Dragons, Colts no strangers

Junction City and Rivercrest are familiar with state championship games.

The Dragons have won six titles, while the Colts have won twice.

Today, the 6-3A Conference champion Dragons (13-0) and 3-3A champion Colts (12-2) meet in the Class 3A state championship game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

It’s Junction City’s first appearance in a title game since 2014, when it won the last of three consecutive Class 2A state championships. Being back at War Memorial Stadium was a goal first-year coach Steven Jones wanted the Dragons to achieve this year.

But winning a state championship is what the Dragons really want to accomplish, Jones said.

“It would mean everything to the kids and our community,” Jones said.

Senior running back Hishmma Taylor, a freshman on Junction City’s last state championship team, wants to finish his high school career on top.

“It would be great to win this thing,” Taylor said. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. We want to do this for our fans who come support us and our school.”

Rivercrest Coach Kelly

Chandler said that this year’s senior class of Colts are determined to win the school’s first state championship since 2010. Rivercrest is making its second appearance in the Class 3A state championship game in three seasons, having lost to Harding Academy in 2015.

That 2015 experience for some of the current seniors has stuck with them, Chandler said.

“These kids, they’ve taken note of what happened in 2015 and how we prepared,” Chandler said. “We’ve had a better week of preparation this week.”

This season, the Dragons and Colts have featured several of Class 3A’s top players.

Taylor has rushed for 2,450 yards and 28 touchdowns on 318 carries. He’s also caught seven passes for 63 yards and 1 touchdown.