Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolf mistakes give Hope easy win

Theres not much to say about Prescotts visit to Hope.

The Curley Wolves returned home on the short end of a 35-0 score. The problem, though, is the Bobcats arent that good. Prescott mistakes and miscues, however, made a mediocre Hope team look like a playoff contender.

Prescott gave up three second quarter touchdowns, thereby digging a hole the team couldnt get out of. The Wolves did show the ability to move the ball at times, but seemed to lack the killer instinct needed to put the ball in the end zone.

The game began with the Cats winning the toss and starting at the Hope 21. The Cats moved to the 36 before the drive stalled and Hope had to punt.

The ball rolled dead at the Prescott 21 with 8:23 showing.

James Threadgill got things off to a promising start with an eight-yard gain. Prescott made it to its 36 before reversing its direction. In fact, the Wolves lost five yards on a reverse, which was followed by a penalty for having an ineligible receiver downfield. This led to a punt to the Hope 35.

But, the play was overruled because of a procedure call against the Wolves, and a personal foul against Hope. As the procedure infraction occurred first, the officials marked five yards off against Prescott. The punt, this time, made it to the Hope 47 with 4:36 to go.

The Cats marched to the Prescott 14 in six plays before turning the ball over on downs with 2:28 remaining in the first.

Ben Smith went to the air, finding Cruz Young at the 29 to give the Wolves some breathing room and a first down. Threadgill gained one on the next play, but an incomplete pass and Smith getting sacked at the 20 stopped Prescott in its tracks.

The ensuing punt was fielded at the Hope 45 by Jermaine Rudd, who returned it to the Prescott one.

With 22 seconds left in the first, Hope got on the board when Lemario Henderson crossed the plane of the goal. The point after made it 7-0 Hope. It was the only points the Cats would need on the night.

The ensuing kick was returned to the Prescott 27. The quarter ended with Dionne Coulter gaining three to the 30.

He followed this with a gain of three more on second down, but Prescott fumbled on third down, losing ground back to the 30 and forcing another punt.

Rudd fielded the ball at the Hope 33, found a seam down the sideline and races 67 yards for the touchdown. The PAT made it 14-0.

However, Hope was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the touchdown run as Rudd taunted Wolf defenders by holding out the ball as they chased him. This moved the kickoff back to the Cat 30.

Coulter fielded the kick at the Prescott 21, returning it to the 34.

Smith hit Justin Marcum for a nine yard gain, with the first down coming on an offside call against Hope on third and one. But, the Wolves shot themselves in the foot with a holding call on the next play and wound up having to punt as the team again ended up going in reverse.

The short punt rolled dead at the Cat 45 with 6:20 in the half.

It took the host team six plays to cover the 55 yards, with the score coming on a five yard run with 4:07 showing. The big play of the drive was a 37-yard pass from Chris Muldrew to Rico Moss.

Once again, the PAT split the uprights, giving hope a 21-0 lead.

A miscue on the kickoff left the Wolves at the Prescott nine. Coulter gained four on first down to give the squad a bit of room.

This was followed by a reverse with Marcum airing out a pass. The pass, though, was picked off by DeBrad Jones, who took it in for six with 2:59 showing. The PAT made it 28-0.

The kickoff went out of bounds, moving Hope back five yards. The next attempt was fielded by Young at the 23, who returned it to the 41, giving Prescott good field position.

The Wolves moved to the Hope 46 before a flag for illegal participation moved the team back to the Prescott 46. The drive ended with Smith getting sacked on fourth down at the Prescott 40 with 0:02 left.

Hope went for a hail Mary only to have the ball fall harmlessly to the ground.

Prescott started at its 31 to get the second half underway, gained a total of five yards on three plays and punted to the Hope 27. The punt was returned to the 43, but was called back on a holding penalty.

The Cats began at the Hope 29 and fumbled the ball away. Prescott recovered at the Hope 25 with 10:06 to go.

Two incomplete passes and a one yard gain later, the Wolves were facing a fourth and nine. Smith went to the air, but failed to connect with Drew Loe, who slipped in the end zone, giving the ball to Hope at its 24 with 9:27 on the clock.

Hope moved to the Wolf 18 before turning the ball over on downs.

Prescotts drive began with a facemask call against Hope, moving the ball 15 yards further downfield. The next two plays gained a total of a yard before Smith found Marcum for a big gain to the Hope 26. However, the drive stalled as Threadgill lost two on first down and Smiths next two passes were incomplete.

A fourth and 11 screen from Smith to Threadgill gained four yards, but gave the ball back to Hope.

The Cats chewed up turf, marching downfield in six plays with Rudd scoring on a 45-yard romp with 0:50 remaining. The extra point made it 35-0 and invoked the mercy rule.

Prescott started at its 28 and lost to the 26 as the third quarter ended. Two plays into the fourth quarter saw the Wolves punt to the Hope 28.

The ball was bobbled, with the Cats starting at the 19.

Neither team did much in the final 12 minutes.

Prescott will be at home Friday night as the Wolves play host to the Glen Rose Beavers in the 7AAA conference opener. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.