Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves feast on Lions part 1

Prescott's Wolves howled loud and long Friday night as they feasted on the Bismarck Lions in a 48-0 romp.

The Wolves scored on both sides of the ball, as the offense put the ball in the end zone four times, while the defense scored three touchdowns in the game to give Prescott a 2-2 record overall and a 1-0 mark in the 7-AAA conference.

Bismarck did rule the game in terms of time of possession, but this was because the Wolves scored quickly and often, especially the defense.

However, how the game began and ended were two entirely different stories.

Prescott won the opening toss and elected to defer until the second half, thereby giving Bismarck the ball to get the game underway.

Justin Ashcraft took the opening kick at the seven, returning it to the 27, where the Lions began.

The Lions's offense did nothing with the ball, other than seeing an Ashcraft pass almost intercepted, and had to punt three plays later.

The boot made it to the Lion 47.

Craig Teague bulled his way through the middle of the line to the Bismarck 24 on Prescott's first offensive play.

R.J. Vanhook lost a yard on the second play, but made up for it with a 10-yard gain on second down. Zach Martin ran a quarterback sneak to the 12 giving the Wolves a first down.

Vanhook's next carry put the ball on the four, with Teague going in for Prescott's first touchdown of the night.

The point after attempt was low and blocked. Still, Prescott held a 6-0 lead with 7:28 left in the first.

Each time the Wolves scored, a wolf howl was played from the press box. The howl was played often throughout the game.

This ended the scoring in the opening period, but not the action.

Mike Wagner fumbled the kickoff at the 10, but managed to pick up the loose ball and scramble to the 18 before being brought down.

Wagner gained two on first down, before Ashcraft was sacked by the Wolves. A facemask penalty, though, wiped out the sack and put the ball at the Lion 35.

Bismarck made it to their 41 before being completely shut down by the Prescott Wolfpack "D", a defense in no mood to take prisoners.

Jarrod Norwood took the punt at the Prescott 33 and was nailed as soon as he cradled the ball to his chest.

The Wolves kept the ball the rest of the first quarter, moving it to the Lion 47 before the period ended, but lost back to the Wolf 46.

The second period began with Prescott lining up in punt formation as the Wolves faced a fourth and 17 at their own 46.

Wagner took the punt at the 26, getting to the 28 before being introduced, again, to the Wolves.

Three plays later, though, the Lions were again in punt formation, with Norwood, this time, signaling for a fair catch at the Prescott 34.

The Wolves did nothing offensively, and had to punt after three plays themselves. The kick was fielded by Wagner at the Bismarck 30, where he was dropped.

Then the bottom fell out for the Lions as the Wolfpack "D" showed up.

First down saw Ashcraft sacked at the 26, then gain nothing on second down. He managed to complete a pass to Drew Smyly no gain on third, with the Lions forced to punt again.

However, the snap was mishandled by the punter, with Norwood picking the fumble up and running it in for six to make it 12-0 Prescott with 5:49 left in the half.

The Wolves opted for a two-point conversion, with Vanhook going over to make the score 14-0.

Wagner had more problems handling the kickoff as he bobbled the ball, but recovered enough to get from the 20 to the 28.

Again, it was three and out for Bismarck, as the Lion offense was unable to figure out what the Wolves were doing defensively, as maroon-clad warriors seemed to be everywhere.