Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves handle Hampton, 28-9, on off track

On an off track the Prescott Curley Wolves went to 2-0 on the season in an ugly game, with a 28-9 win over the Hampton Bulldogs.

The Dogs were fortunate the score wasn't more lopsided as Prescott lost three fumbles, and dropped what could have easily been a couple of touchdown passes.

Rain had fallen off and on throughout the day Friday, but slacked off somewhat by kickoff time. There were intermittent showers during the first half, with a deluge beginning early in the third quarter.

Prescott won the toss, elected to receive and got underway at the Wolf 38 following a 26-yard return by A.J. Lewis.

The Wolves began moving downfield, mostly on the strength of R. J. Vanhook. Prescott battled to the Hampton 30 before Zach Martin fumbled, with the "Dogs recovering at the Hampton 28.

Before Hampton could get started, the Dogs were backed up 10 for holding. However, Prescott aided the visitors by jumping offside on the next attempted play.

Hampton quarterback Derek Sanders proved to be a thorn in Prescott's side all night. After losing a yard on the first "official" snap, he gained 12 on the next play.

This was followed by Brandon Moore fighting to the 44, giving the Dogs a first down. Brad Hannegan gained three on the next play, but this was the last positive yardage Hampton would earn in the drive.

The Dogs were forced to punt on fourth down, with the ball rolling dead at the Prescott 33 with 5:37 left in the first.

The Wolves were hit with a delay of game call following the exchange and moved to the 28. Martin fumbled for the second time, with the Dogs falling on the loose ball at the Prescott 18.

Hannegan and More carried to the 12, with Sanders missing his receiver on third down. The Dogs, on fourth and four, lined up for a field goal attempt of 28-yards. The boot split the uprights giving Hampton a 3-0 lead with 4:06 left in the opening period.

This didn't set well with the Wolves. Lewis returned the kick to the Dog 41 setting Prescott up for its first touchdown of the night.

Hampton helped out by jumping offside and moving the ball to the 36. Martin missed connection with Luther Stueart, then hit Lewis who fought to the 26.

Vanhook battled to the 18, with Roger Muldrow giving Prescott another first down at the 15.

Martin went to the air, but Ray Smith failed to come down with the wet ball. Hampton again jumped offside, moving the ball to the 10, where Vanhook put the Wolves at the front door with a run to the two.

Martin tried three consecutive quarterback sneaks before managing to break the plane of the goal. The point after by Urfan Taghizada "Fufa", put Prescott up 7-3 with 54 seconds showing.

Jordan Ware took Fufa's kick at the 14 and made it to the 19, where he met several players wearing maroon and white.

Hannegan ended the first quarter with a one-yard gain.

The second began with Sanders missing on two passes and the Dogs forced to punt.

The ball rolled dead at the Prescott 34.

The Wolves managed to gain 14 yards on the next possession, but saw the drive stall on two incomplete passes  one to a wide open Zach Richards who dropped the wet leather.

Prescott even unveiled the double reverse ending in a halfback option with Lewis missing connection with Richards as well.

The end result was the Wolves punting to Moore at the Dog 28. He returned it to the 35.

However, it was three and out, with a penalty against Hampton for illegal motion.

Following the punt, Prescott set up shop at its 19 and managed to get to the 33 before having to punt the ball back to the Dogs.

Hampton began its drive from its 33 with 4:24 left in the half.

Sanders kept for eight as the Dogs began to move. Hampton managed to get to the 47 before Donnie Bearden intercepted a Sanders pass and returned it to the Dog 34.

Martin was flushed out of the pocked and scrambled to the 16 before being brought down. He winged a pass to Lewis to cap the two-play drive and put Prescott up 13-3 with 1:59 to go. Fufa's point after made it 14-3.

Hampton started at its 21, ran three quick plays and punted to its 49.

The Wolves again took advantage of the short field, again needing but two plays to cover the distance and punch the ball over the goal line.

Both plays were passes from Martin to Lewis. Fufa's point after made it 21-3 with 27 seconds left.

Trae Baker returned the kick to the Hampton 36, with Deondre' Randall gaining a yard as the buzzer sounded ending the second.

Prescott added a touchdown in the third quarter, which was marred by a heavy downpour.

Hampton proved unable to hang onto the ball, fumbling three times, but recovering all three. Sanders was also sacked to kill a drive.

The Wolves's scoring drive occurred midway through the period, with Prescott starting at the Dog 30 following a blocked punt. A Hampton player picked the ball up after it had been blocked, but there was no call from the officials.

It didn't matter as Martin flipped a screen to Lewis, who made it to the 15 before being brought down. Vanhook bulled his way in on the next play to make it 27-3. Fufa put the ball through the uprights to make it 28-3.

The third quarter came to an end with Prescott turning the ball over on downs at the Hampton 37, after what had been a promising start for a score.

The Dogs opened the final 12 minutes by keeping the ball 8:07 on a 15-play drive. The drive was capped by Sanders scoring from the six. The point after was no good.

Prescott ran eight plays in the period, starting from its 25 and getting to the Hampton 36 before Ryan Roberson was stripped with the Dogs recovering at the Hampton 48 with 6.6 seconds left.

Hannegan got loose and made it to the Prescott 18 before being brought down and ending the game.

Unofficial stats show the Wolves dominated the contest.

Prescott was 11-22 in the air for 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Hampton was one of eight for 12 yards.

Prescott punted three times for 98 yards, or an average of 32.67 yards per punt.

Hampton did better, booting six punts for 200 yards. This was an average of 33.3 yards per punt.

Prescott put the ball on the ground four times, losing three fumbles. Hampton fumbled three times, but recovered them all. The Dogs's lone turnover was an interception in the first quarter.

The Wolves were penalized five times for 35 yards, while the Dogs were flagged seven times for 45 yards.

The Wolves recorded a sack, while protecting Martin under center.

In first downs, Prescott had 18 to six for Hampton.

The Wolves ran a total of 51 offensive plays to 45 for Hampton.

Prescott rushed for 169 yards, but allowed 134, mostly to Sanders in the fourth quarter.

Overall, Prescott had 303 offensive yards, while giving up 146.

With two big scrambles, Martin was the leading ground gainer for the Wolves with 77 yards on six runs.

Vanhook carried 16 times for 68 yards, while Lewis lost two yards on his only carry.

Muldrow carries three times for six yards, with Tristan Stuart ran twice for three yards. Big Antonio Cornelius entered the game late, going in as a fullback and gained 17 yards on his only carry.

In all, Prescott ran the ball 29 times for 169 yards, or an average of 5.9 yards per carry.

Hampton ran 37 times for 134 yards, or a 3.6 ypc average.

Prescott will be on the road again next week, making the short trip to Hope for a date with the Bobcats. The Cats are 1-1 on the year, opening with a 21-20 win over Nashville, but taking it on the chin against Camden-Fairview 46-17.