Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Win Again, 8-0

The Prescott Curley Wolves are alone of the 7AA Conference after an 8-0 victory Friday night over the Stamps Yellowjackets.

Until last week both teams were undefeated. The defensive battle was to see which team would be on top, and there was no doubt Prescott was the best.

The Yellowjackets were held to 7 total offensive yards during the game. They had seven minus yards rushing and 12 yards on the plus side passing.

Prescott, on the other hand, rushed for 174 yards. However, the offense only had two yards through the air.

Both teams only completed two passes each. In addition to the two yards for Prescott, quarterback Barrett Yates passed to C.D. Flemons for a two-point conversion. Stamps quarterback Antonio Martin completed a pass in the first quarter for nine yards and one in the thrid for three yards.

Prescott only had eight first downs this week, compared to 29 the week before at De Queen. The Yellowjackets finished with four first downs, all in the first half.

The game's biggest rusher was Courtney Bryant with 128 yards and he scored the only touchdown.

In all this season Bryant has rushed for 872 yards in seven games, according to our unofficial records. That's 124.57 yards a game. The only two he did not reach a hundred yards in were Harmony Grove and Hope, the first two games. He rushed 20 times.

Bryant also had TD runs of seven and 15 yards Friday night that were nullified because of penalties.

Speaking of penalties, the game had plenty. The flag was thrown against Prescott 12 times and against Stamps 11 times. However, one against Prescott was declined and two against Stamps were declined.

In all the Curley Wolves were penalized 11 times for 115 yards. Stamps was penalized nine times for 70 yards.

Another of Prescott's big gainers Friday night was Carlos VanHook, who rushed four times for 53 yards.

Most of the successful rushes were up the middle against the Yellowjackets. A few worked on the outside, but the middle was the best. The passing game was shut down.

The biggest loser in the rushing game for Stamps was quarterback Martin, who ended the game with 20 yards on the minus side. He was sacked on three occasions for 10-, 8- and 11-yard losses.

In all Barrett Yates threw the ball 12 times for Prescott. He had three passes intercepted. Martin also threw the ball 12 times for Stamps.

There were six turnovers in the game. The Wolves recovered two Stamps fumbles. The Yellowjackets recovered one Prescott fumble, but intercepted three passes. Prescott had two more fumbles that were recovered by the Wolves. Stamps recovered two of its own fumbles.

Stamps' first turnover came on the second play of the game when Roderick Johnson fumbled to John Cornelius. Prescott's first turnover came on the third play of the game when Courtney Bryant lost the ball back to Stamps.

When it came to Prescott's outstanding offense it was speed against speed with Prescott prevailing enough to win.

Both offenses floundered during the first quarter and half of the second. It was near the middle of the second that Prescott scored.

Stamps had already taken a 14-yard loss on one of its punts when kicker Roderick Johnson took a bouncing snap on his knee.

Prescott, getting the ball on the Stamps 36, couldn't advance the ball, however. On the first play the Wolves were set back with an offensive pass interference call. On the second play tailback Al Johnston handed off to wide receiver Rashad Johnson, who missed John Cornelius with a pass. Then Yates missed Johnson with a pass bringing up a punting situation.

Yates kicked the punt to the Yellowjackets, who were penalized for holding on the kick and clipping on the return.

On their first play of the series they fumbled, losing two yards on their own recovery. They then were charged on illegal procedure, which was declined by Prescott, bringing up a third and 11. A pass by Martin to Johnson fell incomplete, bringing up a punting situation from the 12.

The punt went out of bounds at the Stamps 49-yard line.

On the first play, Bryant went through the middle with some good blocking and all the way to the end zone for the touchdown with 6:22 left in the quarter.

The Wolves lined up for the point after try, but Stamps called a time-out. When play resumed the snap went directly back to Yates in the kicking position, who rolled to the right and found Flemons open for a two-point conversion. Prescott led 8-0, which was good enough for the win.

Against De Queen the Curley Wolves only had to punt one time. The punt was fumbled and Prescott recovered the ball, making it a good offensive gainer for the Wolves. However, last Friday the Wolves had to punt five times. Stamps had to punt 10 times.

Rashad Johnson had the biggest return of the night. He took a punt near his 40-yard line and was not stopped until he reached the Stamps seven.

It was from this line that Bryant ran a TD that was called back with a holding penalty at the five. He went in again on the next play that was nullified when a motion penalty was called.

The Wolves lost yardage on the next play, then Yates hit Flemons for a two-yard gainer. The Wolves then tried a field goal, which lacked the heighth and the distance.

The Wolves' defense looked like that of old when it came to shutting down the opponent. Stamps just did not have anything to run or pass against the coach Eddie Jackson's Wolfgang Defense.

This week is Prescott's homecoming. Hosting the Hampton Bulldogs, the pre-game activities will begin at 7:00. The game begins at 7:30.

As usual there will be an outstanding halftime performance from the band, which doesn't even resemble the one from two years ago.