Junction City has won 39 consecutive games since losing to Earle in the 2012 season opener, and Coach David Carpenter chalks it up to one word.
“Luck,” said Carpenter, who is in his 19th season in his second stint at the Union County school. “We’ve been fortunate to be in this position.”
Hazen (14-0)
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
Sept. 5 Earle W, 36-16
Sept. 12 Clarendon W, 46-0
Sept. 19 at Osceola W, 50-18
Sept. 26 McCrory* W, 30-0
Oct. 3 at Brinkley* W, 43-6
Oct. 10 Carlisle* W, 38-0
Oct. 17 at Augusta* W, 64-16
Oct. 24 Des Arc* W, 20-0
Oct. 31 at Marvell* W, 47-6
Nov. 6 at Pal.-Wheatley* W, 48-0
Nov. 14 Western Yell Co.# W, 42-0
Nov. 21 East Poinsett Co.# W, 51-14
Nov. 28 Rison# W, 22-14
Dec. 5 McCrory# W, 14-6
*6-2A game #Playoff game
COACH Joe Besancon, eighth year at school, 71-22-1
ASSISTANTS Jessie McCoy, B.J. Harrison, Anthony Elliott
MASCOT Hornets
CONFERENCE 6-2A RECORD 14-0, 8-0 6-2A, first
RANKING No. 2 in Class 2A
ENROLLMENT 156 (19th in 2014-2016 classification among 51 Class 2A football-playing schools)
PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Brenon Williams, 6-1, 165, Sr.; RB/LB Lucas Tenison, 5-8, 175, Sr.; RB/LB Logan Penn, 5-6, 165, Jr.; WR/LB Kalon Mills, 5-11, 180, Sr.
OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE FORMATION Multiple/4-3
LEADING RUSHER Logan Penn, 1,700-plus yards, 34 touchdowns
LEADING PASSER Brenon Williams, 300-plus yards, 1 touchdown
LEADING RECEIVER Chase Van Houten, 1 touchdown
LEADING TACKLER Kalon Mills, 138 tackles
Junction City (12-0)
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
Sept. 5 Smackover W, 33-19
Sept. 12 Rison* W, 48-8
Sept. 19 Open
Sept. 26 Hermitage* W, 68-8
Oct. 3 at Hampton* W, 72-0
Oct. 10 Parkers Chapel* W, 73-0
Oct. 17 at Bearden* W, 39-0
Oct. 24 Strong* W, 60-6
Oct. 31 at Woodlawn* W, 48-0
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 Walnut Ridge# W, 62-8
Nov. 21 Bearden# W, 42-0
Nov. 28 Des Arc# W, 48-0
Dec. 5 Earle# W, 50-16
*8-2A game #Playoff game
COACH David Carpenter, 19th season, 210-62-1
ASSISTANTS Justin Thompson, Brad Smith, Kendall Hutchinson
MASCOT Dragons
CONFERENCE 8-2A RECORD 12-0, 7-0 8-2A, first
RANKING No. 1 in Class 2A
ENROLLMENT 143 (25th in 2014-2016 classification among 51 Class 2A football-playing schools)
PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Randall Holyfield, 6-0, 160, Sr.; RB JaQwis Dancy, 6-0, 186, Sr.; TE/DE Jamario Bell, 6-6, 243, Sr.; C/LB Matthew Freeman, 6-0, 205, Jr.
OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE FORMATION Spread/5-2
LEADING RUSHER JaQwis Dancy, 103 carries, 1,937 yards, 28 touchdowns
LEADING PASSER Randall Holyfield, 48 of 79, 1,162 yards, 25 touchdowns
LEADING RECEIVER Keyundra Evans, 20 receptions, 492 yards, 11 TDs
LEADING TACKLER Matthew Freeman, 116.5 tackles
The Dragons (12-0) have won two consecutive Class 2A state championships during the streak and go for their third in a row, and sixth overall, today against Hazen (14-0) at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Junction City possesses the state’s fifth-longest winning streak, five behind Shiloh Christian (1998-2000). Barton won 63 consecutive from 1985 to 1990.
Continuing the winning streak isn’t the Dragons’ ultimate goal each week, Carpenter said.
“Our main goal is to win the game we’re playing that week,” Carpenter said. “Winning the next ballgame is what makes it go.”
Senior running back JaQwis Dancy said the winning streak is discussed, but only occasionally.
“It doesn’t bother us,” he said. “We just try to go get the win every week.”
Junction City has won five state titles under Carpenter, 58, who is 196-41 since 1996 and 210-62-1 overall. He guided the Dragons to titles in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013 and led the team to the 2A title game in 2006, when it lost to Jessieville.
“Each year, if you’re fortunate enough to get up here, you’re bringing a new set of guys,” Carpenter said.
This year’s Dragons, led by Dancy and University of Arkansas commitment Jamario Bell, have averaged 53.5 points per game and outscored opponents 643-65. The Dragons have shut out six opponents and scored at least 30 points in all 12 games.
Hazen Coach Joe Besancon calls Junction City the measuring stick for teams in Class 2A.
“That’s where you want to get and where you want to be,” Besancon said. “Everybody knew that’s who we were going to play.”
Dancy, a Louisiana Tech oral commitment, has rushed for 1,937 yards and 28 touchdowns this season. He is 10th on the state’s all-time rushing list, according to the Arkansas Activities Association, with 5,231 yards, and has scored a school-record 60 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Randall Holyfield has thrown 25 touchdown passes.
Linebacker Matthew Freeman leads the team with 116½ tackles. Bell, a defensive end, has recorded 65 tackles, including 12 for a loss, and 7 sacks.
Besancon said Junction City’s team speed is unbelievable.
“They got so many guys that are so fast and have that ability if they get the ball in their hands, they can take it to the house,” Besancon said. “We have to prepare ourselves for that speed and that strength.”
Hazen won the 6-2A Conference title, and this will be the second consecutive season that Junction City faces a team from that conference for the state title. The Dragons routed Des Arc 60-0 in last year’s championship game that was played in a driving rainstorm.
The Hornets are led by senior running back Lucas Penn, who has rushed for more than 1,700 yards and has scored 34 touchdowns. Senior linebacker Lucas Tenison has 114 tackles for the Hornets, who are in their first state title game since 1982.
“We know they’re from an extremely good conference that makes deep runs into the playoffs,” Carpenter said. “We know that they got speed because we see them at the state track meet.”
Junction City has instituted the AAA’s 35-point sportsmanship rule, when the clock runs uninterrupted in the second half, in 11 consecutive games since beating Smackover 33-19 in its season opener. Smackover (13-1) played in Friday night’s Class 3A state championship game against Charleston.
“We have to play our best football game all year,” Besancon said. “We have to force them into mistakes and try to make them play a full football game.”