Dragons honored at awards ceremony
Special to the News-Times
Rhonda Sharp/Special to the News-Times
Dragons honored: In the top photo, Farm Bureau Insurance Union County agency manager Blake Duncan (left) presents the Farm Bureau Insurance 2A Coach of the Year award to Junction City coach Steven Jones at the 15th annual Farm Bureau Awards Monday night in North Little Rock. In the bottom photo from left to right, Farm Bureau Insurance vice president of sales Mack Wallace, Mount Ida's Cade Jackson, Farm Bureau Insurance Prairie County agency manager Bobby Lott, Hazen's Kade Perry, Duncan and Junction City's Semaj Levingston gather together after the 2A Defensive Player of the Year award was announced. Hazen linebacker Kade Perry won the award.
LITTLE ROCK - On Monday night, the 2018 Farm Bureau Insurance Awards were announced. The Farm Bureau Insurance Awards honor Arkansas' top offensive player, defensive player and coach of the year for each classification. The veteran staff at Hooten's Arkansas Football selects three finalists for each category, and those 45 finalists and their families attend the Farm Bureau Awards in North Little Rock. Junction City coach Steven Jones was named as the 2A Coach of the Year after guiding the Dragons to the state championship. Defensive lineman Semaj Levingston was a finalist for 2A Defensive Player of the Year. Farm Bureau Insurance Executive Vice President and General Manager David L. Moore said, "We congratulate our 15 winners. All 45 finalists represent some of the best coaches and student-athletes in our state. Farm Bureau Insurance is proud to honor excellence as the title sponsor of this outstanding event." Farm Bureau Insurance has supported education and community involvement in Arkansas for more than 65 years.
• • •
2A Offensive Player of the Year (Winner in CAPS)
KYREN BATEY, FOREMAN Jacob Wood, Conway Christian Jordan Turner, Salem
2A Defensive Player of the Year
KADE PERRY, HAZEN Cade Jackson, Mount Ida Semaj Levingston, Junction City
2A Coach of the Year
STEVEN JONES, JUNCTION CITY Micheal White, Mount Ida Joe Besancon, Hazen
3A Offensive Player of the Year
KEON SIMMONS, MAYFLOWER Cash Forrester, Newport Ryan Johnson, Prescott
3A Defensive Player of the Year
NOAH REYES, BOONEVILLE D.J. Watson, Rison Jariq Scales, Osceola
3A Coach of the Year
SCOTT HYATT, BOONEVILLE Robert Hooks, Osceola Clay Totty, Rison
4A Offensive Player of the Year
MEKEL KENTLE, JOE T. ROBINSON Keemontrae McKnight, Warren Jaret Russ, Shiloh Christian
4A Defensive Player of the Year
MARCUS MILLER, WARREN Kentavious Robinson, Rivercrest David Walker, Stuttgart
4A Coach of the Year
J.R. ELDRIDGE, ARKADELPHIA Todd Eskola, Joe T. Robinson Daryl Patton, Bauxite
5A Offensive Player of the Year
JUSTICE HILL, LR CHRISTIAN Hudson Henry, Pulaski Academy John David White, Pulaski Academy
5A Defensive Player of the Year
BLAKE TITUS, PULASKI ACADEMY Cameron Collier, Texarkana Grant McElmurry, LR Christian
5A Coach of the Year
ERIC COHU, LR CHRISTIAN Joel Wells, Harrison Kevin Kelley, Pulaski Academy
7A/6A Offensive Player of the Year
PEYTON HOLT, GREENWOOD Samy Johnson, LR Catholic Darius Bowers, Fayetteville
7A/6A Defensive Player of the Year
KAJUAN ROBINSON, BRYANT Kelby Caffrey, Benton Dwain Hunt, North Little Rock
7A/6A Coach of the Year
BUCK JAMES, BRYANT Rick Jones, Greenwood Brad Harris, Benton