State sports briefs

SILVER GLOVES Boxers square off in Region 6 competition The Arkansas Silver Gloves Boxing Association and the North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Center will host the Region 6 Silver Gloves Championship Tournament, from Thursday-Saturday, at the North Little Rock Community Center.

State champions representing Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas will compete in the tournament.

Saturday’s champions will advance to the Silver Gloves National Tournament in Independence, Mo., on Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

Action begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with bouts beginning at 1 p.m on Saturday. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

For more information, call the Community Center at (501) 791-8541.

McKissic, Dixon named freshman All-American Arkansas State receiver J.D. McKissic and Louisiana Tech tailback Kenneth Dixon of Strong were selected as members of the Football Writers Association of America’s freshman All-America team announced Monday.

The team, headlined by Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, the Heisman Trophy winner, featured four players from the SEC, with Georgia tailback Todd Gurley, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper and Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche joining Manziel.

McKissic, of Phenix City, Ala., led the Red Wolves with 103 receptions for 1,022 yards and 5 touchdowns, including 11 catches for 113 yards and a score in Arkansas State’s 17-13 victory over Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday.

Dixon rushed for 1,194 yards and an NCAA-best 27 touchdowns, and his 168 points led all Football Bowl Subdivision players by 12 points.

The team was chosen by a panel of 11 FWAA members. FOOTBALL Greenwood’s Jones honored Rick Jones of Greenwood has been named National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Jones led the Bulldogs to a 14-0 record and the Class 6A championship last fall.

It was the school’s third consecutive state championship and extended its winning streak to 38 games, equaling the third-longest in state history.

The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports (by participation numbers) nationally.

Jones was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Coach of the Year in 2012 and is 107-16 in nine seasons at Greenwood. He has won six state championships.