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Wolves send Bulldogs to pung with 29-8 win; Hope's next

BY JOHN MILLER
Published Wednesday, September 18, 2002 in the Nevada County Picayune

Friday the 13th proved to be a lucky day for the Curley Wolves as Prescott dropped Hampton 29-8.

This puts the Wolves even at 1-1 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-2 on the year.

The Wolves went to the air early and often during the game, keeping the Hampton defense running all over the field and worn out.

Overall Prescott threw the ball almost as much as the Wolves ran, providing a balanced offensive attack and keeping the Dogs from focusing on one aspect of the game.

Prescott won the toss to open the contest, with Chris Hopper bobbling the kickoff, but recovering it at the 16 and giving the Wolves decent field position at the 36.

From there, Zach Martin went to the air, but missed on two straight passes. A third down reverse lost two yards, resulting in a Prescott punt.

The kick rolled dead at the Dog 37.

Hampton's Bradley Hannegan gave his team the inaugural first down of the game on the first play as he rambled to the Prescott 49.

Prescott's defense stiffened and forced a punt, in spite of the Wolves being called for offside on a third down play.

A.J. Lewis fair caught the ball at the Prescott eight.

Two rushing plays netted a one-yard loss, and a third down pass from Martin to Jarrod Norwood fell incomplete, forcing Prescott to punt.

Hampton's offense came alive on its next drive.

Starting at the Prescott 44, the Dogs drove the distance for six, with the touchdown coming on a counter by E.J. Walter from the 11.

Hampton was successful in a two-point conversion and led 8-0 with 2:32 left in the first quarter.

The Wolves began at the 14 after Damaricus Craven stepped out of bounds when he caught the ball.

On second down, Martin hit Lewis with a pass, with Lewis rambling to the Hampton 42 to give the Wolves some breathing room.

Prescott moved to the Dog 37 before the first period came to an end.

The second quarter opened with Prescott facing a fourth and five situation. Wolf Coach Greg Smith opted to go for it, but Martin missed connection with Joe Stueart, giving Hampton the ball on downs.

Walter took the handoff on a counter, was hammered and coughed up the ball. The fumble was recovered by Prescott at the Hampton 36.

However, the Wolves were unable to take advantage of the Bulldog mistake (with a little help from the officials), and turned the ball over on downs once again.

During the drive, though, Smith went to his bag of tricks, used a double reverse, which ended with Lewis, the backup quarterback, hitting Norwood for what Prescott fans thought was a touchdown.

The officials, however, denied the score and called Prescott for illegal motion.

It didn't matter, as the Wolfpack "D" held the Dogs in check the rest of the game.

After the Wolves turned the ball over on downs, Hampton managed to get to the Prescott 33, only to be pushed back.

On fourth down, Derek Sanders saw his pass intercepted by Lewis, who had nothing but green between him and the promised land  65 yards away.

Prescott went for two, successfully, tying the game at 8-8, with 2:05 left in the half.

Period three began with Prescott getting called for a facemask penalty. It didn't matter as Hampton ran three plays and punted, something Bulldog fans were to see the rest of the game, for the most part.

R.J. Vanhook fielded the punt at the Wolf 40, returning it to the Hampton 48.

He followed with a two-yard run, with Hopper adding a yard on second down. Third down saw Martin hook up with Norwood for a 35-yard touchdown, putting the Wolves up 14-8 with 9:07 remaining.

The Wolves went for the traditional point after attempt, to make it 15-8.

The Dogs offense had a one-two-three cha-cha-cha step and punted once again.

Prescott took over at the Dog 48 with 7:30 showing, kept the ball more than two minutes, but had to punt as well.

Hampton managed a first down on its possession, but little more as the Dogs again punted, with Prescott taking over on the Wolf 46.

The Wolves wasted little time in putting touchdown number three on the board.

In fact, Prescott's scoring drive took five plays and ate 1:32 off the clock.

The score came when Lewis, off a reverse, hit Stueart with a 15-yard pass.

The point after made it 22-8, with 40 seconds left in the stanza.

Hampton fought back, somewhat, moving from its 12 to its 41 before punting again.

Vanhook fielded the kick at the Prescott 17, returned it to the 36, was driven out of bounds by four Bulldogs, who rudely piled on. The end result was 15 yards being tacked onto the play, putting Prescott at Hampton's 49.

Prescott ran seven plays before turning the ball over on downs, and had Hampton return the favor after three snaps.

The Wolves took control offensively for the last time with 4:47 left in the game.

Starting at the Prescott 33, Vanhook, on a draw play, scampered to the Hampton 42.

Three plays later, though, the Wolves were at the Dog 33 facing a fourth and one. Martin kept, gaining three to keep the drive alive.

Three plays later, Vanhook went in from the 17 to make it 28-8 with 1:17 to go. The PAT dotted the "i" for the last time, making the score 29-8.

Hampton, after the kickoff, was able to run two plays as time expired.

Unofficial statistics show the game to be close in several areas.

The Wolves were dominant in the air, completing eight of 23 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

Hampton was three of seven through the air, for 15 yards, with one interception.

The Wolves rushed the ball 25 times for 104 yards, an average of 4.2 yards per carry, while the bulk of Hampton's offense came on the ground. The Dogs ran the ball 41 times for 179 yards.

Prescott had 271 total offensive yards, while Hampton managed 194.

Prescott punted three times for 97 yards and no returns.

Hampton booted the ball six times for 188 yards, with Prescott earning 33 return yards. This gave the Dogs a net of 155 punting yards.

Prescott was flagged six times for 30 yards, while Hampton saw laundry fall three times for 30 yards.

Martin was sacked once in the game.

The Wolves put the ball on the ground twice, but recovered both fumbles. Hampton fumbled once and lost it.

Prescott managed 13 first downs, to 12 for Hampton.

The Wolves return to the friendly confines of Cummins Field Friday night as they entertain the Hope Bobcats.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.


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