Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves edge De Queen, 13-12, for first win

Prescott wins, Prescott wins, Prescott wins.

What more can be said. The Curley Wolves posted the teams first victory of the season with a 13-12 win over De Queen, spoiling the Leopards homecoming.

The win was anything but easy, and, to be honest, there were times it appeared as though neither team was sure how to go about winning. But, when all was said and done, it was Prescott on top, and still theoretically alive in the playoff hunt.

Of course, it will take a lot for the Wolves to get into the playoffs, like winning three of the next four games, and getting some help from other teams.

The game, Friday night, got off to an unusual start as Prescott won the toss and deferred until the second half. Initially, the Leopard captain said De Queen would kick until an official reportedly asked if that was really what he wanted to do.

Justin Marcum, returning for kicking duty only after suffering a broken collarbone, booted the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

The Leopards started at the De Queen 20 and moved to the Prescott 41 before turning the ball over on downs with 7:29 left in the first period.

Randy Hayes and Logan Taylor were the workhorses in the aborted drive.

The Wolves got off to a rocky start as Tristan Stuart lost three yards on first down. However, Ben Smith found Max Hamilton, who was brought down at the Leopard 32. James Threadgill followed with a gain of three before Chris Carrigan broke loose for a touchdown. The point after was good, giving the Wolves a 7-0 lead with 5:39 showing.

Once again, Marcums kick went into the end zone, giving De Queen the ball at its 20.

The Leopards put a 10-play drive together, driving the length of the field to score. Hayes put the ball over the goal line from 12-yards out with 54 seconds remaining. The Leopards, though, were hit with a delay of game penalty on the point after attempt, with the kick going wide.

This left the score at 7-6 Prescott.

Micah McCoy fielded the kick, returning to the 25 where the Wolves set up shop. The Wolves ran two plays before time expired in the period, but remained at the 25.

As the second quarter began, the Wolves were forced to punt, with the ball rolling dead at the Leopard 33.

Kyle Atkins led his team to the 41 before being picked off by Cruz Young at the Wolf 17.

The next three plays saw Prescott gain seven yards and line up for a punt on fourth down. However, the punt was a fake that blew up on Prescotts face as the ball was snapped over the up mans head and recovered by the Leopards on the Wolf three.

Two plays later, Hayes went in for six to give De Queen a 12-7 lead. The two-point conversion attempt was no good.

McCoy returned the kick to the 26, where the Wolves again set up shop offensively. However, it was three and out as Prescott was unable to move the ball.

The punt rolled to the Leopard 36 with 3:51 to go in the half.

Hayes gained six on first down, but the drive ended when Prescott recovered a fumble on the next play.

Still, though, the Wolvess offense was stymied, losing three yards in three plays. Marcum pooched a punt to the Leopard 19 with 1:11 on the clock.

De Queen also found the going rough, and attempted a gadget play with a double reverse, ending in an option to the quarterback, who was unable to connect with a receiver down field.

On fourth down, with six seconds left, the Leopards lined up for a punt, though it was an obvious fake. Prescott wound up with the ball on the De Queen 45.

The half ended with a halfback option pass falling harmlessly to the turf, and the Leopards leading 12-7.

Scoring ended in the third quarter with the Wolves putting Prescotts second touchdown on the board. The score came on the second possession as the Wolves were forced to punt on their first possession of the frame.

The Leopards fared no better, turning the ball over on downs at the Prescott 26.

With 5:44 showing, the Wolves marched 74 yards in seven plays. The big play of the drive was a pass from Smith to Deon Accor, getting the ball to the Leopard 10. The score came with Carrigan going in from the three with 2:27 remaining.

Prescott opted to go for two, which would force De Queen to kick a field goal to tie the game, possibly sending it into overtime. Fortunately, the need never arose. The conversion, though, failed, but Prescott led 13-12, with a lot of football remaining.

Marcums kick was short, being fielded at the one, fumbled, and returned to the Leopard eight.

De Queen proved to be its own worst enemy as the Leopards began driving the ball, only to be halted by a holding penalty. This was followed by Atkins being picked off by Justin Barlow at the Leopard 24 with 17 seconds left.

The quarter came to an end with Stuart gaining a yard. The final 12 minutes began with Prescott fumbling the ball away at the Leopard 22.

Still, the Leopards couldnt do anything offensively and punted after three plays.

Accor fielded the punt at the De Queen 48, returning it to the 42 with 9:26 left.

Prescott got to the Leopard 28 before the Wolves started going backwards. A reverse lost to the De Queen 48, after a motion penalty had moved Prescott to the 33. The Wolves ended up punting, with the ball rolling dead at the 15.

De Queen started moving down field, overcoming a fumble, and getting aided by a facemask penalty against Prescott. The Leopards got to the Wolf 48 before Atkins was picked off by Accor at the Prescott 19 with 1:33 to go.

Prescotts offense wasnt on the field long, as it was three and out. The punt made it to the Leopard 45 with 1:04 remaining.

Atkinss pass to Heath Morphew was incomplete on first down, and Daniel Holley introduced himself to Atkins on second down for a loss of eight yards. De Queens final offensive play saw Atkins picked off by Carrigan, who returned the interception to the Leopard 21 with four seconds left in the game.

Smith took a knee to run out the clock and preserve the win.

This Friday is homecoming for the Wolves, as Prescott entertains the Fountain Lake Cobras at Cummins Field.

Homecoming festivities are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., with kickoff set for 7:30.