Magic Benton was honored with the Cutters Catch of the Week for a fourth quarter touchdown reception that helped the ‘Cats hold off the ThunderBirds, 41-35.

Benton (6-0, 200, Miami) is the Week 15 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged in 2006 to highlight the player who makes the best catch in the af2.  Benton’s catch was a 30 yard touchdown reception that gave the Firecats the lead for good with 7:05 to play in the fourth quarter.  The veteran playmaker stretched out to catch Chris Wallace’s pass nearly in stride.

“Magic’s touchdown catch was big to solidify the game,” Bouis said.  “He was wide open and just had to make sure he came down with it to put us in the lead for good.”

Benton finished the night with 8 catches for 91 yards and the one touchdown.  He is the af2’s all-time leader in receptions (606), receiving yards (8,068) and receiving touchdowns (170).  Benton also ranks second all-time in points (1,050) and total touchdowns (172).

The Firecats return to Germain Arena on Saturday, July 19th to face the Tennessee Valley Vipers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., EDT.  Call (239) 390-CATS (2287) today to reserve your seats! Visit the team online at www.FloridaFirecats.com.

(firecats press release)

Longtime league standout and Florida Firecats WR MAGIC BENTON had an impressive return to the af2 in Week 14. After seven full seasons, Benton took his time coming back in 2008, waiting 11 games. Last week, however, he showed no signs of age or rust by setting team season-highs in receptions (14), receiving yards (188) and receiving touchdowns (4) in Florida's 59-56 home loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Benton is currently the league's all-time leader in receptions (598), receiving yards (7,977) and receiving touchdowns (169) while ranking second overall in scoring (1,044) and total touchdowns (171). The veteran pass catcher is the only player to have played with the Firecats since their inaugural season in 2001, starting in Florida's first game.

(oursportscentral.com)

ESTERO — Magic Benton returned to Germain Arena on Saturday night wearing No. 4 -- not No. 1, his number the past seven seasons.
But he's still the one.

Wearing a Florida Firecats uniform, period, for the first time since last year's arenafootball2 playoffs, Benton was the biggest bright spot in a 59-56 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the American Conference's top team.

"We knew he'd step right into it," Firecats coach Kevin Bouis said. "Even in practice he looked like the Magic of old."

That would be the most prolific receiver in af2 history, the career leader in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches.

With more to come.

Even though he hadn't so much as attended a Florida game since announcing his retirement last fall, Benton was the biggest reason the Firecats lunged to a 56-35 lead Saturday through nearly three quarters, only to watch the Pioneers finish with a 24-0 run.

Benton, 32, tied the franchise record for catches (14) in a game, matching the number he had in a 58-36 loss to Wilkes-Barre last year. And he fell only 11 yards short of his franchise-record 199-yard effort in that same game.

But all for naught, he said.

Like the rest of the Firecats, Benton, a University of Miami product, carried a distasteful look on his face as he spoke about his performance -- and the team's -- after the game. He had an impossible time separating the two.

"I'm happy to be back," he said, "but not to lose. Not like that. Everything else that happened doesn't matter. You want to win."

And man, was Florida close.

In arguably its biggest game of the season to date, Florida (8-4) had all the momentum after Benton caught his fourth touchdown pass from Chris Wallace, this one a 5-yard connection for a 21-point edge late in the third quarter.

The Firecats, however, did not score again.

Wilkes-Barre stormed from behind, capping its 24-0 rally with a 19-yard field goal by David Davis with no time left. The winning drive came after Wallace, one of af2's top all-time passers, missed Benton and was intercepted in the end zone.

"We did everything we needed to do for three quarters," Benton said. "Then we just made some mental mistakes."

Indeed, the performance by Florida's offense during the opening 45 minutes -- maybe the best stretch of ball Wallace & Co. have played this season -- is one the team will look to build on as the season moves forward.

Yes, the Firecats, who would've had the inside track for homefield advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win, will likely have to travel at some point in the postseason to reach ArenaCup.

But Florida is, seemingly, a team that hasn't peaked yet. And the af2 playoffs don't begin until more than a month from now.

