Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves fall to Lafayette County

Should have, could have, didnt.

This was the case for the Curley Wolves against the Lafayette County Cougars Friday night. The Wolves should have won the game, could have won the game, but didnt.

In the end, it was a game of missed opportunities as the Wolves were in the red zone four times and turned the ball over each time  three times by interception and once on a fumble.

The Cougars, entering the game with a 2-6 overall record and 0-5 in league play, won the toss, but deferred until the second half.

Deon Accor fielded a short kick, returning it to the Wolf 45. Prescott marched down field, scoring in five plays. Ben Smith scored on a 28-yard run with 11:09 left in the period. The point after made it 7-0.

This was the best start the Wolves had all season.

Justin Marcums kick went into the end zone for a touchback, giving the Cougars the ball on the 20.

Lafayette County fought for every yard, moving to its 45 before Chris Carrigan picked off a Steve Johnson pass at the Wolf 49.

Smith, working out of the shotgun, kept to the Cougar 41, but was picked off on the next play.

The Cougars, starting on the Lafayette County 41, went nowhere and punted to the Wolf 30.

Prescott also went nowhere on its next possession and punted the ball back to the Cougars. The punt rolled dead at the Lafayette County 38.

After a loss of one on first down, Garrett Camp hit Sean Beaver, who fought his way to the Prescott 28. The first period ended with the Cougars gaining four to the 24.

The second quarter opened with Prescott forcing a loss of two, on the first play. However, Camp found Mario Daniel for a touchdown on the next play. The Cougars were flagged for illegal motion and moved back five yards. The extra distance was enough to make the PAT attempt go wide right. Prescott led 7-6 with 11:07 left in the half.

Prescotts ensuing drive went nowhere, with the Wolves punting to the Cougar 38.

Max Hamilton picked off Camps first down pass, returning it to the Cougar 33. This set the Wolves up in excellent shape.

Smith gained 12 on first down. Tristan Stuart followed with a gain of four on the next play, adding three more on second down. James Threadgill kept the drive alive by battling his way to the 10. Smith gained three to the seven, and this is where the wheels came off. The next play saw the ball on the ground, ending up in the hands of a Cougar player at the seven.

An option from Camp to Brandon Fort got the Cougars out of the shadow of the Lafayette County goal line, as he made it to the 32. This was followed by a holding call, costing the Cougars 10 yards from the spot of the foul.

The next two plays were for naught, but Camp found a receiver with a short pass. The short completion turned into a 71-yard touchdown, giving Lafayette County the lead with 4:32 left in the half. The try for two was no good, but the Cougars led 12-7.

Micah McCoy fielded the kick at the three, returning it to the 25. Prescott again moved down field, using the clock wisely and getting to the Cougar 18 as time was winding down in the frame.

The Wolves went to their bag of tricks, trying a halfback option pass. However, Accors pass was picked off at the Cougar seven.

Period three began with the Cougars starting at the Lafayette County 25, and driving to the Prescott 13 where the drive stalled. The Cougars made it to Wolf territory with the help of a facemask call and an offside penalty against Prescott. A 31-yard field goal attempt fell short.

It was five plays and punt for the Wolves, with the punt getting to the Cougar 42.

Lafayette County made it to the Prescott 42 before the drive went in reverse, partially with the Wolvess assistance, and also a motion penalty. On second and long, Camps pass was picked off by Cruz Young, who returned it to the Wolf 41.

The Wolves marched to the Cougar 45 as time expired. Four plays later the Wolves were at the Cougar six looking at a first and goal. It appeared as though the Wolves were going to take the lead. However, after getting to the one, the Wolves fumbled with the Cougars recovering at the Lafayette County two.

It was three and out, with the punt going to the Cougar 34, putting the Wolves in what appeared to be a scoring opportunity.

Carrigan gained one on first down, with Threadgill breaking free to the 11 on the next play. Three plays later, Smith was picked off. However, the interception was fumbled, but the Cougars recovered the loose ball, carrying it back to the Wolf 44.

Five plays later, Camp went in from two yards out to make it 18-7. The try for two was no good.

A flag was thrown at the end of the extra point attempt, with the Cougars penalized for a personal foul. This cost Lafayette County 15 yards on the kick, which was made from the 25.

Carrigan returned the kick off to the Wolf 36. But, the Wolves were flagged for holding, moving the ball back to the 25.

Prescott moved down field to the Wolf 46, where Smith was intercepted. Once again, the pick was fumbled, but the Cougars recovered the ball at the Lafayette County 49.

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

Prescott, 1-9, and 1-5, will end its season Friday, Nov. 4, on the road against the Ashdown Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.