Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves winning streak at three after 60-14 drubbing of Bismarck

It got ugly fast and went downhill from there as Prescott was literally unchallenged in a 60-14 win against Bismarck.

Fans who went expecting to see a football game instead watched what amounted to a full-contact track meet as the Wolves ran rampant over the hapless Lions.

The best thing about the game, aside from the 35-point rule being in effect the entire second half, was the number of young players who got game experience.

Coach Greg Smith virtually cleared the bench of players during the second half. A half which saw the offense and defense score.

As to the 35-point rule, under Arkansas Activity Association rules this year, anytime a team is ahead by 35 or more points, the clock doesn't stop, except during time outs, penalties and at the end of a quarter.

The Lions won the opening toss and deferred until the second half. This gave Prescott's offense the ball to start the game.

The kick went out of bounds, with the Wolves taking over on the Prescott 35.

Six plays later, R.J. Vanhook was standing in the end zone and Prescott led 6-0.

Vanhook was the lone ball carrier during the drive, which included a 38-yard pass from Zack Martin to Jarrod Norwood.

The point after made it 7-0 with 9:40 left in the opening frame.

Bismarck's first possession was three and punt.

Prescott took over at its 30 after the 45-yard kick. Again, it didn't take the Wolves long to get on the board, as Vanhook found a seam and sprinted 61 yards on the third play of the drive.

The PAT was again good, and Prescott led 14-0 with 7:45 to go in the first.

Justin Ashcraft fielded the ensuing kickoff at the Lion 16 and made it to the 29 where he was pancaked by a vicious tackle.

The Lions promptly went nowhere on three offensive plays, then lined up to punt on fourth down.

Cody Kemp winged a pass instead, with the ball being picked off by Prescott's Eli Ratcliff, who returned it to the Lion 44.

It appeared as though the Wolves would make it three touchdowns on as many possessions, but this wasn't the case as Prescott had a 27-yard touchdown run by Vanhook called back because of a holding penalty. A motion penalty later on would result in the drive ending and Bismarck taking over on downs at its 24.

On the first snap, Kemp's pass was picked off by Jason Butler, who found the promised land to make it 20-0 with 1:14 to go in the period.

The point after was blocked.

After a return to the 24, the Lions ran four plays, gaining nine yards before turning it over on downs to Prescott at time ran out in the first.

The second quarter began with the Wolves flagged for illegal motion. Again, it didn't matter as Prescott scored five plays later when Martin found Norwood with a 10-yard strike.

The PAT made it 27-0 with 10:28 left in the half.

Ashcraft took the kick at the four, returning it to the 25, where five yards were tacked on after a facemask call against Prescott.

Regardless, it was three and punt for the Lions, with A.J. Lewis taking the kick at the Prescott 35, returning it to the Bismarck 44.

The Wolves needed three snaps to cover the distance. However, the drive began with Prescott going backwards after a motion call moved the ball back five yards to the 49.

This was followed by Martin being tripped by the center and falling down at the Wolf 49.

Once the miscues were out of the way, Martin hit Joe Stueart at the Lion 27. Vanhook capped the drive off with his second touchdown of the night with 7:22 showing.

The point after attempt hit the upright and bounced back, with Prescott leading 33-0.

Bismarck started at its 30 after the return, and went nowhere fast. The Lion drive ended with Kemp being sacked at the Bismarck 45 on fourth down.

At this point, Smith began sending in substitutes.

Chris Hopper gained two, with Damaricus Craven adding two more.

The drive featured several Wolf runners, including Martel Woodley, and was capped by Hopper going in from the one with 24 seconds left.

The point after made it 40-0, but Prescott wasn't finished scoring.

The Lions started at the Bismarck 33. Kemp missed on consecutive passed and fumbled on third down.

Reggis Sims picked the ball up at the Lion 36 and scampered in for a touchdown, making it 46-0 with 1.9 seconds left.

The PAT made it 47-0, with halftime mercifully arriving after the kickoff.

When the two squads met to resume the one-sided battle in the second half, it would be under the 35-point rule.

The Lions received the kick and started at the Bismarck 38.

Bismarck was assisted by a strange interference call on the touchdown drive. The Lion receiver pushed the Prescott defender down, but the Wolves were flagged with the penalty.

Overall, the Lions needed eight plays to score with 4:17 to go in the quarter. A two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, with the score 47-6.

The kick went out of bounds, with Prescott starting at the Wolf 35. First down saw the Wolves fumble with Bismarck recovering at Prescott's 31.

Steve Smith gained two on the first play, with Kemp picked off by Zack Richards, who ran it in for a Wolf touchdown with 45 seconds to go.

The PAT was blocked, but Prescott's lead was now 53-6.

The kick was returned to the Lion 43 as time expired in the third.

It took Bismarck three plays to culminate the Lions's offense, with Kemp connecting with Chance Estridge for a 42-yard score.

The Lions converted a two-point try to make it 53-14.

Prescott had nothing but substitutes in at this time, but the subs weren't in there to roll over and play dead.

The Wolves took over after a failed on-side kick attempt. Prescott began at th Lion 49.

Five plays later, Hunter Reck was in the end zone and the point after made it 60-14.

Prescott used the clock, keeping the ball on the ground during the drive, with Reck scoring from the five with 3:55 left in the game.

Bismarck started at its 40 and ran two plays before the clock showed 0:00.

Unofficial statistics show the game to be as one-sided as the score.

The Lions did run more offensive plays than Prescott, 38-33.

However, the Wolves racked up 354 total yards, while allowing 141.

Of this, Prescott had 120 yards passing and 234 on the ground. Bismarck had 15 yards rushing with 126 through the air.

Prescott was six of nine in its aerial attack, while the Lions were eight of 23 with three interceptions.

Bismarck punted twice for 70 yards, but gave up 21 return yards for a net of 49 yards.

The Wolves were flagged seven times for 55 yards, while Bismarck was penalized twice for six yards.

The Lions fumbled four times, losing it once. Prescott lost its only fumble of the game.

The Wolves had a total of 15 first downs, while the Lions managed nine.

Looking at the rushing game, Bismarck ran 15 times for 15 yards, an average of one-yard per carry.

On the other hand, Prescott ran the ball 24 times for 234 yards, a 9.75 yard per carry average.

Vanhook ran six times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Craven had six carries for 23 yards, with Woodley carrying twice for eight yards.

Hopper ran seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Butler had one run for 11 yards, with Reck carrying three times for seven yards and a touchdown.

This was a game the Wolves needed, as it gave the starters the opportunity to get a workout in, while also getting plenty of rest. It also gave the younger players valuable game experience, which will come in handy later on.

Now, though, the team's attention is turned toward Nashville, as the Wolves will be on the road Friday night to tangle with the Pumpkinheads.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.