BENTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TIMELINE: 1899 TO PRESENT

1899:

The first class of students graduates from Benton High School.

1906:

Benton High School’s first football team is formed. The team plays on Dobbs Field.

1916:

Benton High School wins its first state championship in football on Fink Field, located behind what is now Ringgold Elementary School.

1928:

C.W. Lewis, a longtime Benton school board member dies at 60. He had been a big supporter of getting a stadium built for the district.

1936:

Benton loses in C.W. Lewis Stadium for the first time, to the El Dorado Wildcats.

1934:

C.W. Lewis Memorial Stadium is completed. On Sept. 20, Benton plays its first game against Arkadelphia.

1948:

Benton begins its junior high football program, with the Benton Junior High Bulldogs playing at C.W. Lewis Stadium.

1968:

Benton Junior High splits into the Eastside Junior High Cougars and Westside Junior High Bulldogs, sparking a fierce rivalry at C.W. Lewis that would last until 1986, when the two merged back into one school.

1977:

Benton High School wins the Class 4A state championship, its second state championship in football. As of 2012, this marks the last state championship win for the team.

2007:

The ground is broken in preparation for the new athletic complex.

1999:

The Benton Athletic Memorial Museum is opened.

2010:

The Benton High School varsity football team begins practicing on the new field in the fall.

Oct. 26, 2012:

Benton High School Panthers play their final varsity game at C.W. Lewis, losing to the El Dorado Wildcats.