Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves fall short against Ashdown, face Dollarway Friday nigth

Mistakes and turnovers proved to be more than the Curley Wolves could overcome as Prescott fell 21-6 to Ashdown Friday night.

The loss dropped Prescott to second in the 7AAA for the state playoffs, which begin Friday, Nov. 14. However, the Wolves will play the first game at home against Cardinals of Pine Bluff Dollarway. The Wolves hosted the Cardinals in the playoffs last year as well.

Ashdown did what good teams do to win  capitalize on mistakes made by the opponents. The Panthers proved to be the more prepared team on the field during the contest in this aspect.

The Panthers won the toss and saw Prescott gamble with an onside kick. However, Ashdown was ready and recovered the ball at its 46 to get the game underway.

Working to keep the ball away from Prescott's high-powered offense, the Panthers ran the ball eight of 10 times on the drive, which ended with Adam Cobb finding Dee Williams behind the Wolf defense in the endzone for six. The point after made it 7-0 with 8:35 showing.

Anyone expecting Prescott's offense to make an appearance on the ensuing kickoff was sorely disappointed, as Robert Block let the ball hit in front of him and made no attempt to cover it.

Once a kickoff goes 10 yards, the ball is considered live. Ashdown players fell on the pigskin at the Prescott 18, as no time elapsed from the clock.

The Wolfpack "D" showed up, dropping Tario Dansby for an 11-yard loss when the Panthers attempted a double reverse.

Ashdown made it to Prescott's 13 before turning the ball over on downs, with Wolf fans breathing a collective sigh of relief as the Panthers failed to score from point-blank range.

Penalties killed Prescott's first drive, as the Wolves were flagged twice on the drive, and couldn't convert a fourth down situation at the 45.

Again, Ashdown relied on its running game, rushing five of seven times in the Panthers's second scoring drive of the first quarter.

The touchdown came on a 17-yard pass from Cobb to Dansby with 1:16 remaining in the opening period. The point after made it 14-0.

Starting at the Prescott 26 after the kick, the Wolves offensive line was unable to keep Ashdown players out of the backfield. So, after a gain of two on first down by R.J. Vanhook, who would leave the game with an injured ankle, Vanhook was caught at the 20 on second down as several Panther defenders poured through the line at the end of the first quarter.

Throughout the night, the Wolf offensive line proved to be porous, allowing Ashdown to catch runners behind the line of scrimmage, disrupt the timing of plays and generally wreak havoc on Prescott's offense.

Period two began with Zach Martin finding a wide open Jason Butler, who made it to the Panther 28 before coughing up the football. Ashdown recovered the fumble at its 22 with 11:49 left in the half.

There would be no scoring in the second period, as penalties and mistakes affected both squads.

In fact, both teams managed one possession each in the quarter. Ashdown's drive ended on a missed 23-yard field goal attempt with 4:47 showing.

The Wolves, starting at Prescott's 20, marched downfield, making it to the Panther four before turning the ball over on downs. Ashdown was flagged twice for major penalties on the drive, once for a personal foul and the second time for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Wolves, though, were unable to take advantage of Panther mistakes and went to the locker room trailing 14-0 at the break.

At this point, Wolf fans weren't too worried, as Prescott's offense is capable of putting a lot of points on the board in a short period of time.

This, though, wasn't the case, as Prescott's offense was held in check all night and failed to score.

The Wolves received the ball to start the third quarter and began at the Prescott 30.

Prescott moved to the Panther 48 before Martin was sacked back at the Wolf 43 on third down, forcing the only punt of the night.

The kick rolled dead at the Ashdown 17 with 8:47 left in the third.

The Panthers began Ashdown's final scoring drive of the night, with Jace Garrison taking an option to the 31 to give his team some breathing room.

Once again, the Panthers primarily kept the ball on the ground, running nine of 10 times and overcoming a holding penalty.

The score came on a one-yard plunge by Cobb with 4:46 left in the third. The point after put the score at 21-0.

Starting at the Wolf 24, Prescott went to trick plays. Martin lateraled the ball to A.J. Lewis, who connected with Ray Smith. Smith carried the ball to the Panther 11, setting up what fans expected to be the first Wolf points of the night.

However, on the next play, Tristan Stuart fumbled, with the Panthers recovering at the Ashdown 27.

Garrison broke free and made it to the Prescott 20 on the next play. But, the Panthers followed this by fumbling the ball, with Luther Stueart picking it up and racing 60 yards for the Wolves' lone score.

The offensive line was unable to keep Ashdown's defense out of the backfield and the point after was blocked, making it 21-6 with 2:51 to go.

Ashdown started its next drive at the Panther 38 and made it to the Prescott 40 as time ran out in the third.

The Panthers made it to Prescott's 17 before penalties pushed Ashdown back and a fumble was recovered by the Wolves at the Prescott 31 with 8:58 left in the game.

Prescott began marching downfield, making it to the Panther 49 before a bad snap (the ball sailed over Martin's head) disrupted the play on fourth down, forcing Martin to hurry a pass attempt to Stuart with 6:48 to go.

Garrison put Ashdown in good field position with a run to Prescott's 36, but saw his team turn the ball over on downs with 3:02 on the clock.

Once again, the Wolves began moving downfield, literally on the strength of Martin's right arm, getting to the Panther 40.

This drive ended when the offensive line was unable to protect Martin on a fourth down play. Martin was sacked with Ashdown taking over on the Prescott 48 with 52 seconds to go.

The Panthers kneeled twice to seal the win.

Unofficial statistics showed Prescott to be 12 of 24 in passing for 200 yards. Ashdown was six of 10 for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

The only punt of the game, by Prescott, went for 35 yards with no return.

Oddly enough, the Panthers were penalized heavier than Prescott, being flagged 10 times for 74 yards. The Wolves were hit with six penalties for 40 yards, all in crucial situations.

Prescott fumbled four times, losing three, while Ashdown lost both its fumbles.

The Panthers managed to sack Martin four times in the contest, while Prescott's defense failed to return the favor.

Ashdown held the edge in first downs, 19-11.

Rushing yardage also went to the Panthers, as Ashdown racked up 265 yards on the grounds in 51 attempts. This averaged out to 5.2 yards per carry.

Prescott was held to 46 yards rushing on 19 attempts, for a 2.4 yard per carry average.

The Panthers ran 61 offensive plays, with Prescott snapping the ball 43 times.

Lewis was Prescott's leading rusher, gaining 44 yards on eight carries.

The loss dropped the Wolves to 9-1 on the season and 5-1 in conference play. Ashdown was undefeated in 7AAA action and will be the number one seed from the league.

The Wolves will open playoff action Friday night at Cummins Field as Prescott plays host to the number three seed from the 8AAA.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.