Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

McGehee Escapes From Highland

The Prescott Curley Wolves have done what most fans thought they could not. They have worked their way up to the semi-finals of the state play-offs.

They will be doing something this Friday night that they've already done once this season. They will face the number one team in the state in Class AAA. The first time was October 1 when the Wolves soundly defeated the Nashville Scrappers. The Scrappers were the number one team at the time and undefeated. McGehee is number one presently, and is also undefeated. However, the Owls have won 26 straight games the past two years. They are 13-0 for this year.

This shouldn't throw a scare into the Curley Wolves. On the contrary, it should warn them they must play heads-up football Friday night in McGehee (W 8AAA). By far this will be best team the Wolves have faced all year, Nashville, De Queen and Fordyce included.

The Owls are beatable. It can be done. In fact it can be done by the Curley Wolves. Just the best defense and offense must be played this Friday night, that's all. No mistakes. Just tough defense, a smooth offense with strong blocking, and a strong determination, much stronger than in any other game this year, coupled with a proper discipline that prevents the mistakes of the past.

In other words the 'weren't-supposed-to-do-it' team has to muster everything it has to do the impossible. It must all come together this week to be a next week.

No surprise is the Wolves are now number four in the state, behind McGehee, Booneville (W 4AAA) and Nashville (2nd 7AAA). This is the highest ranking the team has had all year. It will be hard to get higher. A win only will do that.

Last week in the Class AAA play-offs, McGehee beat Highland (W 2AAA) 19-14 to advance; Booneville (13-0) beat Star City (2nd 8AAA) 20-14; Nashville beat Brinkley (W 6AAA) 28-14; and Prescott (W 7AAA) beat Marianna (2nd 6AAA) 16-8.

Prescott and Nashville would face each other for the second time in this decade for the state championship if both should win this week. They met for the championship in 1995. Both teams are from the 7AAA Conference, which just shows how tough the conference is. The Scrappers are 11-2 overall and the Curley Wolves are 10-3 with two of those losses coming from foes outside the conference.

One of the greatest supporters of the Curley Wolves is the Prescott band. The Curley Wolves marching band does a superb job on the field and in the bandstand, showing its elation, jubilation and celebration with the Wolves. At the proper time the band performs for the defense, just when the opponent's offense comes to line up. Keep up the good work, gang.

Band director Jonathan Kelly has turned out to be a great cheer-LEADER, too, when he leads cheers from a platform before the home games. Of course, this will not be permitted at McGehee Friday night. Kelly hasn't taken anything away from the regular cheerleading squad. They still perform well and show their emotions just as the band and the team. Their advantage over the band is going up and down the sidelines as the Wolves go from one end to the other. Their help will be needed Friday night.

Probably the biggest Prescott crowd all year was present Friday night at the game. The fans are really supporting the 'weren't-supposed-to-do-it' team. Now it's time to go on the road. The long trip to McGehee is not too long with the enthusiasm shown lately by the cheerleaders, the band, the crowd and especially the team. Show the spirit. Be there for kick-off at 7:30. We want to be in Little Rock next week.