Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Stung By Hornets In Opening Game

"...and the agony of defeat," ends the line of a sports program that aired on ABC television for several years, and that was the sad story of Prescott's debut to the 2000 football season.

Mineral Springs took a 27-8 victory Friday night in Hornet Stadium. Prescott's only score came in the fourth period from 19 yards away when quarterback Josh Bullock connected with Brandon Young in the end zone for the touchdown. Two points were added after the TD with another Bullock-Young pass.

This might have been the only score for the Wolves, but it wasn't because they didn't try. The Hornets were tough and Prescott knew they were going to be hard to beat. The Curley Wolves just don't have the manpower or the depth this year as in years past. But they did try.

Most Prescott fans knew in advance that it was going to be a rebuilding year after last year's team did more than what was expected, winning the 7AAA Conference title.

And even Friday night the Curley Wolves did more than what many thought they could do. It was just tough containing the Hornets, which the Wolves did the first quarter. They weakened a little in the second period, but still they showed the spirit that Prescott has been famous for over the decades.

It was only in the second half that the team's determination began to falter. The depth of the squad could not offer a rest for coach James Armitage in the fourth period when it was obvious his players needed it.

A cool breeze was blowing across the field most of the time during the game, but the heat was still intense. If it had not been for cloud cover much of the day in Mineral Springs and as the sun set, no doubt the game temperature would have been well over 100 degrees.

The heat was worse for the Prescott players than the Mineral Springs Hornets. Of course it was just as hot on the home side as it was the visitor's, but the Hornets had a little more depth, and they probably were in better shape. One must remember that Armitage, who was only hired one month before the first game, was not here to properly train his players as they should have been. The players were simply exhausted and some nauseated.

Coach Armitage's Curley Wolves put up a good fight, but he and the fans should be thankful there were only four quarters.

Bullock's passing game was a mixture of good and bad. On most pass plays when he was on target the ball was missed, and then when some receivers were open he was off target. He was fortunate in many attempts to get the ball away. He just didn't have as much protection as he needed.

However, things began to jell in the fourth period after a frustrating 3= quarters and his aim hit the right targets at the right time, thanks in part, though, to substitutions on the part of Mineral Springs.

If not for Bullock's passing game the Curley Wolves would not have had a game. No one can doubt his ability when it comes to passing. He proved it many times last year.

Prescott must be able to concentrate on the pass play to make it succeed. Of course the offensive line must also do its part to keep the opponent from finding the quarterback so the play can be completed. We think it will get better, but we should also remember that there are a lot of bigger, stronger, tougher teams ahead for the Wolves, and no doubt the entire team has been told that.

Prescott's first offensive attempt ended with a bad pitch back to Bryan Joseph. Their second offensive drive ended the first quarter with a punt. And Mineral Springs' junior tailback Cortez Swopes got all the honors for the touchdown. The Bullock punt went out at the Hornets' 36-yard line for the drive to begin.

Swopes got the first call and a first down with an 11-yard run. He could only muster three yards on the next run, but picked up 12 on the next one for another first down at the Prescott 38.

On the next play Swopes gained two yards, then picked up 24 and a first down at the Prescott 16.

Swopes got the call again and a minor infraction by a Prescott player gave the Hornets a five-yard penalty to move the ball to the three.

From the three Swopes easily got the TD. The point after try by Matthew McJunkins failed for the score to remain 6-0.Each team had two first downs in the first quarter, but Prescott could not muster one in the second while the Hornets came up with seven.

Swopes had eight plays the first quarter, but the Prescott defense held him to 22 yards. In the second period he gained 64 on the scoring drive and nine more later in the quarter, running the ball 12 times for 75 yards.

Bullock and Company, in the meanwhile, had managed only a net of three yards on the ground and 35 in the air. He attempted seven passes the first half, connecting with four (one for a loss) and having three fall incomplete.

After a 20-minute rest Bullock was intercepted once and he had five incomplete passes in the third quarter. He completed only two for a net of nine yards.

But, thanks to the halftime rest, the defense was able to slow down Swopes. He rushed five times for a net of 12 yards. Arthur Burnett, who rushed for 42 yards for the Hornets in the first half, was held to 23 in the third period. However, when the quarter ended the Hornets were knocking on the door of another TD.

In the third period Bullock, who also doubles as Prescott's punter, took a very high snap from the 20-yard line and barely got the kick away. Mineral Springs took over on the Prescott 32.

Burnett gained six yards on the first play, then he got the ball again and picked up two. Sheldon Smith then got the first down at the Prescott 19-yard line.

On the next play Smith picked up two more. Swopes then carried the ball for six yards and again for two and a first down at the nine.

Burnett was stopped at the one on the last play of the quarter. Swopes then took it in on the first play of the next period, using four seconds of the clock. Quarterback Michael Olden added two points on the try after to make the score 14-0.

On Prescott's possession Bullock tried to connect with Joey Wyman, but the ball was intercepted. Mineral Springs had to punt with the Wolves getting the ball on their own nine-yard line. Bullock's first pass fell incomplete, but his second found its mark behind the line of scrimmage to Joseph, who fumbled the ball over to the Hornets at the four.

On the first play Swopes scored his third TD. The extra point kick was missed for the score to remain 20-0 with 8:50 left in the game.

Once more Coach Armitage's squad had to go to the air. Bullock was intercepted on his first attempt with the Hornets being only 42 yards away from another touchdown.

New Hornets were shuttled into the game to give them experience and they didn't look bad.

On the first play of Mineral Springs' last drive Jarvis Juniel gained four yards. Smith then got the call and a first down at the Prescott 29.

Smith again got the call and gained six yards. Then Juniel drove to the Prescott 17 for another first down.

Jamaine Johnson came into the game and lost a yard for the Hornets. Smith got it back and more, going to the 11 before he was stopped. Juniel picked up the first down at the six.

On the next play Smith gained two yards and then Juniel took it in for the Hornets' final TD. This time the point after kick by McJunkins was good to make the score 27-0.

Craig Teague took the kick-off from the Hornets at his 20 and returned it 26 yards to set up a drive by the Wolves. However, on their first offensive play they were penalized five yards.

Bullock attempted a pass that fell incomplete, but on the next play he connected with Rafael Marlow at the Mineral Springs 19.

Bullock then tried to hit Wyman, but failed. On the next play he found Young for the TD, making the final score 27-8.

Prescott's defense stopped the Hornets and the Curley Wolves went to work again.

Bullock missed with the first pass and couldn't find anyone open for the second attempt, so he went right and gained 12 yards for the first down.

Then he found Marlow for another first down at the Hornets' 48-yard line.

Bullock missed his next two passes as time was running out. With two seconds left on the clock he connected with Mark Jones at the Hornets' four-yard line, but the game was over.

Bullock attempted 13 passes in the final period. He attempted 28 in all, hitting with 11 of them for 148 yards. He threw 14 incomplete and he had three interceptions.

Prescott only rushed 12 times, netting just 13 yards.

The Curley Wolves ended the game with eight first downs while the Hornets finished with 18.

Flags did not fly often. Prescott was penalized twice for 10 yards. Mineral Springs was penalized twice for 15 yards. The Hornets also were penalized on a kick-off when the ball went out-of-bounds.

Prescott turned the ball over four times and the Hornets had one.

The Hornets rushed for 259 yards. Olden did not complete a pass.

The biggest rusher, obviously, was Swopes with 114 net yards. Burnett finished with 65 yards; Juniel had 42; and Smith rushed for 34 yards.

The Curley Wolves will host Hope this Friday night. Last week the Bobcats were defeated 10-6 by the Nashville Scrappers.