By Kev Moyè
For the News-Times
LITTLE ROCK – Early in the fourth quarter, with a 2A state title up for grabs, Junction City’s Jack Smith trotted onto the field and made a 25-yard kick to give the Dragons a 23-22 lead over the Hazen Hornets.
It was Junction City’s first lead of the game on its way to a 36-22 victory Friday evening at War Memorial Stadium.
“When we kicked that field goal to go up by one, you could feel it. You could feel it in the stadium that we were going to stay on top,” said Junction City coach Steven Jones. “Once we got that lead in the fourth quarter – we weren’t giving it back.”
Throughout the game the two teams had traded haymakers. But following the field goal, Hazen (13-1) failed to respond.
As it turned out, Smith’s successful kick was the beginning of the end for the Hornets. Junction City had snatched the lead away from Hazen, and the writing was on the wall.
Hazen, which depends on the same core group of players on both sides of the ball, was no longer moving around the field as quick as it had earlier in the contest. Hornet coach Joe Besancon dressed about 30 players for this state championship game. Ultimately a talented Dragon squad, and fatigue, factored greatly into putting the Hornets in a position they were not accustomed to. And they didn’t respond well, especially on offense, according to Besancon.
“In the second half, we got behind the chains,” he said. “When you run as much as we do, you can’t get in second-and-14s and third-and-12s. That’s what took us out of rhythm. We had to try and throw the ball and we’re not the greatest at throwing it.”
Mistakes put Hazen in a bind late in the game. And showing its championship pedigree, Junction City (12-2) made the Hornets pay for their ragged late-game performance.
With 7:03 left in the third, Hazen’s Quincey McAdoo ran 58 yards for a touchdown increasing the Hornet lead to 22-12. However, Junction City didn’t allow the Hornets to score another point. The Dragons didn’t panic. They stuck to the game plan and wore Hazen down.
Junction City cut into the Hazen advantage, with 3:56 remaining in the quarter, when quarterback Brady Hutcheson connected with Kevontae Haynes for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Dhante Gibson, Most Valuable Player of the championship game, ran-in the two-point attempt making the score 22-20.
In the fourth Junction City outscored Hazen 16-0. With a state title on the line, the Dragons amassed 24-unanswered points in the second half on their way to a victory.
“In the second half it was about effort. When we came out of the locker room you could see the look in their eyes that they weren’t going to lose in a state final again, like we did last year,” Jones said. “The players stayed focused, continued to push, and fight, and find a way to win. I’m proud of them.”
In the fourth Jakiron Cook hauled in a 63-yard TD pass. Moments later Gibson, who had 153 yards rushing on 21 carries, sprinted past the Hazen defense for a 30-yard touchdown run. Smith’s extra point put the Dragons up by the final score of 36-22.
“We felt we were mirror images of one another and thought this game was going to be a dog fight,” Jones said of Hazen. “In the second half, the kids decided this game was ours to win.”
“My hat’s off to Hazen. They had a great season,” Jones stated. “Coach Besancon had them playing hard. They were a very competitive team that never gave up.”
What swung the game in favor of the Dragons?
“We were able to wear them down,” he answered. “We used tempo on offense and snapped the ball as much as we could. Make Hazen move around as much as we could.”
The offense shined. However, Junction City’s defense smothered the Hornet rushing attack. One of the Dragons’ defensive leaders really impressed Jones.
“Sema-j Levingston put the defense on his back,” the coach said. “He’s been a force for us up front. He’s just a great player.”
The way Junction City made Hazen wilt in the second half, is also a matter of the Dragon culture and a legacy that the players strive to protect.
“When you walk into a program that’s already won six state titles, there are guys sitting in the bleachers at the games that you don’t want to let down,” Jones said. “We have a lot of former players who keep in touch with the program and make sure it’s still going the right way. The kids feed off that. It starts in elementary school. Our kids grow up wanting to be a Dragon.”