Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Courtney Bryant Scores Three Touchdowns, Lead Prescott To Third Conference Win

The Prescott Curley Wolves pounded the De Queen Leopards, 40-12, Friday night in a 7AA Conferecne battle. The win assures the Wolves they will now make the playoffs, even if they do not win another game (bite your tongue).

This is the first team this year to make the playoffs in the conference. And, if Prescott defeats Stamps Friday night, the other teams making the playoffs will not be decided until at least next week. It takes three conference wins to make the playoffs from the 7AA Conference.

Prescott's defense was able to stop whatever De Queen had, and the offense was able to move the ball at will. There was only one Prescott punt in the entire game; that came in the fourth period. It must be pointed out, however, that De Queen had several injured players not able to play, and some lame ones who did see action.

Courtney Bryant rushed for 137 yards, offensively, and three touchdowns. One TD was on an 87-yard kickoff return in the second period. Those 87 yards are not counted with his offensive yardage.

Prescott's first touchdown came in the first period when quarterback Barrett Yates found C.D. Flemons in the end zone. Yates, himself, scored a TD from four yards out in the third period.

Sophomore quarterback Al Johnston connected with Jason Morrow in the fourth period for the sixth touchdown -- from 53 yards away.

De Queen was held to two TD's, one each in the second and third periods.

Prescott rushed for a total of 255 yards. Passing yardage was 141 from Yates and Johnston for a grand total of 366. This, again, does not include the 87-yard run-back TD by Bryant.

De Queen rushed for 175 yards and passed for another 64 for a total of 239 yards.

The Wolves finished the night with 29 first downs. The Leopards had 15.

Two turnovers in the first period were crucial to each team.

Prescott won the toss and elected to kick first so the Wolves would get the ball first in the second half. The Leopards were not able to make a first down and punted to Prescott. The punt was mishandled by Sam Marlow with De Queen getting the ball at the Prescott 39-yard line.

This time, thanks in part to an offsides penalty on Prescott, the Leopards managed a first down.

On the next series Dustin Smith got three yards, then De Queen recovered its own fumble, losing six yards. This time quarterback Kevin Sullivan attempted a pass for Clint Little, but John Cornelius intercepted it for Prescott.

Starting at just outside the seven, and being successful at penalties when playing De Queen, the Wolves were moved back to the three when charged with illegal procedure. This was no obstacle, though.

Montra Montgomery got the first call and moved the ball to the five, then Bryant gained enough for the first down to the 39. However, a De Queen penalty moved the ball to the 48.

Bryant got the next two calls, moving it three yards to the De Queen 49, then to the Leopards 38-yard line for a first down.

He then gained a yard on the next play before picking up 20 more for the first down at the De Queen 17.

Montgomery was stopped for no gain, then Yates hit Flemons in the end zone for the TD. The snap from center for the PAT was too high for Rashad Johnson to spot, so he tried to run it, to no avail. The score remained 6-0 with 2:30 left in the first period.

The Leopards were able to move the ball on their next series, picking up two first downs and getting the drive into Prescott territory and into the second quarter. They were stopped by the Wolves at the Prescott 29 on fourth and nine.

Bryant moved the ball two yards on the first play, and Montgomery gained three more before Yates completed a pass to Flemons for a first down at the 48.

Bryant broke loose on the next play and picked up a first down at the Leopards' 34.

Montgomery gained six, then Johnston, in as a running back, picked up the first down at the De Queen 15.

Bryant broke through the line and found running room up the middle to go for the TD from the 15. The two-point try was successful when Yates hit Johnston on a pass play. The score was 14-0 with 8:12 left in the half.

De Queen started its scoring drive from their 26-yard line, making three first downs and getting the ball to the Prescott 32. Here they hit a snag.

An illegal procedure call moved the Leopards back to the 37. Next an opton play failed when three Prescott defenders, Rashad Johnson, Channing Butler and Brian VanHook, caught Lance Martin behind the line of scrimmage at the 47.

A screen pass to Derrick Whitmore was completed, but for no gain. Then the Prescott defense unintentionally let the Leopards score. The pass was for Lance Martin, but Prescott defenders Sam Marlow and John Cornelius each got a hand on it. Marlow tipped it; Cornelius tried to get it but tipped the pass and Martin grabbed it behind the defenders around the 15. He went untouched into the end zone for the TD. A two-point play failed with the score being 14-6 with 1:21 left in the half.

The kickoff went to Bryant near the 13-yard line. Bryant went up the middle, breaking through the defenders and when he was clear no one could catch him. The run took 11 seconds off the clock. The point after try by Yates was blocked with the score remaining 20-7, which is how the half ended.

The De Queen kickoff team tried an onsides kick to begin the second half, but Braith Egger captured it for the Curley Wolves near midfield.

Bryant went to the De Queen for four yards, then the Leopards were called for pass interference when Yates attempted to connect with Johnson. The penalty gave Prescott a first down at the De Queen 32.

Another pass for Johnson was incomplete; then Prescott was backed up five yards for lining up offsides. A pass for Flemons was incomplete, but on the next play Yates hit Channing Butler for a 22-yard gainer and a first down at the Leopards' 15-yard line.

Bryant managed six yards on the next play, and then he got seven more on the next on a delay up the middle for a first down at the two.

De Queen was offsides on the next play, moving the ball to the one, where Bryant jumped over the defense for the TD. This time the PAT by Yates was good, making the score 27-7 with 9:52 remaining in the third quarter. Naturally, a penalty against De Queen was declined.

The Leopards managed two first downs after the kickoff, but then Marlow and Flemons stopped Larry Williams for a four-yard loss. A pass intended for Turner Vance was almost intercepted by Marlow. Quarterback Sullivan went into a shotgun formation for a pass, and this time Marlow did get the interception at his own 42 for the turnover.

Montgomery was stopped for no gain, and a long pass for Cornelius was incomplete. On the next play Yates flipped the ball