Dragon Sports Network

08/27/2026

Today we celebrate the most decorated player in Dragon football history, DFWOH Inductee BYRAN JONES!

Byran Jones’ gridiron life started earlier than most do after he began following his older brother Jahi, a DFWOH inductee and legendary Dragon in his own right, around to football practices and games while serving as a team manager for the high school Dragons as a third grader. If you couldn’t tell then that the youngest Jones would be headed to stardom, it wouldn’t take you long to realize it.

“From an early age he understood what we were trying to do,” remembered legendary head coach David Carpenter. “When he started playing with us in 7th grade, he was ahead of most of the others.”

And he stayed ahead. As the physical frame continued to grow, so did the skillset. And nearly simultaneously, the honors and awards piled up as did the recruitment letters from nearly every major college football coach in the country. The letters also came from coaches and programs who didn’t stand a chance at landing the dominant Jones who remains one of the top 10 highest rated prospects in Arkansas prep football history.

Carpenter added, “He had many schools wanting him to play for them but he never changed.”

However, that’s not entirely true. Jones changed the program record book. An All-SEC freshmen team selection following his first season at the University of Arkansas, Jones concluded his career in the Bordertown as the program’s career record holder in tackles with 421 and sacks with 70. His 26 tackles for loss in 2009 bettered his two dozen during the prior season as he accumulated 50 over his final two campaigns.

Jones helped the Dragons to a collective 43-4 record, two Class 2A state championships and three conference titles.

A four-time All-Conference honoree, three-time All-State selection and two-time state finals MVP, Jones remains the most highly decorated and most sought-after player in program history. His more than 30 career accolades include a 2007 appointment to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Super Sophomore team, two selections to both the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Super team and All-Arkansas team, the 2008 AP Defensive Player of the Year and inclusion on the Hootens.com All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

Jones’ impact on the Dragon program expanded beyond the playing field and to the sidelines as he served as an assistant coach for multiple seasons. “It was a proud moment for us as coaches because he had come full circle from manager to player to coach,” noted Carpenter.

So how do you define greatness for one of the Natural State’s premier programs that’s filled with legendary moments, dominant performances and some of the state’s best players and coaches of all-time? You can start with Byran Jones. His impact went full-circle.

Byran Cortez Jones Brenan Cupp Junction City School District - Northeast Claiborne CharterJunction City High School Football

08/26/2026

Today we celebrate Dragon Legend and 2026 DFWOH Inductee JOEY DAVIS!

Joey Davis played Wide Receiver and Defensive Back for the Dragons from 1997-1999. Versatility was the key to Davis’s career as a Dragon.

According to Coach David Carpenter: “More than statistics make you valuable to a team. He was such a versatile athlete: he knew the Quarterback, Split End, Slot Receiver, and Running Back positions on offense. On defense, he could play all of the defensive backfield spots, and if needed, Linebacker.”

To further prove Davis’s versatility, Carpenter added “I didn’t have to worry about the kicking game at all…kickoffs, extra points, or field goals.”

Davis played on Dragon teams that had a combined record of 25-8, won two conference titles, and made consecutive state playoff appearances for the first time in school history.

Davis made 56 of 63 PATs in 1999 alone, which is third most in school history and 85 of 103 PATs for his career, also third most in school history.

He scored 97 career points, third most in school history.
Davis was a 3-time All-Conference selection and came back to his alma mater as a coach at Junction City from 2001-2005.

Sohn Enis Wayne Pumphrey Lori Hux Davis

08/25/2026

Dragon Football Wall of Honor Week has arrived and we are excited! Today we celebrate DFWOH Inductee NICK FISHER!

Nick Fisher played Quarterback and Defensive Back for the Dragons from 1996-1998.

In 1998, Fisher led the Dragons to the school’s first conference title and playoff appearance since 1986. Also in 1998, Fisher and the Dragons won 10 games. At the time, that was only the third time in school history that the Dragons won as many games in a season.

In Fisher’s tenure at quarterback, the Dragon offense set numerous school records, including yards rushing, rushing touchdowns scored, rushing attempts and total offense.

Not only a quarterback, Fisher’s defensive prowess carved a place for him in Dragon lore when he made one of the greatest defensive plays in school history in the famous “County Collision” game with Smackover in 1998. Smackover had just scored to cut the Dragon lead to one point and chose to go for two and the win. Fisher tackled the Bucks’ running back at the one-yard line on the last play of the game to seal the Dragon win.

Fisher finished his Dragon career with over 150 career tackles from the defensive secondary.

According to Coach David Carpenter, “Nick’s leadership encouraged the team through a rough first couple of years in high school. He hated to get beat. That group, led by Nick, set the tone for the next 25-plus years.”

Fisher was a 3-time All-Conference selection.

08/21/2026

The DSN would like to announce and congratulate the Dragon Football Wall of Honor Class of 2026!

The Wall of Honor Induction Ceremony will take place on the field at 6:45pm Friday, August 28th.

NICK FISHER - 3-time all conference player who led the Dragons to the playoffs for only the second time in school history.

JOEY DAVIS - A 3-time all conference player, who helped build the Dragon football program into a state title contender.

BYRAN JONES - The most decorated player in Dragon football history. Jones led the Dragons to back-to-back state titles.

08/07/2026

12/03/2025

05/23/2025

I have been asked over the years about some of the things Jacob and I would say during our time as announcers on the DSN. We would talk about the Pepper Hill Social Club, Johnny Loutre and mention the X Wildcat, the Rev, etc...
From time to time, we mentioned "Corporate". You didn't want to get a text from "Corporate" during a broadcast because it usually meant you were in trouble. Of course we were joking.
I have been asked who Corporate is. Most folks figured it out, but there was quite a few who didn't. For those that don't know, she is the second Lady from the left in the picture below. She is my wife Melissa and after 25 years of dedicated service to the Junction City School District, she is retiring. She helped start the Dragon Sports Network in 2013 and more than anyone else, she helped make the DSN what it has become. And she is responsible for those famous DSN brownies.
Melissa also helped with starting and running the Dragon Football Wall of Honor. There are not enough words to say what her help has meant to the DSN and the DFWOH.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Melissa for helping make Friday nights during football season better for folks and for preserving Dragon sports history. Your efforts in both of those endeavors are greatly appreciated.
Congratulations on a job well done.

P.S. Are you still going to make the brownies?

Hello Dragon Nation,

Today is bittersweet for me as I am retiring from JCSD-NECC after 25 years. I have been the "face" behind the school page and have enjoyed interacting with you for the past 13 years through this page. My favorite part has been "bragging" on our students whether it be for academics or athletics or both! Our page has garnered over 6,000 followers since its inception and I'm thankful for each one!

I spent the first 8 of my 25 years as the JCHS computer lab manager, then I was tasked with creating a school website in 2008 while still working in the computer lab. In 2012, I started our school page and then finally in 2013, I became the Information Technology Manager and tackled another website, an app, and the outside LED district sign, along with helping to create the Dragon Sports Network.

Thank you for the memories...these past 25 years have been the very BEST for a Dragon Fan! We've had some great students and athletes to pass through these halls and they have many Championship rings and wonderful professions to prove what a great era it has been! Goodbye and may God bless each one of you and your families!

Melissa H. Pumphrey
JCHS Class of 1984
JCSD-NECC Retiree (2000-2025)