The Firecats have been without wide receiver Chris McKinney and defensive end Thomas Carroll, two of their best players, in recent weeks, as they -- like so many of their teammates -- have been stung by the injury bug.

Bouis has done his best to plug holes on the offensive line, where the injuries have hit the hardest. The most recent effort came last week, when Florida signed Chad Motte and Tony Tella to start at center and guard, respectively.

Having Benton back in the mix, though, could provide the biggest boost of all. He's a big-play threat and a bona fide go-to target.

"I still have the will to play," Benton said, "and I felt like I had unfinished business. I didn't want to leave things the way they ended."

That's why he started working out with the Firecats as far back as mid-May. That's why he has continued to stay in shape.

Benton, who had hoped to sign with Florida more than a month ago, made sure he was ready when the Firecats finally turned to him.

"There was no rust," he said. "I just had to play the game."

Benton picked up right where he left off before the retirement, helping Florida reach the 50-point plateau for the first time in eight games.

He's made his comeback.

Now, the Firecats, who have lost three straight for the first time since the 2002 season, will try to make theirs.

(naplesnews.com)

Estero, FL – The “Magic” is coming back to Germain Arena.  The Florida Firecats have been assigned the rights to Magic Benton, the team announced today.

Benton, who will become the only player to play for the Firecats during all eight years of the team’s existence, currently holds a number of team records including career points (1,020), receptions (584), receiving yards (7,698) and receiving touchdowns (165).  Magic remains the af2’s career leader in receiving touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards.  Since he retired, George Williams who played with the Boise Burn earlier this season passed Benton on the league’s all time scoring (1,084-1,020) and touchdowns list (179-167).

Benton should provide a boost to a Firecats offense that’s currently ranked 25th in the league in total offense (230.5 yds/g) and 18th in scoring offense (45.6 points per game).

“I’m very excited to be rejoining the Firecats,” Benton said.  “I’ve been itching for it for a little while and finally that day will be here on Saturday.  I’m ready to go.”

“Getting Magic back is big for our team offensively,” Firecats Head Coach Kevin Bouis said.  “He will step right in as if he had never left.”

Benton is expected to be in uniform when the Firecats return to Germain Arena this Saturday, June 28th to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT.  Call (239) 390-CATS (2287) today to reserve your seats! Visit the team online at www.FloridaFirecats.com.

(Firecats Press Release)

It doesn't appear that Magic Benton, who rejoined the Firecats at practice three weeks ago, will be on the field anytime soon.

Head coach Kevin Bouis said that he'd like to offer Benton a contract -- and that Benton wants to play again -- but injuries along the offensive line haven't allowed Florida the luxury.

"We haven't done anything with him," Bouis said. "We'd love to get him on the field, but we just don't have the room on the roster right now."

Benton, the most decorated receiver in af2 history, appeared on the cusp of signing with the team after returning to practice for a few days last month.

The Firecats, though, have stuck with the receiving corps of James Panui, Brent Burnside, Matt Burstein, Bruce Gordon, Ethenic Sands and Chris McKinney.

"I think he's itching to play," Bouis said of Benton, the league's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. "He's just being patient right now."

The Firecats play at South Georgia tonight before entering their bye week. They'll then have five games remaining in the regular season.

(naplesnews.com)

ESTERO — Magic Benton knew to keep his distance.

He hadn't attended a Florida Firecats game since he announced his retirement. He hadn't even listened to one over the Internet.

"I was trying to stay away," Benton explained.

It worked, too -- for about eight weeks.

But just as most of his teammates had predicted, the 32-year-old Benton, the most decorated receiver in arenafootball2 history, eventually found his way back.

He practiced with the Firecats on Tuesday for the first time, running routes and catching passes on the turf where he set records the past seven seasons.

"You could tell he wanted to be part of it," said Firecats veteran Brent Burnside. "He never really left."

How could he?

When the Fort Myers resident reported to work at the YMCA, Benton was often approached by people who knew his history -- his supervisor, among them -- and asked how long it would be before he got back to burning rival DBs on Saturday nights in Germain Arena.

