Posted By JOHN VESSOYAN , TRIBUNE STAFF

Casey Benson wants to go out with a bang.

There's a good chance the Port Colborne native's competitive football playing career will end next month and he'll turn his attention to college and getting a higher education once he graduates from Port High. He plans to attend Niagara College next fall and with there being no football at Ontario colleges, Benson is trying to make each play and every moment count on the gridiron this year.

Benson is big, strong and fast. He plays both defence and offence and is a force on both sides of the ball. Every coach would love to have him on their team. He simply enjoys being on the gridiron.

"I love it. I love playing football," Benson said yesterday afternoon when the Port High Blue Bears hosted the Eastdale Eagles.

Port High's football team is going to miss this local boy next season. He's probably the only player on the Blue Bears who can singlehandedly changed the game in their favour.

In other words, a game breaker.

The 18-year-old rushed for three touchdowns yesterday as the Blue Bears pounded the Eagles 28-7 in a Varsity 2 high school league game in the pouring rain.

The win improves Port High to 3-2; Eastdale falls to 0-4-1.

Benson's touchdown plays included a massive 60-yard run as well as a 15-yard end zone run and a 10-yard dash.

As usual, Benson didn't take all the credit for his dominance.

"The line was blocking well. We just executed," he said.

Port High head coach Chris Cairns was impressed with Benson's display of power and toughness.

"He plays very strong both offensively and defensively. And we, of course, look for weaknesses in the defence and we send the boys that way, and we found it today with Casey," Cairns said.

"He's a good athlete because he plays other sports, too. He's a basketball player, he has that natural ability to move and deke and be strong."

After two straight losses to begin the season, Port High has put together three consecutive wins, which have the Bears believing once again that they can reach the division final for the second straight year.

"I think now, they know they can go all the way," Cairns said after yesterday's win.

In Week 4 against Thorold, Port High defeated the Golden Eagles 31-0, a game in which Cairns said his team's defence made a turnaround and "we th that this week."

"It was so nice that when you take a lead like that, that everybody on the team got to play today. Fourth quarter all the second-string boys got in. Our first-string boys dominated both offensively and defensively today."

Josh Toepp had Port High's other touchdown in the game.

For Eastdale, J. P. Guitard thrilled his teammates and Eagles fans when he took a punt 70 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. It was Eastdale's only scoring play of the wet and cool afternoon.

Eastdale coach Dan Robinson wasn't upset over the loss as much as he was disappointed with his squad's effort.

After strong performances against West Park, the defending champions, and Fort Erie, Robinson said he believed the Eagles came into yesterday's match overconfident and may have even taken a step backward in their development with their outing in Port Colborne.

Robinson said he'll use practice time next week to work on fundamentals as they prepare to battle Niagara District next Thursday in what is a must-win game for the Eagles.

Port High, meanwhile, visits St. Catharines Collegiate also on Thursday.