Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves season comes to an end with 35-8 loss

Going into Thursday night's game, the Wolves needed two things to happen in order to make the playoffs.

When the first didn't, the second didn't matter.

First, the Wolves needed to beat 7-AAA Conference Champions Ashdown, at Ashdown, then they needed help from Bismarck, with a Lion victory over Mena.

But, Prescott fell to the Panthers 35-8, though the game was closer than the final score would indicate.

The Wolves had several chances to score during the game, but either turned the ball over or were hit with penalties to kill potential scoring drives.

Prescott won the toss to get the game underway, but deferred until the second half. This put the ball in Ashdown's hands.

Shawn Fricks took the opening kick at the 15, returning it to the 42 for the Panthers.

He promptly fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, but managed to recover the loose ball for a four-yard gain.

The Panthers made it to the Prescott 24 before the Wolves defense got on track and sacked Wes Aylett twice.

Prescott wound up taking over on downs at the Wolf 43 with 8:09 left in the first quarter.

However, the offense was unable to get anything going and returned the favor at the Ashdown 35.

Aylett borrowed a play from Mena, running a quarterback draw and scoring on a 65-yard run.

The point after made it 7-0 with 5:32 left in the first quarter.

R.J. Vanhook took the kick at the one, returning it to the 41, giving Prescott good field position.

However, it went for naught, as Vanhook fumbled on the next play with Ashdown recovering the ball at the Prescott 39.

Other than costing the team time and turf, the turnover proved harmless as the Panthers had to punt. The kick went into the end zone for a touchback.

Starting at the Wolf 20, Vanhook gained three, only to see the team called for illegal procedure and lose five yards.

The Wolves went backwards from there, and wound up punting from the nine.

Jace Garrison took the kick at the Prescott 42 and returned it to the 33.

Ashdown managed to run two plays and gain 13 yards before time expired in the first period.

Keeping the ball on the ground, the Panthers started the second quarter running five plays for their second score of the night.

The PAT made it 14-0 with 10:04 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and Prescott took over on the 35.

Prescott managed to gain 15 yards before punting to Garrison at the Panther 10.

He fumbled the ball, but caught it on the bounce and rambled to the 42 before being brought down.

A holding penalty on the next series of downs kept Ashdown from getting anything going, with the end result being a Panther punt to the Prescott 29.

It looked as if the Wolves were going to put a sustained drive together as they moved to the 45 before a couple of incomplete passes forced a punt.

However, a bad snap was fumbled with Prescott falling on the loose ball at the Wolf 28. It didn't matter as Ashdown took over on downs.

Jeremy Purifoy picked off Aylett's bomb at the two, keeping the Panthers away from the Prescott end zone.

Unfortunately, the Wolves were unable to move the ball and, again, had to punt.

The ball wound up rolling dead at the Wolf 46.

Fricks carried the ball four times, the last a 30-yard run for Ashdown's third touchdown of the night.

The point after hit the right upright and bounced off, making the score 20-0 with 1:13 to go in the half.

Charles Gulley fielded the kick at the 22, returning it to the 36 for Prescott.