Bennington Defense Stifles Millard West as Badgers Stay Perfect With 30-10 Win

3–4 minutes

By Marisa Dawson
Photos by Marisa Dawson & Jeff Douglas

Coaches in blue shirts standing on the sidelines during a football game, observing the players on the field.

The Bennington Badgers showed again Thursday night that they belong among Class A’s elite, riding a stout defensive effort and timely offensive plays to a 30-10 non-conference victory over Millard West at Millard South’s Buell Stadium.

The No. 6 Badgers improved to 2-0, limiting the Wildcats’ starting offense and never allowing it past the 23-yard line until late. Millard West managed a 43-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half and a late touchdown with the reserves in the game, finishing with just 10 points.

A football kicker preparing to kick a football while a holder supports it, with a cheering crowd in the background at a sports event.
Kaleb Tysor sets up the kick for Jake Crawford.

“I’m feeling awesome,” Bennington head coach Kam Lenhart said afterward. “I thought our kids did a tremendous job at taking on all the adversity that was given tonight. Our offense had little sputters here and there. We had a few injuries that happened, but the next guy stepped up. The big players made big plays when it was necessary, and then on defense, when those moments were in kind of a hard spot, they fouled out of it. I thought it was tremendous. They only gave up three points basically the whole game. That’s a tremendous defensive group working together.”

A football player in a white jersey with blue stripes, numbered 12, is running with the ball on a field while being chased by a defender in a black jersey, numbered 37.

Quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo (pictured above) completed 11 of 18 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. He also contributed on the ground. Running back Will Gutz (pictured below) led the rushing attack with 125 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and added 50 receiving yards on three catches.

A football player wearing a blue jersey with the number 20 runs on the field during a game, with cheerleaders and banners in the background.

Bennington opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Bouaphakeo to Lane Molacek (kick blocked). Bouaphakeo later scored on a short run, and the Badgers pushed the lead further in the second half. Sophomore Jake Crawford connected on a field goal, Bouaphakeo found Braydan Kloster (pictured below) for a 14-yard touchdown on third-and-goal, and Gutz broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter. Millard West’s lone touchdown came on a late 52-yard run.

A football player in a white uniform with blue stripes catches the ball while running on a green turf field, with other players and referees in the background.

Lenhart noted the challenge of preparing for an unfamiliar opponent. “I think it’s going to be the same challenge every week. We really don’t know the opponents that we’re playing. You can see them on film, but you’ve never seen them before in years past. You don’t know what to compare them to,” he said. “You know, I thought they had a tremendous offensive game plan in terms of how they run the ball, their quarterback’s dynamic, the running backs dynamic, and just that kind of idea of going in week to week. What are we truly going to see and then how are we going to adjust when the time comes.”

A football player in a blue jersey tackles an opponent in a black jersey during a game on a green turf field.
Trey Almond
A high school football game with players in blue and white uniforms from Bennington tackling a player in black from the Wildcats team. The focus is on two Bennington players; one is about to tackle the opposing player.
Jay Stahlecker (17) & Gabe Nickel (16)

The coach said the plays that make him proudest often don’t show up in the box score. “There’s little things that I think that are showing out, things that we try to attack in the offseason… So they’re not going to show up in the stat book, but they’re going to show up on film and us coaches know it. Those are those moments that I like.”

With the win secured, Bennington looks ahead to its next home game. “Being at home and being on Friday night. That’s what I would say. We’re kind of back to a normal week. Hopefully the heat’s gone away, but yeah, it’s going to be fun to be back at Bennington Field and playing at home on Friday.”

The Badgers host Columbus this Friday night.