When he helped coach the Florida Christian Institute football team, he'd rub elbows with Firecats quarterback Chris Wallace, the FCI head coach, and Burnside, another assistant on Wallace's staff. You can guess what kind of conversations would break out.

"Finally got him out here," Burnside said. "I've been just chipping away at him."

Benton makes it four Firecats mainstays to return since the start of the season, joining wide receiver Ethenic Sands, defensive end Alfred Peterson and linebacker Quincy Sorrell.

But Benton is different.

Benton, a University of Miami product, has long been a face of the Florida franchise, the only player to have played a down for the team in each of its first seven seasons.

When he retired last fall following Florida's loss in the first round of the playoffs, he held af2 records for receptions, receiving yards, TD receptions, most points by a non-kicker and most touchdowns.

Boise Burn receiver George Williams has passed him in the latter two categories. But Benton still has the big three -- receptions, receiving yards and TD receptions.

Not that it drives him.

"It's about winning a ring," Benton said, "and having a fellowship with these guys. That's the fun part -- the locker room, the road trips."

Benton kept himself away from it, he said, so he could spend more time with his family, and this past spring he coached his daughter's youth basketball team.

But he found himself exiting Interstate 75 in Estero about a week ago, when he showed up at a Firecats practice for the first time and met with coaches afterward.

He told them he was ready.

"We are always looking to upgrade," Firecats coach Kevin Bouis said. "The main thing is making sure the older guys -- the ones who weren't here from the beginning -- can come in and just gel. We've got a new thing going, a new environment, and we don't want that to be disrupted."

The timing of Benton's comeback seems about perfect, considering Matt Burstein, Florida's leader in receiving yards, has been battling a tailbone injury the past two weeks.

But after watching Benton in practice Tuesday, Bouis still wasn't sure how soon the receiver would be back in uniform. Florida would have to sign Benton by Thursday if Bouis plans to use him against South Division rival South Georgia, which plays in Germain Arena on Saturday night.

"We'll have to see," Bouis said. "He's right in the mix."

For his part, Benton, who hasn't caught a touchdown pass in more than nine months, doesn't envision himself having the kind of impact he's always had.

Not right away, at least.

"It's not my team -- I'm not one of the leaders of this team," Benton said. "I'll just stay in the background until the time is right."

(naplesnews.com)

Saying his body "looks like a little sculpture", arenafootball2 record-setting wide receiver Magic Benton is returning to the Florida Firecats this season.

Benton said he hasn't signed but plans to after talking to Florida coach Kevin Bouis last week.

"I was hoping to slide back in there," Benton said. "After I talked to coach Bouis after practice, some of the players asked if I was coming back and I said, 'No, no, no.' I kept myself away because if I came around, I knew that would be trouble.

"I had the bug and I talked with a couple of guys and (offensive coordinator) Ken Mastrole and the new offensive line coach (Dominic Bramante). I went out there last Wednesday."

Benton, who played collegiately at Miami, would like to gradually work himself into football shape this week and play in his first game on May 31, but he may not have that long. Firecats receivers Matt Burstein (tailbone) and Bruce Gordon (back) are bothered by injuries. Benton would have to sign by Thursday to play Saturday.

"I hate to throw him out there," Bouis said. "But he looks good. I assume he's in ideal shape."

From playing basketball three days a week as well as being involved with a variety of activities at the YMCA, Benton said he's fine physically.

"My body looks good, like a little sculpture," he said. "But (playing) depends on how I feel at practice and how my body reacts. You can't get in shape unless you're out there."

Benton is the af2's career leader in receptions (584), receiving yards (7,698) and TD catches (165).

(news-press.com)

One glaring omission from this year's team is WR Magic Benton. Benton, the league's all-time leading scorer and receiver, looks to be unofficially retired at this point in time. His presence will be missed.

(oursportscentral.com)

The Firecats' all-time leading receiver Magic Benton was not on the training camp roster, nor was he listed as refusing to show to camp or suspended.

(naplesnews.com)