Benton junior quarterback Hamilton Page is going to have a tough story to beat if his teacher goes around the room and asks, "What did you do on your summer vacation?"
Page, who returns for his second year under center for the Benton football team, attended the Manning quarterback camp at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The camp features Peyton Manning and Eli Manning along with their older brother Cooper and father Archie.
"That was a pretty good experience," Page said. "They taught fundamentals on how to throw the ball, drops, reads, progressions. The number one quarterback in the nation was there, the Mannings were there, got to meet them. A lot of DI college quarterbacks were there. Peyton was funny but Cooper was the funniest of all of them. Eli doesn't talk much.
All joking aside, Rangers coach Bob Pankey knows how much the camp helped Page, along with team 7-on-7 competitions at Murray State.
"It was a great experience for him," Pankey said. "A lot of great quarterbacks gave him a chance to see what else is out there. He's a pretty competitive kid and the type that will rise to the challenge."
The son of Sid and Cindy Page, Hamilton is coming off a sophomore season that saw him rush for 748 yards and throw for nearly 900, accounting for 17 touchdowns out of Benton's spread attack.
Page said he hopes his improved passing will allow him not to run as much, which has led to some hard hits and concussions.
"I've been trying to work on passing a lot more because that's one of my weaknesses," Page said.
A three-sport standout, Page said he's planning on playing baseball in college.
Before he gets to baseball season, the Rangers are counting on Page to help Benton's football team improve on last year's 2-7 record.
"He's a little stronger, grown a little bit," Pankey said. "We're expecting some big things out of him this year.
"The offense centers around him. He's a runner first but he's really developed his throwing motion over the summer. He's really developed that part of the game. He'll be a key for us offensively."
Pastor Pankey: Pankey said he has heard of a handful of others doing the same thing he is while acknowledging there is something pretty unique about the two jobs he holds.
Pankey, in his first year as Benton head coach after six seasons as an assistant, has been an associate pastor at Whittington Church the past 15 years.
He's thankful to be able to do both.
"My church is very gracious to allow me the freedom to schedule those type of things to be involved in the high school with football and all that," Pankey said.
Pankey said he views sports as a great way to mentor kids.
"It's been a good thing for me in a lot of ways," Pankey said. "Obviously I love football but it also gives me an opportunity to shape young men's lives in all kinds of ways. I believe athletics at the high school level is one of the best ways to shape young people. You are around them every day, you are around them an enormous amount of time. You are around them in good times, you are around them in challenging and difficult times. It's a good opportunity to build a relationship."
Bright future: While this year's varsity numbers -- Pankey said he expects a final total between 30 and 35, the lowest he can remember -- are down, the Rangers do have 26 freshmen out.
That's thanks in part to Pankey's work. He sent handwritten letters to every eighth-grader in the district. He visited grade schools to reach out to even younger students.
"I have made an effort to prioritize our lower levels," Pankey said. "I want to build bridges and make connections. In Southern Illinois on Friday night in most of these communities the football game is the place to be."