A high school football game scene, featuring an intense play where a player in a blue and white uniform is tackled by a player in a black uniform. Coaches, players, and spectators can be seen in the background, with a scoreboard and yard marker visible.
Will Gutz
A football player in a black uniform is being tackled from behind by an opposing player in a blue and white uniform on a green field.
Trey Almond
A football quarterback in a white uniform with blue stripes prepares to pass the ball during a game, with teammates and opposing players in action on the field.
Ty Bouaphakeo
High school football game featuring players in blue and white jerseys from Bennington pursuing a player in a black jersey, surrounded by teamwork and dynamic action on the field.
Gabe Nickel (16) & Jay Stahlecker (17)
A football player in a white jersey with blue stripes prepares to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage, while opposing players in black jerseys observe the play.
Nathan Strader
Two football players engage in a tackle on a field, while a third player approaches in the background.
Braydan Kloster
A football player in a white jersey with the number 8 is tackling another player in a black jersey with the number 0 on a green turf field, with several teammates and coaches in the background.
Owen Vernon
A football game scene with players in white and blue uniforms from Bennington and black uniforms from a different team. One player is running with the ball while being pursued by a defender.
Gabe Nickel (16) & Dominic Driggs (5)
A competitive high school football game featuring players in blue and white uniforms tackling a player in a black uniform on a field.
A group of high school football players in white jerseys with blue accents celebrating on the field after a play, with spectators in the background.
A high school football team gathered on the field at night, wearing white and blue uniforms. Coaches are giving instructions while players huddle together.
Two football players in white and blue uniforms celebrating on the field, with players in black uniforms in the background.
A cheerleader is being lifted into the air by her teammates, who are positioned below her in a choreographed stunt. The background is dark, highlighting the cheerleaders in colorful uniforms adorned with flower decorations.
A football player in a blue helmet and uniform with the number 15 is catching a pass on the field, with a crowd of spectators visible in the background.
Parker Douglas
Two football players celebrating a touchdown by jumping together in the air at night, with colorful flags and onlookers in the background.
Will Gutz (20 & Knox Naughton (1)
High school football players in action, with several players from both teams engaged in a tackle on the field under stadium lights.
A high school football player in a white jersey with the number 8 catches a pass while being defended by an opponent in a black jersey during a night game.
Owen Vernon
A high school football game in progress with a player in a black uniform being pursued by two players in white uniforms. The background features spectators in an outdoor stadium.
Owen Vernon (8) & Kaleb Tysor (13)
A football player wearing a blue helmet and white uniform with the number 86 kicks a football on a field, while another player in a black uniform with the number 21 is positioned to receive the ball.
Jake Crawford
A football player wearing a black jersey with the number 24 is being tackled on the field by opponents in blue jerseys during a game.
Emery Goolsby
A high school football game scene showing two teams lined up at the line of scrimmage. One team in black uniforms with green accents and the other in blue and white uniforms. Players are preparing for the snap on a well-maintained artificial turf field, with spectators in the background.
A football player from Bennington dives to catch the ball while being pursued by an opposing player in a black jersey. Spectators in the background are cheering.
Knox Naughton
A high school football player in a black uniform running with the ball, while another player in a blue uniform attempts to tackle him. The scene takes place on a football field with goalposts in the background.
Baylor Uhing (2) & Dominic Driggs (5)
A high school football player in black jersey number 10 evades a defender in a white jersey number 5 while carrying the ball during a game.
Dominic Driggs
A high school football game in progress, featuring players in white and blue uniforms on offense, with a crowd of spectators in the background.
A high school football game scene showing players in action. One player in a blue jersey, number 12, is being tackled by two defenders in black jerseys, while other players from both teams are in the background.
Ty Bouaphakeo
High school football players compete on the field, with a mix of black and white uniforms, while spectators watch from the stands.
Harrison Henke (6)
A high school football game scene with a player in a blue and white uniform catching a pass while being defended by a player in a black uniform. In the background, a large crowd wearing black cheers with banners, and cheerleaders in black and white are on the sidelines.
Lane Molacek
A crowd of high school students dressed in colorful Hawaiian shirts and leis, gathered at a sporting event, holding a banner that reads 'Let Down the Wildcats'.
A football field at night with Bennington team players in white and blue uniforms, preparing for a play. A large crowd with lights in the background is cheering.
A football player in a white uniform leaps to catch a ball during a night game, while another player in a black uniform throws the ball.
Demarcus Perkins
A high school football game in progress with players in blue and black uniforms competing on the field, showcasing a play where a blue team player is attempting to tackle a black team player.
Two high school football teams shaking hands on the field after a game, one team in blue and white uniforms and the other in black uniforms.
A high school football game in progress, with players wearing white and blue uniforms and a player in a black uniform attempting to tackle the player with the ball.
Gabe Nickel

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