Rolling Tribe’s dream season ends in state playoff quarterfinals to Junction City, 48-38
POYEN — It was the best season ever for Grant County’s No.4 ranked Poyen Indians (10-2 overall)—who sadly had their dream season come to end Friday against No. 3 ranked Junction City Dragons (9-2 overall) 48-38 in the 2A Class state football quarterfinals Friday at Malvern National Bank Stadium, Indian Field.
The “Rolling” Tribe put up one of their most historic fights on the gridiron, but the Dragons would secure another win to advance to the semifinals next week to face Des Arc—for week 14 of Arkansas High School football.
Poyen Indian football head coach Vick Barrett knew this loss would be heartbreaking for his fighting Tribe. But despite a tough season ending defeat, Barrett addressed his troops that they are winners.
“I’m so proud of them— they have nothing to hang their heads down about,” Barrett said to the team in the locker room. “Barrett said, “These kids have done nothing but been winners. They’ve kept showing up and always kept going to work.”
Barrett added, he feels blessed the Indians were able to play this season and made it through the entire season.
“My head is high for these kids and I can’t be more proud of them as their coach,” Barrett said.
Although the game presented several different turns, emotions, momentum shifts and questionable calls from the officials—but the Indians kept a fighting mentality that brought a huge background of support from the community Friday night at MNB Stadium.
Barrett noted this was the Indians best season ever for their football program and he mentioned, these kids bought into the philosophy they have taught. “My hats off to anybody that helped support this program, our administration and community—I’m just proud to be an Indian,” Barrett said.
The opening quarter showcased a competitive match-up for the first 12 minutes of play. The Dragons scored first off their explosive ground attack at the 9:32 mark off a 51-yard touchdown run and converted the 2-point conversion to lead Poyen, 8-0. The Indians charged back with positive yardage from their ground attack. Senior ace quarterback Jaxson Carter and Blake Rhodes both picked up first down plays on the ground into Dragon territory towards the 37-yard line. Then Carter launched a 15-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Sanchez to showcase their dynamic duo playmaking to put Poyen on the scoreboard at the 5:22 mark. Carter scored the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8. Then off a
huge defensive play by the Indians to force a fumble on the Dragons—Poyen recovered and regained possession at the 4:42 mark from their own 18yard line. The Tribe kept driving the ball closer into Dragon territory by powerful running from Rhodes and Carter inside the red zone. With 34 seconds left in the first quarter, Carter soared into the end zone on a 10-yard QB keeper for the touchdown. Carter then completed a pass to Sanchez to score the 2-point conversion and the Tribe led Junction City, 16-8.
But the Dragons didn’t stay down for long. With 15 seconds remaining, the Dragons tied the game at 16-16 off a touchdown run and converted the 2-point conversion to end the first quarter action.
In the second quarter, the game got really interesting. The Dragons retook the lead at the 7:31 mark off a 21-yard touchdown run—converting the 2-point conversion to lead Poyen, 24-16. The Indians were still in striking distance, but a questionable touchdown made by the Dragons at the 5:26 mark from the 23-yard line gave the Dragons a 32-16 lead. The Dragons fumbled before crossing the goal line and recovered by the Indians, but somehow the officials signal touchdown—which shifted the momentum towards Junction City. The Indians continued to keep fighting back despite their 16-point deficit. Carter led the surge with strong first down runs on QB keepers inside the Dragon’s territory. Then at the 3:13 mark, Carter soared into the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run and scored the 2-point conversion—Poyen trailing Junction City 32-24 at the break.
In the second half, the Dragons maintained their spark from the ground attack and punched across the goal line twice in the third quarter. Junction City scored their first touchdown in the second half on a 28-yard touchdown run at the 10:26 mark—2-point conversion good to lead Poyen 40-24. The Indians came back with first down drives by productive running from Rhodes and Carter to the Dragon’s 2-yard line. At the 6:41 mark, Carter scored into the end zone on the QB keeper with Poyen trailing JC, 40-30. The Dragons powered their way down the field through productive execution to score their final touchdown on a 24-yard run at the 6:22 mark. The 2-point conversion was successful off a pass play and the Dragons led Poyen 48-30 to end third quarter action.
In the fourth, the Indians kept their drives progressing by big plays from Carter, then
Colton Lowe picking up first down yardage as well as Sanchez and Nate Simmons on receptions inside the Dragon’s territory—red zone. At the 11:51 mark Carter scored the Tribe’s final touchdown on a 2-yard run. Carter also rolled out the pocket to find Sanchez for the 2-point conversion pass reception and the Tribe trailed the Dragons 48-38. Now with a 10-point deficit for the remaining 11 minutes of play, the Dragons would hang on and the Tribe fell short to rally back. The Indians’ defense held Junction City scoreless the entire 12 minutes in the fourth quarter. Lowe came up big with two key quarterback sacks for loss of yardage to spark the Indians defensive unit.
Unfortunately, the Tribe suffered their first home loss of the season—but hosted to postseason games for their first quarterfinal playoff appearance in the history of their football program.