Junior quarterback Demilon Brown was named the game's most valuable player, but the most valuable entity in Rivercrest's Class 3A state championship victory needed nothing more than short work by the Colts' offense.
Rivercrest's defense held Junction City to 153 yards of total offense and created five turnovers in the Colts' 48-14 victory Friday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Junction City Coach Steven Jones said Rivercrest's defense reflected what he had seen on film.
"They've flown around all year defensively and made a lot of big plays," he said. "They've gotten a lot of turnovers every time they've gone out there on Friday nights. ... They're a great defensive team."
Rivercrest Coach Kelly Chandler said he learned a lesson about the importance of defense 47 years earlier as a Colts player under Coach A.C. Moncrief.
"He told me back when I was playing, if you can hold a team to two touchdowns, you'll always have a chance," Chandler said.
Through its first 13 games -- which included three in the playoffs -- Junction City (13-1) averaged 47.9 points and 513.0 yards of total offense.
By contrast, Rivercrest had held its four previous playoff opponents to an average of 14.0 points a game, just as Moncrief once preached.
Rivercrest's defensive dominance was evident from the start. By halftime, the Colts had 6 tackles for losses that totaled 16 yards, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception.
On Junction City's final first-half possession, junior defensive tackle Kendarius Brooks knocked the ball loose from senior quarterback Shuvasceiaye Frazier at the line of scrimmage on third and 10 from the Rivercrest 45. Sophomore defensive end J.D. Winda recovered to help set up his own 8-yard touchdown catch from Brown that gave Rivercrest a 27-6 lead late in the first half.
"When we came in, coach told us if we were going to win, it would be with turnovers and tackles," Brooks said. "On that one, I just punched it out."
"I saw Brooks hit the ball and then the ball hit the ground, and I knew I had to get it," Winda said.
Brooks also sacked Frazier for a 10-yard loss midway through the fourth quarter.
"Kendarius is a good player," Chandler said. "He's a go-getter. He's always been clutch for us."
Frazier had passed for 1,198 yards before the championship game. Rivercrest held him to 46 Friday night. Senior running back Hishmma Brown came in with 2,450 yards on the ground. Against Rivercrest, he rushed for 66.
"We made too many mistakes, but they are very good," Frazier said.
"Every day, we worked until midnight to get ready to stop them," Winda said. "I knew we'd play good, but I didn't know we'd play this good."
Junction City's offense began both halves with familiar bursts of offense, but Rivercrest would shut the Dragons down thereafter.
Taylor's 6-yard touchdown run completed an 11-play, 49-yard drive that put Junction City within 7-6 with 4:59 left in the first quarter. Junction City drove 52 yards to start the second half on four plays, including Frazier's 9-yard touchdown that cut Rivercrest's lead to 27-14.
But after the Colts extended their lead to 34-14, Junction City turned the ball over on downs after four plays on its next possession. Brown's 1-yard sneak eight plays later gave Rivercrest a 41-14 lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
"This really was a good defensive performance, but it was nothing new for us," Chandler said. "Our defense helped get us here."
Sports on 12/09/2017