Benton hopes return creates magic to stop Firecats' losing skid

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)