Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bearcats disrupt Prescott's Senior Night

Prescott has officially been eliminated from the playoffs with a 49-20 loss to Mena Friday night.

The Wolves entered the game with a mathematical chance to make post season play, but had to whip the Bearcats to keep such slender hopes alive.

It was also Senior Night for Prescott, as it was the last home game of the year. Members of the Curley Wolf football team, Marching Wolf Pride Band and cheerleaders were all honored prior to the game.

Action got underway with the Wolves taking the opening kick. However, on the second play from scrimmage, Drew Loe was picked off with the ball returned to the Wolf 45.

The Cats drove the 45 yards in five plays, scoring on a 13-yard run with 9:15 to go. The point after made it 7-0 Mena.

The ensuing kick went out of bounds, drawing the second of seven flags in the frame. Deon Accor fielded the next kick at the 30 and was driven out of bounds. However, the fourth flag of the period was thrown as Mena was penalized with a personal foul call. This put Prescott on the Mena 44.

However, it was three and out for the Wolves, with the punt being downed at the Cat 15 with 7:07 left in the long first quarter.

Mena did no better with the ball, with flags continuing to fly, stalling the drive. The punt rolled dead at the Wolf 44 with 6:06 to go. However, the Wolves were hit with a tripping penalty, moving the ball back to the Prescott 29.

Prescotts offense sputtered, resulting in a fourth and eight situation. The Wolves lined up to punt, only to see a Mena player break through and block the kick, which was recovered for the Catss second touchdown of the night. The point after made it 14-0 with 5:10 left.

It was three and out for the Wolves, but Prescott got a break by recovering a fumble at the Mena 49 with 3:19 showing.

Ben Smith winged two incomplete passes before connecting with Accor for a 24-yard gain. The Wolves fought their way down field, catching a break when James Threadgill caught a pass, was hit and fumbled out of bounds at the Cat six. Two plays later Threadgill went in from a yard out. The PAT made it 14-7 with 11 seconds left in the first.

The first quarter took about 45 minutes to complete with the seven penalties and back and forth action.

Mena started on its 30, getting to the Cat 41 as the period came to an end.

The Cats put three touchdowns on the board in the second quarter, starting with a one-yard run on the teams second possession of the frame. The second touchdown came on a 14-yard run with 5:27 left, with the third being another one-yard plunge, this time with 3:52 to go in the half.

Prescotts offense never got in gear during the second quarter as the Wolves punted once and turned the ball over three times, two fumbles and one interception.

Halftime arrived with Prescott on the wrong end of a 35-7 score.

The Cats received the ball to start the second half, drove from the Mena 26 to the Prescott 40 before penalties moved the team back forcing a punt. The kick went into the end zone for a touchback, giving Prescott the ball on its 20.

Unfortunately, the Wolves fumbled on the second play from scrimmage with Mena falling on the loose ball at the Prescott 15 with 7:08 showing. Four plays later Mena scored on a two-yard run. The PAT made it 42-7 and invoked the mercy rule.

Under the mercy rule, when a team trails by 35 point the clock is started and runs in regular time, stopping only for time outs.

It was three and out for the Wolves with the punt being returned to the Mena 47. The Cats needed but one play to score, with the PAT making it 49-7.

Both teams substituted heavily in the final minutes, giving younger players valuable playing time.

Period three ended with Prescott in possession at its 47, but turned the ball over on downs at the 9:00 mark of the fourth.

Mena fumbled, with Prescott recovering at the Cat 34. Travaro Culter found a gap and sprinted 34 yards for the touchdown. The PAT made it 49-14.

Mena returned the kickoff to its 22, but fumbled on first down. Prescott recovered at the Cat 19 with 2:50 left in the game. Smith hit Ivan Young with a 16-yard strike for the score. The PAT was wide, making it 49-20.

Prescott will be on the road this week as the Wolves take on the Lafayette County Cougars. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.