Class 2A championship game

All they do is win

That’s 40 games, 3 titles in a row for Dragons

Junction City running back JaQwis Dancy (3) shares an emotional moment with teammates Josh Armstrong (4) and Jamario Bell after the Dragons’ 38-6 victory over Hazen in the Class 2A championship game Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Junction City running back JaQwis Dancy (3) shares an emotional moment with teammates Josh Armstrong (4) and Jamario Bell after the Dragons’ 38-6 victory over Hazen in the Class 2A championship game Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Junction City proved itself as the king of Class 2A for the third consecutive season.

photo

Junction City tight end Jamario Bell makes a catch during the first half of the Class 2A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Senior running back JaQwis Dancy rushed for 139 yards and 1 touchdown on 21 carries as the Dragons earned their third consecutive state championship and sixth overall with a 38-6 rout of Hazen on Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Dancy, who earned MVP honors, also returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the first half for the Dragons.

Shortly after Saturday's victory, Dancy, who has orally committed to Louisiana Tech, broke down as teammate Jamario Bell, an Arkansas oral commitment, consoled him.

"I'm too excited," Dancy said. "I had to break down and cry. I've been holding it in too long. All the emotions took over me. I'm proud to win it with my family."

Junction City (13-0) won its sixth state championship Saturday, all under Coach David Carpenter. The Dragons also won state titles in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013.

The Junction City senior class finished 40-1, its only loss coming in the 2012 season opener at Earle, a 14-7 loss in inclement weather. The program's 40-game winning streak is the fifth-longest streak in state history. Barton won 63 consecutive in 1985-1990.

"They have continued to work," said Carpenter, whose Dragons beat Bearden on a Hail Mary pass in the 2012 title game and Des Arc last season. "You win one state championship and you worry about your team thinking everything's good. Then the senior class that came in behind the other bunch kept them going. These guys followed them.

"Their goal was to go out and win the state championship. They got after it. They've done an outstanding job."

Dancy finished his high school career with 5,370 rushing yards and 61 touchdowns. Saturday was the 31st game in his career that he rushed for at least 100 yards in a game.

Carpenter noted that Dancy one-upped his cousin and former Junction City star Byran Jones. Dancy won three MVP awards to Jones' two in 2008 and 2009.

"There's going to be some smack talk there around Christmas time," Carpenter said.

The Dragons were forced to punt on their first drive, facing a fourth and 5 at their 48, but they maintained possession when long snapper Taylor Mason zoomed the ball over Holyfield's head, sending him into a scrambling mode.

Holyfield recovered long enough to find Bell, 6-6, 243 pounds, for an 8-yard completion and a first down at the Hazen 44.

"I had to get it out," Holyfield said. "I saw Bell. He was a tall target. I couldn't miss him."

Dancy's 10-yard run set up Holyfield's 34-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Keyundra Evans (3 catches, 112 yards) for a 6-0 lead.

Junction City extended its lead to 14-0 with 5:24 left in the first quarter when Dancy returned a punt down the left sideline 67 yards for a touchdown.

Dancy's 15-yard touchdown run and Bell's two-point conversion catch made it 21-0 Dragons with 1:05 left in the first quarter.

The Dragons, who led 21-0 at halftime, pushed their lead to 35-0, invoking the Arkansas Activities Association's sportsmanship rule with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. Holyfield scored from 1 yard out and he threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Bell, which was set up by Hazen punt returner Drake Ingle's fumble at the Junction City 45.

Senior running back Logan Penn had a 2-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, but that was it for the Hornets (14-1), who were held to 94 yards rushing and 157 overall.

Holyfield completed 6 of 10 passes for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Penn was held to 60 yards on 12 carries. Classmate Lucas Tenison had 8 yards on 13 carries. Brenon Williams was 6-of-13 passing for 63 yards.

Hazen Coach Joe Besancon, who led the Hornets to their first state championship game since 1982, credited Junction City for its first-half start.

"They have a great bunch of players," Besancon said. "They got the momentum early and we could never get it back.

"Our defense played well. They did. Junction City had to earn what it got."

Sports on 12/14/2014

Upcoming Events