Bentworth hands Jefferson-Morgan its first loss

ELLSWORTH – For the first time in two years, Jefferson-Morgan lost a regular season football game.
Ben Hays, the WPIAL’s leading rusher, scored four touchdowns and rushed for 184 yards to lead Bentworth to a 35-13 victory over the Rockets in a Tri-County South game Friday night.
Jefferson-Morgan’s last regular season loss was Oct. 20, 2023, a 31-16 defeat to West Greene.
The Rockets (4-1 7-1) also lost their quarterback, Triton Farabee, to injury.
With 2:11 remaining in the second quarter, Farabee was injured on a play while on defense. Farabee was tended to by medical personnel on sight and taken off the field via stretcher.
When play resumed Ty Watson hit Matthew Behanna for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 21-13 Bentworth (3-1, 5-2) going into halftime.
The Bearcats got the ball to start the second half and went right down the field, with Hays scoring a 2-yard run with 7:10 remaining in the 3rd to make it 28-13.
The Rockets got inside the Bentworth 10 on its next drive, but Deakyn DeHoet was stopped short in a fourth down play and Bentworth took over at its own six-yard line.
Bentworth quickly moved down the field on a long run by Alejandro Leichty and a half back pass from Hays to Behanna. Hays finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the night to put the game on ice.
With the win, the Bearcats put themselves in position for a potential share of the Tri-County Conference title. In the final week of the season, Jefferson-Morgan plays California, and if the Rockets win then three teams could potentially be tied at the top of the standings with each one going 1-1 against the others.
The night started well for the Rockets as John Woodward returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, but Bentworth responded on its first possession.
Using the running of Hays and the benefit of a horse collar tackle penalty on a fourth down, the Bearcats marched down the field. Hays capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to even the score.
The Rockets drove down inside the Bentworth 20 on its next drive, but on the final play of the first quarter Farabee was intercepted by Hays on a fourth down play.
Bentworth failed to take advantage of the turnover and had a bad snap that sailed over the punter’s head. Caden Hackinson retrieved the ball near the goal line and managed to boot the ball to his own 35.
Jefferson-Morgan took advantage of the good field position when Deakyn DeHoet took a hand-off and raced down the sideline for a 24-yard touchdown with 8:05 remaining in the second quarter. A two-point attempt failed, making the score 13-7.
Bentworth immediately responded, with a drive that included converting a 2nd and 32. Hays found some daylight and scored on a 29-yard run and Caden Hackinson’s kick gave Bentworth a 14-13 lead.
After a good kick by Hackinson, Jefferson-Morgan had to start its next drive on its own 12-yard line and on third down Farabee threw a pass that was intercepted by Kaden Ayers, who caught it right on the sideline at the Rockets’ 34.