Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Use Strong Second Half To Win Opener Friday

No coach likes to have to come from behind to win a ball game, but when his team is behind, a coach wants to and has to come from behind to win. That was the case Friday night

The Prescott Curley Wolves were guilty of getting behind the Mineral Springs Hornets, but scored five big touchdowns to win the game 33-18.

While the defense looked terrible sometimes, it also looked good, playing heads up football when it was needed.

Was it because the team took the Hornets too lightly? Or was it because the team just doesn't have all its plays down pat yet? It could be both. But the team must not take any opponent lightly, and each player must be ready to give all he has to execute the play as coach David Bennet asks.

Offensively the team needs to improve as well, and will as the season progresses. The opponents will too.

Not enough blocking, too many butter fingers and a few other things gave the fans a scare several times. Fortunately the team managed anyway.

Look for an improved team this week when the Curley Wolves travel to Hope, a worthy opponent any year, let alone a year when the Bobcats were pre-season favorites in the 7AAAA Conference.

Prescott looked pretty good on the Hornets' first possession, but the defense let the Hornets scored on its next possession.

The score came from 33 yards out on the Hornets second play. The Wolves did prevent the extra point, keeping it at 6-0 with 6:58 left in the first quarter.

The TD seemed to take the wind out of the Curley Wolves. On their next possession Brad Harris punted on fourth and six from his own 28-yard-line.

However, the Hornets had to punt on fourth and nine. The snap was bad and the rush was on. When the excitement was over Prescott was 28 yards away from its first TD.

Calvin Flemons gained two yards on the first try and nine on his second for the first down at the Mineral Springs 17.

Terry Woodley then gained six yards to the 11 before Fred Hopson took it to the one, getting a big first down.

Quarterback Josh Bullock sneaked' it in from the one. The extra point turned out to be a two-point attempt, but it failed, leaving the scored at 6-6.

The two teams then traded punts with Prescott pushing the Hornets back to their own 10-yard line on its punt, setting up another score. This time it was the defense.

On third down the ball was fumbled in the end zone, but picked up. Flemons went after the pigskin and claimed it and a player in the corner for a touchback and two more points, giving Prescott an 8-6 edge.

Mineral Springs then got a free kick, choosing to punt and after a nice return by Harris, Prescott took over on the Hornets' 45. However, a holding penalty and other mistakes forced the Wolves to punt from the Mineral Springs 43. The Hornets came swarming and blocked the punt, which was picked up and run back to the Prescott 27, giving Mineral Springs good field position.

Prescott's defense went to work, causing a fumble with Hopson taking the recovered ball on the run. He was finally stopped at the Hornet 37-yard line.

On second down Hopson fumbled the ball, but got it back. On third and 13 a Bullock pass was intercepted at the 17-yard line.

Two plays later the Hornets had a first down at their 36. The defense did it again. Bryan Joseph got in the back field and dropped the Hornets for a six-yard loss. On the next play Kevin Erwin, quarterback for the Hornets attempted a pass to Quentin Hendrix, which Prescott's Rafael Marlow politely took himself and decided to score. The two-point pass play failed, but Prescott led 14-6 with 2:15 left in the first period.

The first half ended with the Hornets having confidence and it was showing when the second half began. Eight plays into the third period they managed their second TD of the night. The Hornets also attempted a two-point play after the TD, but that failed, leaving the score at 14-12.

Prescott managed to move the ball from their 35 to their 45 before a pass from Bullock to Hopson was intercepted. Offensively the Hornets lost two yards before attempting to punt. Partially blocked, the Wolves started this drive at their own 39.

Hopson gained four yards on the first play and got the second call. This time there was not stopping him as he went 57 yards to score. Once more a two-point conversion failed to leave the score at 20-12.

But that soon changed.

Antone Stick' Purifoy's kick-off was another good one, going down to the 15 with only a small return. The Hornets took over offensively on their 22-yard line.

Arthur Burnett then gained 12 yards for a first down. On the next play Erwin hit Michael Olden with a long pass. The touchdown run was on. Once more the point after try was missed, leaving the score 20-18.

The Curley Wolves had the ball going into the final period, but had to puntand a bad decision by Mineral Springs.

Harris's punt went somewhere around the 25, but a penalty was called against Prescott, which the Hornets accepted. This time the punt rolled dead at the 20, giving the Wolves a five-yard advantage.

The Hornets had to punt on fourth and 17. Harris accepted the kick around his 40 and turned upfield. He was stopped at the Mineral Springs 23, but a clipping penalty was marked off against the Curley Wolves.

Starting 38 yards away from a goal, Flemons picked up 14 yards and a first down at the 24.

Hopson gained two more on the next play then seven on the next. Bullock got the first down with another sneak,' getting to the 13.

Hopson then picked up another first down, getting to the 2, where Bullock took it in for another TD. This time the point after was good with Harris kicking the extra point to make it 27-18.

As usual the kickoff was a good one, but the Hornet receiver did Prescott a favor by fumbling the ball out of bounds at his 18-yard line.

Mineral Springs was backed up to the 8-yard line on fourth and 20. The snap was bad to the punter and Prescott took over on the nine.

Flemons took it in on the first try. The snap was bad to Andrews Fellows, who attempted to run with the ball, but was tackled, making the final score 33-18.

Bullock attempted 12 passes, completing two for 14 yards. He threw two interceptions. Erwin attempted 14 for Mineral Springs, completing three  one of them for a touchdown. He netted 58 yards.

Prescott rushed for 187 yards, getting 95 of them the third period.

The leading rusher for Prescott was Hopson with 109 yards. Flemons finished with 66 yards.

The Curley Wolves managed 13 first downs to 12 for the Hornets.

Prescott was penalized five times for 45 yards. Mineral Springs had two penalties for 20 yards. Many more penalties were called, but were declined.

Prescott had three turnovers to four for the Hornets.

This week the Curley Wolves will travel to Hope to play the Bobcats, who lost Friday night to a more powerful Camden Fairview.