RISON - An old rivalry going back to the glory days of the 7-2A East will be revived this Friday when the Junction City Dragons visit George Walker Field of Champions for the Rison Wildcats’ final non-conference game of the year. Kickoff is a 7 p.m.
After winning just four games in 2022, the Dragons have gone 28-10 over the past three seasons under Coach Devin Ball.
Junction City went 10-2 last year and won the 3-2A conference. Arkansas Football magazine saw enough in the Dragons to make them no. 1 in its Class 2A preseason poll.
Those expectations were merited with Junction returning seven offensive and six defensive starters from a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs. They lost to eventual state champion Cross County.
Among those coming back are All-State selections Nemo Caldwell, tight end/linebacker, and Delonte Duff, offensive/defensive lineman. Arkansas Football had Caldwell on its 2026 Class 2A Super Team as a tight end while Duff earned the same honors as a defensive lineman.
Despite the accolades, Junction will enter Friday’s game on a two-game skid. After drumming the Ouachita County Harmony Grove Hornets, 45-0, in the opener, the Dragons were blown out by Class 3A Smackover 55-12 and fell to defending Class 1A Louisiana state champion Haynesville, 23-7, last week.
Rison Coach Chris Vereen, however, said the Dragons turned in their best performance of the year in the loss to a very good Haynesville team.
He said Rison will not play a bigger team up front than what it will see against Junction City. The line is anchored by Duff, who is one of three Dragons drawing Division I interest with his 6-7, 270-pound frame. He is joined by 6-4, 300-pound center Lamarion Robinson and 6-3, 260-pound guard DQ Standard. Other linemen range from 250 to 280 lbs.
Vereen said the Dragons will throw a lot of offensive looks at opponents, lining up in everything from the spread to the single wing to the wishbone.
While much of thei…