Junction City Is Stacked
In Class 2A football, one team who is always a playoff contender, and who has been able to win conference and state titles in the past 10 years is the Junction City Dragons.
This season, the Dragons are loaded with talent, and have a team who could end up at War Memorial Stadium in December playing for the State Championship.
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With players like Devin Ball, Grantel Kennedy, Byran Jones playing on both sides of the ball, the Dragons are stacked with talent in 2008.
Coach David Carpenter is looking for production from other players such as QB J.D. Carter, who is 6-1, 175, and has a 4.6 forty. Carter was the backup QB last season, but has stepped up as a leader for the 2008 team.
"Carpenter is a great athlete with a lot of potential" said Carpenter "He has things he needs to work on, but the team has confidence in him.
The Dragons will run the wishbone formation with Grantel Kennedy and Alan Turner leading the way. Kennedy who is 6-0, 210 and has a 4.5 forty, rushed 67 times for 700 yards and 8 TD's last season. Turner who is 6-0, 181, with a 4.5 forty rushed 130 times for 974 yards and 13 TD's last season.
Kennedy and Turner will be running behind stud lineman Byran Jones who is 6-3, 295 with a 5.2 forty.
Devin Ball who is 6-3, 215, with a 4.7 forty will split time at tight end and linebacker for the Dragons. Ball recorded 110 tackles and 11.5 sacks on his way to earning All State honors in his junior season.
"Ball became a much better linebacker as the season progressed last season" said Carpenter "It took him some time to learn his reads, but once he did, it showed on the field.
Kennedy will also see time at linebacker along with Alvie McIntosh who is 5-11, 175, and Brett Gorman who is 5-10, 175.
Darius Dixon who is 5-9, 150, and Juan Hampton who is 5-10, 140 will lead the way at receiver position, with Chay Hux who is 6-2, 175, and Dustin Franklin who is 5-9, 165 will also see time as receivers.
With the pure strength and speed of the Junction City Dragons this season, they should prove to be a tough foe for many teams, and should have a very deep playoff run.