Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Not scared to share
Pankau splits time as Tigers’ starting QB with junior, enjoys competition
BENTONVILLE — While Ben Pankau waited for his turn to be Bentonville’s starting quarterback, he spent the first two years of his high school career at free safety.
The Tigers senior finally received his chance this fall — only he’s having to share those duties with junior Andrew Edwards. But Pankau believes that isn’t a bad thing, especially because the two have helped Bentonville achieve a 4-0 start this season, including a 35-21 victory over Springdale Har-Ber in last week’s 7A-West Conference opener.
“Each day, Andrew and I make each other better,” Pankau said. “Honestly, the competition helps each of us grow in our own ways. If he wasn’t there or I wasn’t there to challenge each other, I don’t think either one of us would work as hard, and I don’t think there’s anybody else that could keep up with us.”
Pankau could have easily stayed at free safety and become a threeyear starter at that spot, but he still longed to be quarterback — a position he had played since he was in the third grade. His cause was helped
when Bentonville coach Jody Grant talked to him about being part of the quarterback competition during the spring, and Pankau was ready to do it.
Grant wanted to have a solid starter announced by the time the season rolled around, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Pankau and Edwards both
saw action at quarterback during Bentonville’s season opener Aug. 31 against Midwest City, Okla., and that strategy still continued last week against Har-Ber.
“Each day, Andrew and I make each other better. Honestly, the competition helps each of us grow in our own ways. If he wasn’t there or I wasn’t there to challenge each other, I don’t think either one of us would work as hard, and I don’t think there’s anybody else that could keep up with us.”
— Ben Pankau, Bentonville High quarterback
“I’m one of the guys that would say if you are playing two quarterbacks, then you don’t have a quarterback,” Grant said. “But these two have made me realize that’s not the case. We have two, and both of them bring a different dynamic to the program. I think both of them feed off the competition and have become better players because of it.
“If you had asked me if we still had a two-quarterback system in week four of the season, I would say ‘Boy, I hope we’re not there and still doing that.’ We are, but it’s not a terrible thing. Defenses have to be prepared for both guys. I don’t know how long it will go, but as long as it’s working we will figure it out week by week.”
Pankau drew the starting nod in the season opener and led Bentonville to a score on its inaugural drive, which he capped with a 41-yard touchdown run, then he ran for another score and threw a touchdown pass in the Tigers’ 54-21 victory at Tiger Stadium. He’s currently the team’s second-leading rusher with 189 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, and he’s 28-of-45 passing for 405 yards and a touchdown.
Grant hasn’t forgotten Pankau’s talents on defense, especially since he earned all-state honors at that position last year. He still plays there from time to time and has two interceptions this season, but it also caused him to suffer an injury during the Conway game, which took him out of playing quarterback and limited him to defensive play during Bentonville’s game against Tulsa Booker T. Washington.
“I needed to chase down a running back that got past us,” Pankau said. “I grabbed his jersey, and when I went to pull him down, he made a cut. My finger went sideways
a little bit. I had a pretty big brace on it.
“I got my interception on my first series in at free safety against Booker T. Washington. I wasn’t really expecting anything on the play. The play just broke down, and I was able to jump the route and ended up getting the pick.”
Whether it’s playing quarterback or free safety, Pankau says he’s itching to be on the field at any time he’s needed. He said the breaks he gets from quarterback when Edwards is on the field allow him some time to catch his breath and go on the field with the defense if necessary.
Grant, however, isn’t ready for Pankau to be a fullfledged starter on both sides of the field — just yet.
“He’s a competitor, and he wants to be quarterback,” Grant said. “He wants to play snap both ways. I’m not letting him do that right now, but if it was up to him that’s the way it would work.
“We’re trying to be smart with him and take care of him. We’ll continue to work him and develop him, then we’ll go from there.”