On August 30th, over 30,000 of Saline County, Arkansas’ finest, will fill Simmons Bank Field at War Memorial Stadium, as the Benton Panthers take on the Bryant Hornets. Playing annually since 1974, the 50th meeting of the “Salt Bowl” is highly anticipated, as it will be featured in the 2024 Great American Rivalry Series.  

Holding the crown of being the largest high school football game in Arkansas, the competition on the field always leaves the crowd satisfied. The Hornets have owned the rivalry as of late, winning 17 of the last 18, and coming all the way back to take the series lead, 25-24.  

This season, Benton hopes to avenge a 35-6 loss, in which they gave up 21 unanswered points and saw Bryant wide receiver Mytorian Singleton catch 5 passes in the second half, of which 2 went for touchdowns. 

 The anticipation for this marquee matchup is building, as the only certainty heading into this game, is that this rivalry embodies what high school football is all about.  

We Know Friday Nights

MVP

Kamauri Austin
Bryant

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

JT Allen

Bryant

JT is a model student both in the classroom and on the football field. He has maintained an impressive 4.28 GPA during his academic career ranking number 4 out of 764 students, while participating in numerous extra-curricular activities such as lettering on the Football and Baseball team and is an active member of the Bryant Baseball Association. After graduating, JT plans to continue his academic and athletic career in college.
Garrett Honeycutt

Benton

Garrett is the definition of a Student/Athlete. Garrett has a 4.2 GPA and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. Garrett has been Benton High Schools Kicker for the past 2 years, approximately 50% of his Kick offs are Touchbacks and has a career long Field Goal of 44 yards. Garrett has plans to continue his athletic career in college.

GAME SUMMARY

The 50th anniversary Bryant vs Benton "Salt Bowl Game" was electric. The game, held at War Memorial Stadium, showcased a fierce competition, Benton led in the third quarter, but Bryant was able to pull ahead in the final minutes for a 52-42 win against the Panthers. The win extended Bryant's dominance in the series, marking their continued unbeaten streak since 2005, aside from a tie in 2014. Last year's matchup saw Bryant win 35-6, with Benton’s key player Braylen Russell sidelined due to injury. This year, Benton’s senior receiver Elias Payne, who missed last season’s opener, played a pivotal role, emphasizing the importance of competing for all four quarters. Bryant's quarterback Jordan Walker, a Ouachita Baptist University commit, capped off his high school career with his third consecutive Salt Bowl victory. Walker, who had watched the game as a fan before becoming a player, described the win as a significant milestone. The Salt Bowl lived up to its reputation as a high-stakes, high-energy contest, further cementing its place as one of the games highlighted in the 2024 Great American Rivalry Series.