Smackover 37, Junction City 28

SMACKOVER — Smackover leaned on senior quarterback Mitchell Polk and a punishing ground game to erase a 14-point second-half deficit and seize a 37-28 rivalry win at Junction City. Polk accounted for two fourth-quarter rushing scores and directed an attack with perimeter throws and downhill runs, flipping a 28-14 hole into a Buckaroo celebration.

Polk kept Junction’s front off balance with quick screens to senior Jamari “Juice” Robinson and intermediate work to junior Braxton Bryant, while senior Joseph Brown and sophomore Ryder Beasley pounded between the tackles. Kicker Judson Wolfe hit three PATs before Smackover twice converted two-point tries behind senior TE/LB Robert Cardin’s heavy package.

Junction City controlled the middle frames with its bone attack. Senior quarterback Dakorey Larry muscled in two 1-yard scores and hit senior wideout Dakylan “DK” Hampton for a 55-yard strike moments after halftime; junior Zamundrae Gray also snagged a first-half touchdown. Junior Jermaine Kennedy added change-of-pace snaps, while backs Jaxxon Caldwell and Dalton Baker supplied physical blocks and chain-moving carries.

But after Junction led 28-14, Smackover’s defense stiffened and Polk’s legs took over—first on a long keeper to pull within one, then on a late goal-line plunge, with Cardin cashing both conversions to put it out of reach. A last-minute lateral misfired, and the Buckaroos kneeled out the win.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Smackover – Jamari Robinson screen pass from Mitchell Polk (Judson Wolfe kick), 7-0.
Smackover – Robert Cardin 2-yd run (Wolfe kick), 14-0.
Junction City – Dakorey Larry 1-yd run (Dakylan Hampton run), 14-8.
Junction City – Larry to Zamundrae Gray pass (conversion failed), 14-14.

3rd Quarter
Junction City – Larry to Hampton 55-yd pass (Larry run), 22-14.
Junction City – Larry 1-yd run (kick failed), 28-14.
Smackover – Ryder Beasley run (Wolfe kick), 28-21.

4th Quarter
Smackover – Mitchell Polk run (Robert Cardin run), 29-28 Smackover.
Smackover – Polk 2-yd run (Cardin run), 37-28.

Players Who Stood Out

• Mitchell Polk (QB, Smackover) — 2 rushing TDs in 4Q; poised late.

• Dakorey Larry (QB, Junction City) — 2 rushing TDs; 2-pt run; commanded the bone.

• Dakylan “DK” Hampton (WR/FS, Junction City) — 55-yd TD catch; 2-pt run; explosive returns.

• Jamari Robinson (WR, Smackover) — screen-pass TD that set the tone.

• Ryder Beasley (RB, Smackover) — third-quarter TD run; tough yards late.