports field, performing with pom-poms for an audience in the background.

A youth football game featuring players in blue and white uniforms preparing for a play, with an opposing team in black uniforms facing them. — *Lane Molacek*

A football player in a blue helmet and white uniform runs on the field, holding a football, with another player in the background. — *Lane Molacek*

A high school football game in progress, featuring players in blue and white jerseys from Bennington and black jerseys from the opposing team. A Bennington player is being tackled while another teammate runs in the background. — *Parker Douglas*

Two football players in white uniforms with blue accents celebrating on a field, with a referee observing nearby. — *Parker Douglas*

A football player wearing blue and white uniform prepares to kick a football that is being held by a teammate on the field, with spectators in the background. — *Kaleb Tysor sets up the kick for Jake Crawford.*

A football player from Bennington, wearing jersey number 20, celebrates after a play on the field. In the background, players from both teams are visible, with the opposing team in black uniforms and spectators in the stands. — *Kaleb Tysor sets up the kick for Jake Crawford.*

A high school football player in a blue and white uniform labeled 'BENNINGTON' runs with a football while being chased by two players in black uniforms labeled 'WOLVES' during a game. — *Lane Molacek*

A youth football game in progress, featuring a center preparing to snap the ball while opposing players crouch on the line of scrimmage. — *Lane Molacek*

A group of football coaches wearing blue shirts gather around players in white uniforms, discussing strategies on the field. — *Braydan Kloster*

A football player in a blue and white uniform is being tackled by an opponent wearing a black uniform on a green field. — *Braydan Kloster*

A high school football player in a blue uniform attempts to catch a ball while being defended by a player in a black uniform. The referee observes the play in the foreground. — *Kaleb Tysor*

A football player wearing jersey number 20, walks along the sideline as coaches and staff wearing blue shirts engage with him during a game. — *Kaleb Tysor*

A quarterback in a white football uniform with blue stripes, wearing a helmet, is running on a field while holding a football. In the background, a few people are watching the game. — *Mason Bluhm*

A large crowd of students dressed in black shirts gathered in a stadium, some holding a banner that reads 'it's DARK out, hope you can SEE.' Cheerleaders are at the front, and the stands are filled with supporters.

A football player in a blue and white uniform runs with the ball while avoiding a tackle from a player in a black uniform on the field. In the background, spectators cheer for the team. — *Ty Bouaphakeo*

Football players engaged in a tackle during a game, with one player in a blue jersey and another in a black jersey being pushed together while other players are in action in the background. — *Ty Bouaphakeo*

A football player in a white uniform with blue accents, number 4, evades a defender in a black uniform with number 13 on a football field under stadium lights. — *Braydan Kloster*

A youth football team celebrating a touchdown with one player being lifted in the air by a teammate, surrounded by other teammates on the field at night. — *Braydan Kloster*

High school football players in action during a night game, with a ball carrier surrounded by teammates in blue uniforms and opponents in black. — *Samuel Pitzl*

A football player in a white jersey with blue accents is being tackled by an opponent in a black jersey. Two teammates in blue jerseys are nearby, and a referee is in the background. — *Samuel Pitzl*

Two football teams lined up on the field during a night game, one team in blue and white uniforms and the other in black uniforms, preparing for a play.