Bennington Holds Off Creighton Prep 21-13 in Lightning-Delayed Battle

2–4 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas

A group of football players wearing blue uniforms with 'Badgers' on them, celebrating together after a game. The players display a range of expressions, including excitement and determination.

The Bennington Badgers remain undefeated at 4-0 with a hard-fought 21-13 victory over Creighton Prep on Friday night, surviving a lengthy lightning delay and on-and-off rain to secure a well-deserved win against a physical program.

The game kicked off on time at 7 p.m. at Bennington High School. Just before the Badgers could punch in an early score, lightning forced officials to clear the stadium. Play halted for roughly two hours. When the contest resumed late into the night, Bennington picked up right where it left off and continued through intermittent rain.

A football player wearing a blue jersey with 'Badgers' and the number 12 is in action, throwing a football on a field with spectators in the background.
Quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo scored the first touchdown as the game picked up again.

Bennington led 7-3 after the first quarter and 14-10 at halftime before adding another touchdown in the third to make it 21-10. Creighton Prep managed a late field goal but could not overcome the deficit. The final score read Bennington 21, Creighton Prep 13.

Head coach Kam Lenhart was elated afterward. “I feel phenomenal,” he said. “Like I said, that was a game our team needed to go through. We needed to figure out how we could win in the fourth when the game’s tight, when we got to make a big play and our kids did it.”

A high school football game scene showing players in blue uniforms tackling an opponent. The focus is on a player wearing the number 15, who is running with the ball, while teammates and opponents are engaged in the play.
Parker Douglas runs the ball down the field.

The Badgers’ defense stood out by limiting Creighton Prep’s vaunted run game despite being outsized. “I thought our defense played phenomenal,” Lenhart said. “We knew we were going to be outsized and we knew that they had a run game that if they got going, it was going to be hard. But we did a great job at getting them in plays where it was second and eight, second and nine, and that was able to then allow our defense to be a little bit more comfortable. … I’m really happy that our guys kept coming back. They embodied that value of bend, don’t break.”

Quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo completed 15 of 19 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Running back William Gutz (pictured below) powered the ground attack with 133 yards on 25 carries. Receiver Braydan Kloster hauled in four catches for 63 yards and both of Bouaphakeo’s touchdown throws.

A high school football game in action, featuring players in blue and white uniforms. A player wearing number 20 is running with the ball while being tackled by opponents, with a crowd visible in the background.

Bennington was flagged nine times for 81 yards. Lenhart acknowledged the discipline issues while expressing optimism: “That we need to fix is all on us. If we can fix those things, man, we’re a dangerous team, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”

The delay left the Badgers sitting near the five-yard line for an extended stretch. “If we don’t capitalize and we don’t push it in, it’s all for nothing,” Lenhart said. “We had a great start, but obviously had the break. Came out at just the wrong time, but our guys came out, put it in, and we’re happy that they [did].”

A football play where a player in blue is tackling another player in white on the field, surrounded by teammates and opponents.

In the final series, Mason Thiele’s breakup proved pivotal. “Oh, man, it was exciting,” Lenhart said. “Once again, we needed to be in that situation. We just got to play through it and they did really well… Sometimes you need situations like that… I said I would never want to, but we have to at the same time.”

Lenhart also praised the opponent. “They are a phenomenal football team. They’re physical, they’re mean, they’re well coached. It’s exciting that we got to be out here and play this game, even if it was at 10:30 at night. This is what we like to do.”

With the win, Bennington remains undefeated and will travel to Norfolk this Friday. Creighton Prep fell to 1-3 and will next host Lincoln Southeast.

A group photo of a youth football team, the Badgers, posing on a field. The players are wearing blue jerseys with white stripes and helmets, with a sunset sky in the background.
Cheerleaders performing in front of a large crowd at a sports event, with colorful attire in the stands and a blue sky overhead.
Cheerleaders holding a colorful banner that says 'LIGHTS OUT PREP ITS OUR TURN TO GLOW' during a school event, with a large crowd in the background.
A football player in blue uniform, number 4, runs with the ball while evading a defender in white uniform, number 11. Another blue uniformed player, number 20, assists in blocking the opponent.
A high school football game in progress, featuring players in blue and white uniforms on a field. The action focuses on a player with the ball running towards the right, while a referee watches closely.
A high school football player wearing a blue jersey with the number 12 evades a tackle from an opponent wearing a white jersey with the number 13 during a game on a well-lit field.
A group of high school football players in blue uniforms huddled around a player on the ground during a game, with players in white uniforms visible in the background.
A football player in blue uniform runs with the ball on a wet field during a game in the rain, while two opposing players in white uniforms attempt to tackle him.
Two football players in blue uniforms and one in a white uniform engaged in action on the field at night.
A high school football player in a blue jersey runs on the field during a rainstorm, with spectators in the background. Another player in white is pursuing him.
A football player in a white jersey, number 25, prepares to kick the ball while another player in blue, number 13, attempts to block the kick during a night game.
A football game under the lights with players in blue and white uniforms. Two blue players are in pursuit of a player in a white uniform, while a referee observes the play. The scoreboard displays the down and quarter.
A football player in a blue uniform runs with the ball during a night game, with cheering spectators in the background.
Two football players in blue uniforms celebrate a touchdown by jumping in the air, with one lifting the other. A digital scoreboard displays the number 25 in the background.
A high school football player in a blue jersey with the number 12 throws a football while being pursued by defenders on the field.
A football player in a blue uniform kicks the ball during a game, while teammates and opponents are positioned on the field.
High school football action on a night game, featuring players in blue and white uniforms engaged in a play on the field.
A high school football player in a blue jersey jumps to catch a pass while another player in a white jersey attempts to tackle him. Spectators can be seen in the background, with coaches and teammates watching from the sidelines.
A high school football player in a blue uniform throws the ball while standing on the field. Opposing players in white uniforms attempt to tackle him in the foreground. A crowd watches in the background.
A football player in a white jersey dodges two defenders in blue jerseys during a game on a field.
A group of football players in blue jerseys, celebrating on the field at night. One player with the number 33 raises both arms in victory, while another player stands beside him. A player in white is on the ground nearby.
A football player in a blue jersey attempts to catch a pass while being defended by a player reaching out with his arm. The scoreboard in the background shows a score of 21 to 10 and indicates the game is in the fourth quarter.

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