Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves continue winning ways, 'Cats fall, 41-0 part1

It has long been said offense wins games, but defense wins championships.

The Curley Wolf defense stepped up Friday, Oct. 24, to show it's championship material. The Wolves picked off three Mena passes, with one being returned for a 95-yard touchdown by A.J. Lewis.

The Bearcats, though, didn't come into the game completely unprepared. Mena's coaches had their charges ready for Prescott's high-powered offense, but had no clue the defense would do what it did.

The 41-0 win put the Wolves's record at 8-0, with two road games remaining in the regular season, and setting up a showdown with Ashdown in the season's finale for at least a share of the conference crown.

It was also senior night, with all senior members of the band, cheerleaders and football team being recognized prior to the game. For the grid squad, this meant 15 players took the field with their escorts.

Once the ceremonies were over and the game began, Prescott took the opening kick, with Robert Block fielding it at the 16, returning it to the 32.

Zach Martin returned as quarterback, after sitting out last week with a concussion. His opening pass to Ray Smith fell incomplete. Confusion on second down forced Prescott to burn a time out with 11:46 showing in the first quarter.

When play resumed, Lewis optioned the ball to R.J. Vanhook for a gain of four. This was followed by Martin hitting Lewis with a five yard pass for a first down at the 41.

A screen pass to Lewis was incomplete, but the officials ruled the pass to be a lateral. Mena recovered the ball at the Wolf 40 with 10:56 showing.

The Cats began moving downfield, primarily on the strength of Mason Johnston's running over the left side of the line. Mena moved to Prescott's 23 before Ben Adams found Lewis in the secondary.

Lewis made the pick at the Wolf five and simply outran everyone on the field for a 95-yard touchdown. The point after by Fufa made it 7-0 with 7:24 remaining.

The ensuing kick went out of bounds with the Cats opting to take over at the Mena 35.

Three plays wound up with negative yardage and force a punt, with the ball rolling dead at the Prescott 28.

Prescott's first two plays lost five yards, with Martin failing to connect with Smith on a third down pass. This forced the Wolves to punt the ball for the only time in the game this would happen.

The kick hit at the Prescott 45 and bounced into Roger Muldrow, causing it to be downed at that spot, giving Mena excellent field position.

Once again the Cats showed the ability to move the ball, as Mena marched to the Prescott three.

This drive, though, ended when Adams's pass was intercepted in the endzone by Block, who fought his way to the Prescott 47 before being brought down.

Period one came to an end with Martin connecting with Lewis on a screen for a nine-yard gain.

Period two opened with Vanhook gaining five to the Mena 39. Two incomplete passes followed before Martin found Lewis for five yards to the 34.

On fourth down, the Martin-Lewis combine connected once again for a first down at the 27. Martin went to Jon Henry with an eight-yard pass, before Vanhook broke free for a 19-yard touchdown with 8:50 showing and capping the nine-play drive.

Fufa's point after made it 14-0.

The Cats took over at the 35, ran 14 plays, marching to the Prescott 11 where an illegal motion penalty on third down forced Mena to do something the Cats weren't successful at all night  passing.

The pass fell incomplete on third, with Mena opting to go for a first down on fourth. However, Luther Steuart introduced himself to Adams at the Wolf 26, sacking the Cat signalcaller and giving the ball to Prescott on downs.

The Wolves needed but three plays for touchdown number three of the half. However, play one was an incomplete pass to Smith and the second was Martin being sacked at the 14.

Vanhook electrified the fans on third as a draw play resulted in an 86-yard touchdown. The offensive line opened a hole big enough to drive a semi through, with Hook showing his 4.4 speed for the score.

Fufa's PAT was blocked, but Prescott led 20-0 with 1:48 left in the half.

Starting at the Mena 31, Billy Brewer gained 12, before Adams was picked off by Lewis.

Lewis made the interception at the Prescott 45 and returned it to the Mena 39 with 1:15 to go.

However, the Wolves would go four and out on the possession.

Halftime would arrive with Brewer gaining eight yards for Mena.