In Devin Ball’s first season at the helm of Junction City’s football program, the Dragons reached the 3A state quarterfinals.
Dovonte’ Grimes and Jaylen Ivey were key factors in the Dragons’ success, and they will get the opportunity to continue their careers in college.
Grimes, who racked up nine interceptions while also playing a key role on offense, and Ivey, a stalwart on the offensive and defensive lines, will be staying in Arkansas for college.
Grimes signed with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, while Ivey is headed to Central Arkansas as a preferred walk-on.
Both players will be playing on the defensive side of the ball with Grimes going to UAPB as a cornerback, while Ivey will play at nose guard.
“The coaches,” Grimes said when asked what was it that swayed him to sign with the Golden Lions. “We built a great relationship over the time they were recruiting me. When I took my visit, as soon as I got there, the coaches were great people. The facilities were very good. Walking around the campus and getting to know other players, it made me feel like I was at home.”
Ivey had similar thoughts on his choice.
“I love the school and I love the coaches,” Ivey said. “It didn’t feel like a gimmick. It felt like a true place I can call home.”
Grimes, who caught 21 passes for 489 yards with 7 touchdowns while also racking up 270 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground, said he has always preferred to play defense.
“We had pretty good athletes on our team, but the coaches wanted me to play on both sides because they felt like I could be an answer on both sides of the ball,” Grimes said.
“Since I started playing football, I’ve always wanted to be a defensive player. It’s what I’ve always wanted to play.”
Ivey said he was happy with how his recruitment played out.
“It’s been a good recruiting process,” Ivey said. “The class of 2024 is a class full of really good players. I was looking for colleges where I fit in.”
Grimes had committed to Central Arkansas as a preferred walk-on, but changed his mind.
Grimes said he also had an offer to attend Arkansas State as a preferred walk-on along with offers from Bethel College in Kansas and Ouachita Baptist.
“It was slow, but I just had to be patient and see where God was going to take it,” Grimes said. “I put everything in God’s hands.”
Ivey, who said he going to study nursing and health at UCA and had an offer as a preferred walk-on at Louisiana Tech, was happy with his senior season with the Dragons.
“I feel like we improved a lot,” Ivey said. “I feel like I did my job. I tried to leave Junction better than when I found it, and I feel like I did. I just wanted to set it up for the years to come for the new generation of players at Junction.”
Grimes, who said he wants to study sports management at UAPB, gave himself a pep talk early on in the season after a tough start.
“At the beginning of the season, it was kind of rocky,” Grimes said. “My defense wasn’t good at all. One day, I had to sit down and I said to myself, ‘If I don’t get my stuff together, I’m never going to go play college ball.’ The next game, I had two interceptions.”
Both Ivey and Grimes are standouts in other sports.
In Ivey’s case, he is getting ready to help Junction City defend the 3A state title the Dragons won in weightlifting last year.
“We practice hard. We lift hard,” Ivey said. “We take the Junction name very seriously. I feel like for the last few years, the Junction name hasn’t been taken very seriously. I think over the last year, we’ve made the Junction name mean something again.”
For Grimes, the present means playing on a basketball team that could clinch a share of the 8-2A title on Friday with a win at Gurdon. The future has Grimes competing in track during the spring, but the senior is hoping the Dragons will have a lengthy stay in the postseason on the hardwood.
“With basketball, we’re doing pretty good,” Grimes said. “With the team that we’ve got and the guys I know on my team and what they’re capable of doing, I feel like we can make a good run.”
When asked about how he wanted his career at Junction City to be remembered, Ivey said it was to be a mentor to the younger players.
“I wanted to be one of the best linemen to play while I was there,” Ivey said. “Hopefully, others will see me in that sense.
“I just want my little brothers and my actual little brother that’s coming up and going to start playing, I just want them to be inspired to take football seriously because it’s a big opportunity.”
Grimes echoed Ivey’s comments.
“I feel like the guys that are still there, I feel like they looked up to me as a big brother to them,” Grimes said. “I showed them that there are always people watching you do what you do, so always do what you know you can do, become the best player you can be, and it will all come together one day.”