Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott's Barrett Yates Throws 2 TDs In 16-0 Victory Over Gurdon;

Curley Wolves Travel to Fordyce Friday

The Prescott Curley Wolves spoiled Gurdon's homecoming Friday night, 16-0, with a capacity crowd on sides of the field and in the west end zone as well. It was a good night for a victory.

The win put the Curley Wolves in the driver's seat of the playoffs. They are now the winners of the 7AA Conference. There is only an outside chance that Nashville could tie the Wolves for the championship, but Prescott has defeated the Scrappers, which gives the Wolves the rule over them as well.

Prescott is the winner of the district.

Of course with the win Prescott brought home the traveling plaque presented by The Gurdon Times and the Nevada County Picayune. The trophy will be present at the next meeting of these two teams, and the winner then will be able to keep it for another year, etc.

Now it's almost time for the Wolves to go after another trophy, the main one.

The Wolves were already in the state playoffs, but now for sure, as the number one team, they will be the `home' team during the playoffs, meaning all their playoff games will be played in the PHS stadium.

The state playoffs begin next week. See separate article.

Prescott's defense completely shut down D.D. Shepherd and the running game at Gurdon. Instead, quarterback Brian McGalliard picked up 80 yards through the air.

Shepherd gained 50 yards net rushing, but minus yardage from other players brought the total down to 20. In all Gurdon had a total of 100 yards for the night.

By comparison, the Go-Devils couldn't shut Courtney Bryant and company down. Bryant didn't rush for 100 yards, but he did get 86, bringing his total for the season to 1,062 yards, an average of 118 yards a game.

The Wolves had a total of 137 offensive yardage and 44 total in passing for a total of 181 yards.

That is not impressive passing figures, but quarterback Barrett Yates' two completed passes were good for both Prescott touchdowns.

The first TD came in the first period the second time the Prescott offense got their hands on the ball. The first time the Wolves punted on fourth down. On the third play by Gurdon John Cornelius intercpeted a McGalliard pass for the turnover. A 15-yard clipping penalty moved the ball back to the Prescott 32-yard line.

On the first play Montra Montgomery gained 4 yards. Bryant managed to get to the Gurdon 42-yard line before he was brought down. Gurdon was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct, which gave the Wolves a first down at the Gurdon 27.

Al Johnston picked up six more yards, and Brayant got the next two calls, getting the ball to the Gurdon 7-yard line.

Bryant gained 2, but on the next play Yates was thrown for a 3-yard loss. Yates then connected with C.D. Flemons for the touchdown with 5:60 remaining in the quarter. The point after try by Yates was good and Prescott led 7-0.

Gurdon didn't have to punt but twice in the game, but one worked as good as a long completed pass. The punt was high, clear to the stars, but Johnston attempted to handle it with Go-Devils converging on him. The ball, coming nearly straight down, went through Johnston's hands with the Go-Devils recovering it at their 36-yard line.

Enter the Big D again.

The Go-Devils managed to get to the Prescott four before getting set back. A field goal was attempted, but the snap was high and went behind Travonn Crow, the kicker. He captured the ball, but was trapped at the 30. The defense came through again.

Yates had to punt later, getting the ball to Gurdon's 26, but once more Gurdon punted with the Wovles getting the ball at their own 35.

Rashad Johnson got the first call on this series and picked up 30 yards, down to the Gurdon 35.

Bryant managed 8 yards on the next carry, and it was Carlos VanHook getting another first down at the Gurdon 22-yard line.

Johnston was caught in the backfield for a 2-yard loss on the next play, but Bryant then gained two, getting back to original line of scrimmage. Yates then completed a pass to Johnson, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty. The next play was an incomplete pass intended for Flemons, leaving the ball at the Gurdon 36.

Then Yates connected with Bryant with a pass (the unexpected) around the 20-yard line. Bryant managed to evade several Gurdon defenders and go in for the touchdown. This time the PAT by Bryant missed the upright and the score remained 13-0 with 2:37 left in the half.

Four plays later Sam Marlow intercepted a Gurdon pass around the Prescott 45-yard line, and he almost ran it back for a Td. However, he was pulled down at the Gurdon 6.

With the clock running out at halftime, Yates went back to pass. Rushed to do so he was intercepted by Weslely Buford of to end the half. This was the second and last turnover for the Wolves during the game.

The Go-Devils had three more turnovers in the last half. The first two came on their first two possessions with Prescott taking advantage of the second.

Receiving the Prescott kick-off to begin the third quarter, they only had two plays before Shepherd gave up the ball. The Wolves couldn't move it and punted. Gurdon made two first downs, but then a McGalliard pass just bounced off Shepherd's chest and into the hands of Larry Henderson for the turnover.

Prescott was flagged twice on the next two plays for illegal procedure, making it first and 20 for the Wolves at the Gurdon 32.

Bryant got 18 of it back on the first play; Montgomery picked up one and Rashad Johnson got the first down at the 12.

Bryant only managed five yards on the next play and none on the next before Johnson was caught in the backfield for a 4-yard loss, setting up a field goal situation from the 11.

Flemons' kick was good, but the play was called back because of movement by the Wolves. This time, kicking from the Gurdon 16, there was no illegal procedure and the kick was good making the score 16-0 with 1:53 left in the third quarter.

In all Gurdon had five turnovers while the Wovles only had two.

Prescott was penalized 9 times for 70 yards. Gurdon was penalized three times for 25 yards.

The Go-Devils made 11 first downs to Prescott's 9. Two of Gurdon's were because of Prescott penalties. The Wolves had 6 the first half and three the last. Gurdon had 4 the first half and 7 the last.

Yates had 5 incomplete passes and one interception. McGalliard completed 7 passes, had 8 incomplete and threw three interceptions.

In all Bryant had 19 carries and Shepherd had 16.

Now 5-0 in the conference this week the Wolves will travel to Fordyce to improve their record to 6-0.

The Wolves are averaging 25.56 points per game. The defense has held its opponents to 7.0 points per game, the best in th