Benson has Pemberton on brink of special season
From backup quarterback on the freshman team to South Jersey's leader in touchdown passes as a junior. It's been quite a trip for Pemberton's Joe Benson, who attributes his remarkable rise to hard work in the offseason as well as a surge in physical stature and arm strength.
From backup quarterback on the freshman team to South Jersey's leader in touchdown passes as a junior.
It's been quite a trip for Pemberton's Joe Benson, who attributes his remarkable rise to hard work in the offseason as well as a surge in physical stature and arm strength.
But Benson will be the first to note that his statistical success results as much from the work of receivers at the end of his passes as from the player who throws them.
"We have such a great group of receivers," Benson said. "Sometimes, I'll just throw it up there and they'll go get it and make me look good."
Benson and his dynamic receiving corps, plus a greatly improved offensive line, have combined to push Pemberton to the brink of one of the best seasons in the history of the program.
Pemberton (7-0) can capture the West Jersey Football League Liberty Division title and likely secure the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Group 3 tournament with a victory Friday over Cinnaminson (6-1).
"Two things have made the big difference from last year," Pemberton coach John Rosnick said. "The offensive line, and Joe's play."
Benson said he saw some action as a reserve tight end on the varsity as a ninth grader. In freshman games, he was the backup quarterback.
Benson emerged as the Hornets' starter as a sophomore, as the job opened when then-senior Dennis Clark transferred to Winslow Township. Benson threw for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns for a 4-6 team last season.
This season has been something special. Benson is 76 for 142 passing for 1,252 yards and 20 touchdowns. No other quarterback in South Jersey has more than 16 touchdown passes.
"Hard work and dedication," Pemberton senior wide receiver Antoine Wilson said of the secret of Benson's improvement.
Wilson has eight touchdown catches. Senior Taro Gaither has nine. Senior wide receiver Dez Johnson is a top threat as well.
"We've had some really good individuals, but we've never had a receiving group like this," Rosnick said.
If Benson's emergence over the last two seasons is surprising, consider his journey since middle school. He was a center playing for the PAL team in Pemberton in fifth grade and gave up the sport because he "didn't like playing along the line."
He tried the game again in eighth grade and said he mostly was a reserve tight end and defensive end. Three seasons later, he's the standout quarterback for an undefeated varsity team.
"It's just hard work," Benson said. "All of the guys on this team, we dedicated ourselves to this season. We knew we could do something special."
@PhilAnastasia
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