Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Defeat Fouke, 25-9

The Prescott Curley Wolves are back in the play-offs race after a 26-9 win over the Fouke Panthers Friday night.

Ashdown, Prescott's opponent here Thursday night, and the Curley Wolves are tied for fourth place. The winner Thursday night will be going to the state play-offs.

Prescott, Ashdown and Bismarck all have an overall record of three wins and six losses. In the conference Prescott and Ashdown have 3-3 records, and this is what determines which team goes to the state play-offs.

As usual there are a lot of ifs' attached to the conference race. Here is an important one. If Ashdown had defeated Mena last Friday night by a teensy weensy margin and Prescott beat Ashdown this Friday by 13 or more points, then the Curley Wolves be set for third place rankings in the conference. This did not happen; Mena won, 21-7, and now we must winjust win by any margin, and then, if . . .

October 20 against Mena the Prescott offense turned the ball over seven times. The Curley Wolves accomplished more on the field than did the Bearcats, but the final score is what counted, not the stats. Had it not been for the tough Prescott defense the score would have been out of sight.

Friday night against Fouke saw a vast improvement from the offense.

Each team on first possession attempted to make a fourth down play, and each failed. Fouke took over from Prescott on the Panther 33-yard line. A pass to Landon Larey was completed and a defensive holding penalty against Prescott moved the ball to the 11.

From that point the Wolves' defense moved them back a yard, but on third down they were able to get to the nine, where Brandon Attaway was able to kick a field goal.

Prescott then began a drive at the Wolves' 12 after the kick-off. They were getting close to a score when a fumble by Bryan Joseph was recovered by Fouke. The defense held and the Panthers had to punt. However, once more the Wolves attempted to make a fourth down and once more they were turned back early in the second period. This time, however, the results were a touchdown by way of quarterback Eric Thomas of Fouke. He only completed four passes, but he totaled 121 yards.

The Panthers took over on the Prescott 44. However, thanks to Joseph, Joey Wyman and Rafael Marlow, Thomas was sacked back at mid-field on the first play. On the next play Thomas connected with Attaway, who found open room and went the distance for the touchdown. The point after try was missed by Attaway for the score to remain 9-0.

On Prescott's next series the Wolves were forced to punt after making one first down but stalling on the next one. Once more the defense held and the Panthers were forced to punt as well. The kick was partially blocked and the ball went out bounds at the Fouke 32.

On first down Mark Jones gained four yards. On the next play the Panthers were flagged for pass interference, moving the ball to the 14-yard line.

Marlow took the pitch-back for a sweep to the right and went for the touchdown. The kick attempt by Jesse Wright missed to keep the score at 9-6 in favor of Fouke.

During the first half Josh Bullock completed four passes that only netted 23 yards. The running game netted 73 yards with Marlow getting 54 of them on 13 carries. His running game would improve drastically in the second half.

The Curley Wolves came up with seven first downs in the first two periods while Fouke mustered only three.

Prescott took the kick-off to begin the second half. After making two first downs they stalled at their 43 where Bullock punted to the Fouke 22. The Panthers only managed three yards before they punted back to Prescott with the Decolen Prater taking the kick at his 47 and getting to the Fouke 43 before he was stopped.

On first down Marlow fumbled but recovered the ball for not gain. On the next play he swept right to pick up seven yards. A pass attempt by Bullock was slapped down by the defensive line, bringing up fourth down and punting time.

But Coach Kirk Armitage had other plans. The snap went back to Joseph, who scrambled 15 yards for a first down at the Fouke 21.

Marlow got the next call and went 18 yards setting up a TD at the three-yard line of Fouke. He had to break several tackles to gain the yards and was slow about getting up. Joseph went in for the score.Armitage decided to go for a two-point conversion, but it failed as Marlow was stopped a few yards before reaching the end zone. He was beat.'

The Panthers failed to make a first down on their next possession and after the punt the Wolves took over at their 34-yard line. Perhaps the drive would have failed if not for two major penalties against the Panthers.

On first down Marlow rushed for six yards, then Craig Teague got the first down at the 47.

Marlow again got the call and gained four yards to the Fouke 49. A pass for Jones fell incomplete, then Bullock tried a pass for Marlow. It also missed, but a personal foul made it a first down. Then the Fouke coach got a personal foul and the ball was moved to the Panther 20. As time ran out in the quarter Marlow gained a yard to the 19.

On the first play of the fourth period Bullock found Prater in the end zone for Prescott's third TD. The point after try by Wright went between the uprights for the score to increase to 19-9 with 11:53 left in the game.

Fouke again was forced to punt with Prescott taking over on the Wolves 31-yard-line.

Marlow gained eight yards on the first play, then Teague got six yards and a first down at the 45.

Marlow again got the call and gained nine yards to the Fouke 46. Teague got the ball next and picked up good yardage, but a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 49 of Prescott, where Bullock attempted a pass to Jones that fell incomplete. However, on third and six Marlow rushed for seven yards and a first down at the Fouke 44.

On first down Marlow gained four yards to the 40, then another Bullock pass for Jones fell incomplete. Armitage then came in with another surprise, a reverse with Bullock handing off to Marlow, who handed off to Jones. The play gained 32 yards and a first down at the Fouke eight.

Marlow then went in for the final touchdown of the night. Wright kicked the extra point to make it 26-9 and 6:50 left in the game.

Prescott's defense did its job again. On third and eight Thomas's pass for Larey was intercepted by Joseph Stueart for a turnover. Six plays later Wright attempted a long field goal that fell short and Fouke took over on their 20-yard line.

Three plays later the Panthers had moved to Prescott's 44. However, another Thomas pass was intercepted by Stueart to stop the drive. The Wolves kept the ball long enough for the clock to run out in spite of two penalties at the end that moved the ball back to the Prescott 42-yard line.

In all Bullock attempted 18 passes for Prescott, completing six for 52 yards. Thomas threw 17, complete four, having two intercepted and 11 of them falling incomplete.

The fourth period was the best offensively for the Curley Wolves, who netted a total of 127 yards, 108 rushing and 19 through the air.

For the night the Curley Wolves racked up 313 yards, 261 rushing and 52 passing.

Marlow was the game's leading rusher. He netted 169 for the night. Jones came in second with 50 and Joseph finished with 37. The Panthers only had a total of 39 for the entire team. However, Thomas threw for 121 yards.

The Curley Wolves ended the game with 22 first downs, 17 more than the Panthers.

Each team was penalized seven times, Prescott for 70 yards and Fouke for 75.

This week's game is a do or die. If the Wolves lose it's the end of the season. If they win it's the play-offs. Your attendance helps them tremendously. Notice that the game at Prescott Stadium is scheduled for Thursday night and not Friday. The band will perform at halftime.