Justice Hill was a starting quarterback for only one season at Little Rock Christian.
However, he made his senior season worth it.
Hill helped lead the Warriors to their first Class 5A state championship by defeating rival and defending four-time state champion Pulaski Academy 52-38 on Dec. 2 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
After a 2018 season that saw him finish with 55 touchdowns offensively, Hill is this year's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps offensive player of the year.
[ALL-ARKANSAS PREPS: See first team, second team, top sophomores + more]
For Hill, who graduated from Little Rock Christian on Tuesday and is headed to the University of Arkansas on a basketball scholarship, he enjoyed his senior season with the Warriors.
"It was an amazing feeling," Hill said. "I'm just thankful playing alongside my teammates and coaches. We capped it off with a state championship."
Hill accounted for 3,710 yards from scrimmage in 2018 despite a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the Warriors' 5A-Central Conference games against Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Fair. He completed 210 of 292 passes for 2,710 yards with 36 touchdowns and 5 interceptions and rushed for 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns on 112 carries.
The quarterback's finest hour as a Warrior came in the Class 5A state championship game, which was moved from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, a Sunday, because of a threat of severe weather.
In the Warriors' victory over the Bruins, Hill passed for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 112 yards and 2 more scores to earn the game's MVP award.
Warriors Coach Eric Cohu said Hill improved as the season went along.
"We know he's a phenomenal athlete," Cohu said. "He could make so many plays with his feet.
"But he emerged as a passing quarterback. He gained more experience in the pocket. His dual-threat ability made him more dangerous week by week."
Cohu also called Hill an assistant coach on the field.
Hill at a glance
SCHOOL Little Rock Christian
POSITION Quarterback
HIGHLIGHTS Completed 210 of 292 passes for 2,710 yards with 36 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Rushed for 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns on 112 carries. … Led Little Rock Christian to its first state championship. … Will attend the University of Arkansas on a basketball scholarship.
"I'm looking for that quarterback to be a leader and make other players better," Cohu said. "The difference between being good and great is making other players look better. He made other players look better."
Little Rock Christian, which finished 13-1, reached its first state title game since 2007 thanks to key road victories at Texarkana and Morrilton. Hill had seven touchdowns in each of those games -- four passing and three rushing scores against Texarkana and seven passing scores against Morrilton.
"His ability to make some big plays helped us in some tough road places, like Texarkana and Morrilton," Cohu said.
Hill will enroll at Arkansas in January and join the Razorbacks' basketball program. When asked if he'll participate in spring practice for the Arkansas football team, Hill said he and football Coach Chad Morris will meet once he's in Fayetteville, but added that he may decide to not play football until 2020.
However, Hill was glad to have been at Little Rock Christian.
"They were fun and enjoyable years," Hill said. "I enjoyed making memories with my teammates and classmates. I felt so loved at the school."
Sports on 12/23/2018