These days, Russellville High School football coach Mikie Benton might be tempted to roll out of bed in the morning and pinch himself.
Benton, who was toiling at the University of Kentucky as a defensive back a mere decade ago, is leading his hometown Panthers into the KHSAA Class 1A state championship game against a talented Pikeville squad. The Panthers (12-1) square off with Pikeville (13-2) at noon EST Friday (11 a.m. in Russellville) at UK’s Kroger Field, where Benton made a name for himself playing for the Wildcats.
“Sometimes, yes, it seems kind of surreal,” Benton said.
But that’s the reality of Benton’s impending challenge, leading his alma mater into the pressure-packed championship environment in Lexington, against another tradition-rich program, the Panthers of Pikeville, Kentucky.
(For what it’s worth, it’s about a 300-mile drive from Russellville to Pikeville, located in the southeastern part of the state, not far from the Virginia state line. Benton and his Panthers will travel to Lexington on Thursday night.)
“They’re a really, really good team,” Benton said in a telephone interview Wednesday evening.
It hit Benton all at once, after the Panthers turned back Bethlehem High School, 34-21, in the KHSAA Class 1A semifinals in Russellville. He’d be going back to Lexington, where he played for UK coaches Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips after joining the Wildcats as a preferred walk-on defensive back.
Benton replaced his Panthers predecessor, former Russellville coach John Myers, in January, 2018. After three subpar seasons — at least by Russellville standards — the Panthers rallied behind a senior class of about 15 players to get back to the state title game for the first time in more than three decades.
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The group includes standouts such as quarterback/defensive back Lennon Ries, running back/defensive back Jovari Gamble and wide receiver/defensive back Chevis Elliott, who leads all Kentucky defenders with nine interceptions this season.
When Benton was putting the Panthers’ schedule together, a couple years ago, he sensed this group of Russellville seniors had a chance to do something special.
Russellville played KHSAA Class 4A teams in regular-season play such as Franklin-Simpson, Warren East and crosstown rival Logan County, which was a 4A semifinalist this year. The Panthers swept all three games.
They tangled with KHSAA Class 6A, in Glasgow, and crushed the Trojans 43-7 in September.
In Glasgow.
“When I looked at this group, I figured we had a chance to be a really good team,” Benton said. “When working on the schedule, I really wanted us to be challenged.
“Then, in the summer, when our kids came back to campus, I thought we might have a chance to do something really special. And here we are …”
Benton tries to keep the right perspective for the opportunity, knowing a lot of variables could come into play when the Panthers stroll onto the field surrounded by the massive structure that is UK’s Kroger Field. (Commonwealth Stadium during Benton’s playing days with the Wildcats.)
“We’ve got to take care of the football,” Benton said. “That’s first and foremost. Turnovers are critical. We’ll have to tackle well, and try to slow down the Paintsville running game.”
Pikeville is playing in the championship game for the fourth time in seven seasons. Pikeville, whose mascot is also the Panther, is led by junior running back Blake Burchfield and senior quarterback Isaac McNamee, the son of the Pikeville coach, Chris McNamee.
Burchfield has rushed for an amazing 2,329 yards and 23 touchdowns, in 13 games, while Isaac McNamee has been a picture of efficiency in the passing game, completing 130 of 200 passes for 1,739 yards and 27 touchdowns.
McNamee has been intercepted just four times in 13 games. (Two of Pikeville’s opponents had to forfeit under the KHSAA’s COVID-19 protocol.)
Benton has to rely on several players who toil on both offense and defense, and the Panthers, like other smaller KHSAA schools, are stocked with multi-sport athletes. Russellville has won 11 consecutive games since a 49-35 loss to Glasgow.
In August.
Benton was a standout in multiple sports himself, earning All-State honors as a defensive back in 2007 while also competing in basketball and track and field. He won a state title in track and field, in the 110-meter high hurdles, and competed in the 2007 Kentucky high school all-star football game.
Benton said one key to the Panthers’ chances will be their ability to spread the field and force Pikeville to match Russellville’s speed. Russellville is playing for the fourth KHSAA state title in school history, having won championships before in 1980, 1983 and 1990, which happens to be the year in which Mikie Benton was born.
“We want to do what we can to create some mismatches,” Benton said, “and get our guys in the open field. Try to make them make some plays in space.
“Our kids know what’s at stake. We told them after the Bethlehem game, ‘You can’t be satisfied with what we’ve done. There’s another river to cross.’
“This is going to be a great test for our kids, our program. The whole school is really fired up about the opportunity.”
Kickoff is at noon EST, 11 a.m. in South Central Kentucky.
