Handling adversity has become one of Ty Benton's specialties.
When being confronted by an angry mob of defenders, the South Putnam High junior running back has consistently proven himself to be fearless.
"I believe my biggest strengths are staying calm and performing well under pressure," explained the 5-foot-10, 170-pound standout. "Working effectively with my teammates and coaches and the trust they have placed in me to contribute have also been keys for me."
He's been pretty successful too.
Going back to his freshman season when he got an opportunity to contribute 20 carries for 202 yards with two touchdowns, Benton has been one cool customer for the Eagles.
"I always tell my teammates to stay positive even when things are not going your way," Benton said. "Always listening to what the coaches are teaching has paid off for us as well."
One of those wise men is South Putnam field general Chuck Sorrell.
"Ty plays with a rare confidence and hunger for the football," explained Sorrell. "When the ball is in his hands, our offense becomes extremely difficult to stop as he is currently the second-leading rusher in Indiana. Beyond his production, his leadership is growing every week. He leads by example in everything he does. He has started taking younger players under his wing in the weight room, showing them technique, and pushing them to match his intensity. That type of player-led accountability is a cornerstone of our program."
Although he did his fair share (174 carries for 1,695 yards with 29 touchdowns and 11 receptions for 114 yards with two scores), it was not enough a year ago as the Eagles (11-3) came up short of reaching the state finals for the first time since 2002 with a tough 35-30 loss to eventual Class 1A state champion Providence in the southern semistate finale.
Instead of pouting and feeling sorry for themselves, though, they decided to use this disappointment to their advantage.
"Thinking about how close we were to Lucas Oil Stadium and falling short has given all of us extra motivation and determination this year," explained Benton. "When something goes bad, I try to move on quickly and I encourage my teammates to do the same. Once a play or game is over, we can't change it, so we focus on the next opportunity."
This philosophy has so far paid dividends in 2025 as he compiled 229 carries for 2,452 yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 catches for 118 yards with another score.
"Ty's success starts with his work ethic," Sorrell said. "He is one of the hardest workers we have in the weight room and consistently shows up with a purpose. This off-season, he made a commitment to improve his speed by running track in the spring, and that extra work has paid huge dividends. His combination of strength and improved explosiveness has directly translated to the field, where he has emerged as one of the top rushers in the state."
Benton and company also got some redemption on November 21 with a 40-7 win at Milan to claim their first semistate title since 2002.
The next goal is to claim the program's second state title and first since 1986.
"We've always had strong upperclassmen leadership and teammates who do their jobs at a high level," explained Benton, who had 16 carries for 120 yards with a touchdown against Milan. "We have also practiced hard and played together as a true team. Our defense has also stepped up and kept opponents to very low scores."
Over the years, the seventh-year Eagles' boss has enjoyed watching Benton blossom and mature.
"Ty is the kind of athlete every coach loves to have," explained Sorrell. "He's versatile, coachable, and selfless. I can put him in any situation on the field, inside run, outside run, pass protection, even special teams, and I know he will execute at a high level. Off the field, he has bought into our culture completely. This fall, he went through formal leadership training with Coach Zach Erret, and you can already see him applying those lessons in both football and basketball. He's not just a great player. He's becoming a great leader for South Putnam, and I couldn't be prouder of the young man he is turning into."
Since getting involved in athletics when he was just four years old, Ty was destined for greatness.
However, he has had a lot of help along his path to success.
"I started playing football in second grade and my dad was one of reasons I got involved," explained Benton. "There have been other parents in our program who played football that have taught me a lot as well."
He also has a lot of gratitude for his current bosses.
"I have a very good relationship with Coach Sorrell and all of the coaches," Benton said. "We can joke around and have fun, but they also hold me accountable and coach me hard when I make mistakes, which I appreciate."
The same goes for his teammates.
"We have been working hard for this and that's why we have a strong team bond," Benton said. "Even when the defensive players are on scout team, I ask them to give me their best so I'm prepared for Friday nights. On offense, we push each other in practice, hold each other to a high standard, and take responsibility when needed."
In addition to the gridiron, he has also performed well on the hardwood, averaging 8.1 points, 1.2 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per contest during the 2024-25 season.
"Basketball has helped me improve my explosiveness and vertical jump, which translates directly to football," explained Benton. "The physicality and strength I build in football carry over to basketball, especially when it comes to holding the ball strong and finishing through contact."
While he thrives in whatever sport he competes in, his heart has always been on the football field.
"I enjoy football the most because in my opinion, it is the most exciting and rewarding," Benton said. "I prefer playing on offense, but I am willing to line up anywhere the coaches need me."
Even though he is on his way to being named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association's Class 1A all-state team for the second year in a row, he is always trying to fine-tune his skills.
"I need to improve my straight-line speed," explained Benton. "I am working on that by adding more explosive lifts and plyometric exercises in the weight room."
Although he still has one season left in Greencastle, he is not afraid to look ahead.
"I would love to play college football, but I'm still waiting to see what opportunities come," said Benton, who plans on majoring in exercise science or physical education. "If I do get the chance, I need to get better at trusting my blocks, putting my head down, and running north-south instead of always looking to make extra moves."
Outside of school, Ty's activities are very simple.
"I enjoy lifting weights and spending time with my friends and family," said Benton, who currently has a 3.0 grade-point average. "In terms of my future, I want to have a stable career in some field and eventually start a family of my own."
Right now, though, his main focus is preparing for the Class 1A state championship game on November 28 when No. 5 South Putnam (12-2) takes on No. 3 Pioneer (13-1) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
