The Benson Bobcats will head out to square off against the Willcox Cowboys at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Benson will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more points each game than the last.
Benson had to skate by with only a two-point margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 60-point drubbing they dealt Desert Christian on Friday. The Bobcats breezed past the Eagles to the tune of 67-7. Considering the Bobcats have won three matchups by more than 33 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Dawson Judd
| 09/05/25 vs Tombstone | 150.3 |
| 10/10/25 vs Desert Christian | 142.8 |
| 10/03/25 @ Santa Cruz Valley | 122.9 |
| 08/22/25 @ Bisbee | 119 |
| 08/29/25 @ Phoenix Christian | 116.8 |
| + 3 more games |
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Benson to victory, but perhaps none more so than Dawson Judd, who threw for 201 yards and four TDs on only 19 passes, and also punched in one touchdown on the ground. Judd's passing game has become a key predictor of the Bobcats' success: the team is 4-1 when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-2 otherwise. Cohen Barney got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Benson didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Desert Christian to a completion percentage of just 37.9%. The team can thank Jake Scouten for the heroic effort on defense: he. Benson wasn't nearly as limited: they posted one of 70%.
Benson didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Judd, Barney, and Rawley Evans picked up one apiece. Benson received some extra help from Abel Osuna, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Willcox had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 31.4 points) and they went ahead and made it six on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 42-23 win over the Dust Devils. The Cowboys pushed the score to 28-7 by the end of the third, a deficit the Dust Devils cut but never quite recovered from.
Benson better keep an eye on Kaleb Cooke. He was instrumental in Willcox's win, rushing for 263 yards and three scores on only 11 carries, while also picking up 32 receiving yards and one touchdown. With that strong performance, Cooke is now averaging an impressive 103.1 rushing yards per game. Asher Ward also helped out as he racked up 127 rushing yards.
Benson's record now sits at 5-3. As for Willcox, their record is now 7-1.
Things could have been worse for Benson, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 39-21 loss to Willcox when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Thankfully for the Bobcats, Landon Ward (who rushed for 313 yards and a pair of TDs while picking up 15.7 yards per carry, and also picked up 33 receiving yards) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
