Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves's season of dreams falls short of becoming a reality

In the end, it came down to big plays  Warren made them, Prescott didn't.

The Lumberjacks were able to do to Prescott what the Wolves had done to opponents all year  score quick from anywhere on the field.

And, lo, the season ended for Prescott in the semifinals of the state playoffs with a 42-14 loss to the Jacks.

It wasn't as though the Wolves didn't have opportunities, the team did, but wasn't able to convert them.

In the first quarter, two apparent touchdown passes were dropped in the end zone.

Prescott's offense was unable to make Warren's defense pay for the Jacks's offensive miscues, though the Wolves were able to drive deep into Warren territory.

Warren also employed an interesting tactic on kickoffs: boot the ball high and short, keeping it out of the hands of either R.J. Vanhook or Chris Hopper.

The game's opening kick sailed to Eli Ratcliff on the Wolf 28 and was returned to the 34.

Jason Butler gained a yard from the fullback position, before Zach Martin went to the air.

Martin's first pass went to A.J. Lewis on a screen for a loss of two yards. The next pass fell incomplete and Prescott had to punt.

The ball rolled dead at the Jack 16.

Warren, though, did nothing in its first possession, though the Jacks did come out firing the ball from the outset.

Following a short punt, the Wolves looked to be in the drivers's seat as Prescott set up shop at the Warren 41.

Vanhook gained two on first down. Martin followed with a pass to Jarrod Norwood for 15 yards.

Martin found an open Joe Steuart in the end zone for what Wolf fans thought was the first score of the game. However, Steuart was unable to cradle the ball in.

Two plays later, Prescott punted into the end zone, putting Warren on its 20.

The Jacks needed but three plays to cover 80 yards, the back breaker coming on a 78-yard pass. The receiver was knocked out of bounds at the Prescott one, but the Jacks scored on the next play.

With 7:23 left in the first quarter, Warren led 7-0.

Ratcliff fielded the kickoff at the 33, getting to the 40 where Prescott's offense took over.

Martin hit Norwood for five, followed by Vanhook giving the Wolves a first down at the Warren 49.

Two more runs put Prescott at the Warren 43, before Martin connected with Hopper, who fought his way to the eight, where the drive stalled.

Four plays later, Warren took over on its 10 with 3:12 showing.

The Lumberjacks took eight plays to cover the 90 yards, scoring on a 15-yard run.

Again, a long pass play set up the score, as Warren's quarterback found a receiver for a 47-yard gain.

The score came with two seconds left on the clock.

The ensuing kickoff was fumbled, with Warren recovering at the Prescott 36 as the quarter ended.

The Wolfpack "D" stiffened, forcing Warren to punt after the quarterback was sacked by Martel Woodley for a 12-yard loss.

Starting at the Prescott 37, the Wolves moved to the Lumberjack eight, where the drive again stalled and Warren took over on downs.

Five plays later, the score was 21-0 as Warren scored on a 78-yard pass from Aaron Rowell to Terrance Hampton.

The Wolves were unable to generate much offense on the next drive and punted to the Warren 18 with 2:42 left in the half.

The Lumberjacks drove the length of the field in 13 plays, assisted by an unsportsmanlike conduct call against Prescott.

Warren scored on a four-yard run with 24 seconds remaining to go up 28-0.

The Wolves took over on the Prescott 37, with Vanhook battling to the Warren 48 on the first play.

Martin spiked the ball to kill the clock, but was picked off on the next play at the Warren 21 to end the half.

Warren got the ball to start the third quarter, recovering an on-side kick at the Lumberjack 48.

The drive made it to the Prescott 25, before the Wolfpack "D" again stiffened and forced Warren to turn the ball over on downs.

Air Prescott returned, with Martin finding Lewis for 12 on first down, then hitting Butler for another five.

A draw to Vanhook put the ball on the Warren 31, before Martin connected with Lewis for Prescott's first touchdown with 6:13 showing.

The point after cut the score to 28-7.

The kickoff was returned to midfield, where Warren's quarterback found a wide open receiver for a touchdown on the first play.

This made the score 35-7 with 5:53 left in the frame.

Prescott started at its 34 and fought to the Warren 49 where Martin was picked off and the ball returned for a 53-yard touchdown with 4:38 to go.

The point after made it 42-7, and invoked the new "mercy" rule. This put even more pressure on Prescott as the clock wouldn't stop until the deficit was cut to less than 35 points.

However, the officials failed to return to normal game time after the Wolves scored again.

After the touchdown, Prescott started at its 32, and made it to the Warren 39 before time expired.

Three plays into the fourth quarter, the Wolves punched it in with Martin finding Steuart for a 40-yard score.

The point after made it 42-14, yet the clock continued to run unabated.

Prescott recovered the onside kick, only to have Martin picked off for the third time in the game.

Warren went from its 40 to the Prescott 20 before turning the ball over on downs with less than a minute to go.

Unofficial statistics show Prescott's passing attack to be 13 of 31 for 199 yards and a touchdown.

Warren was 10 of 24 for 335 yards.

The Wolves punted three times for 101 yards, while Warren punted twice for 45 yards.

Penalties were about even, with Prescott being flagged six times for 45 yards, and Warren penalized five times for 40 yards.

Prescott fumbled twice, losing the ball once, while Warren fumbled once but maintained possession.

The Wolves recorded two sacks on the Warren signalcaller, while Martin was dropped once.

First downs were close, with Warren holding a 17-15 edge.

Prescott ran 54 offensive plays, while the Lumberjacks snapped the ball 47 times.

The Wolves won the ground game, gaining 116 yards on 23 rushes, while Warren was held to 85 yards on 23 carries.

Overall, Prescott gained 315 yards, while Warren had 420.

Vanhook was Prescott's leading ground gainer with 92 yards on 13 carries.

While the Wolves's season came to an end one game short of the team's goal, it must be said the year was a successful one.

Though picked to finish third in the 7AAA, few expected Prescott post an 8-2 record in the regular season and make it to the semifinals of the state playoffs when the year began five months ago, with a first time head coach.

The Wolves have no reason to hang their heads, as the team, for the most part, ran rampant over its opposition, averaging more than 30 points a game during the regular season.

Coach Greg Smith, at the end of the game, wouldn't let the players leave the field until Warren had been congratulated for the win, again showing how much class the Prescott program has.

Smith praised the players for their effort, and told them they had nothing to be ashamed of. This was shown in the fact the Wolves, at no point in the game, considered defeat possible until the final buzzer sounded.

One thing must be said for this team. While the Wolves lose a dozen players to graduation, those who will be returning for the 2003 campaign have been well seasoned under some of the harshest conditions a high school team could face.

Those who will be coming back know the taste of victory and the bitterness of coming within 48 minutes of the sweetest flavor of all.

So, Wolf fans be ready. Wolf foes, be warned. The pack is definitely back and will be even hungrier next year.