Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves advance

With a trip to the quarter-finals on the line for both teams, the Atkins Red Devils rolled into Prescotts Cummins Stadium Friday night, Nov. 16, touting a potent ground attack. The Curley Wolf defense was up to the challenge and the final score was 48-14, sending the Wolves into the next round and sending the Devils home.

Prescott allowed just 177 yards for the night on the ground, with Atkins Terence Bobo gaining 148 of those yards on 29 carries. Bobo was everything the media had said. He gave an outstanding effort on the night.

The night belonged to the ground game as Prescott compiled 333 yards rushing for the night as the stable ran wild again. DeMarcus Collier gained 135 yards on 16 carries, and Termaine Henderson had 157 yards on 12 carries. James Threadgill had 2 yards on two carries, but scored touchdowns on both. Collier and Henderson accounted for three more touchdowns, and Micah McCoy and C.J. Smith finished the tally with a touchdown each. Jordan Banks was four out of six in point-after-attempts and Henderson took a two-point-conversion in for the score.

Prescott took the opening kick-off and started on their 31 yard line. Collier was the go-to guy on the first few plays, running downfield with a purpose and racking up 31 yards on three carries. Henderson finished it off with a designed option keeper for 38 yard score with one minute coming off the clock. Banks was good, and Prescott led 7-0. Atkins answered right back with their first play and a good seven yard gain, but after being slowed down by the Prescott defense and forcing a third and long, Atkins tried to pass. The ball was tipped up, and Kalin Hall came up with a big drive-killing interception. Jermaine Henderson caught his brothers pass for a 41 yard gain to the 3 yard line, and two plays later Threadgill punched it in. Banks was good, and Prescott led 14-0 with 7:35 to play in the first.

Atkins tried to run a tree all night on their kick-offs, having the ball always come back to the center of the field, and multiple runners passing by a player with his back turned to the defense holding the ball. This multiple option attack would work well on a slower team, but Prescott s cover men are much too fast and violent for this to be effective. With starting filed position at the 19, Atkins turned in a masterful nine play drive covering 81 yards for the score. They mixed the pass in with run to effectively move the ball to the end zone. Bobos kick was good, and Prescott led 14-7 with 4:06 to play in the first.

Prescott answered with a four play drive covering 67 yards on the ground, as T. Henderson and Collier ran wild. Collier put it in from the 1, and Banks was good for the 21-7 lead with 3:11 to play in the first. Atkins could not answer this score and went three-and-out on their next possession. Prescott took over on their 21, and proceeded to march nine plays before stalling out as well. With the punt being a very good one, Atkins had to start on their 14 yard line to start the second quarter. After five plays, Atkins lined up to punt again, but the low rugby style kick, if not partially blocked by Drew Loe, was hurried enough to give Prescott great field position at the Atkins 29. However, after three plays, T. Henderson threw an interception in the end zone to give Atkins the ball back on the 20 after the touchback.

Atkins started the march, but after five plays faced a fourth and short. The Curley Wolf defense answered the call, and stuffed the Atkins runner for no gain and gave the ball back to the offense. Prescott got one good play in before an untimely fumble was lost to Atkins. The Red Devils mounted a five play, 64 yard march to the end zone finished off by a 25 yard touchdown reception with 1:11 left in the half. Bobo was good on the point-after, and Prescott led 21-14 in what looked to be a battle to the very end.

Prescott rounded out the first half scoring with a four play, 59 yard drive highlighted by a Henderson to Henderson completion on the first play. Collier did his part, and T. Henderson got in from the 2 yard line with :05 remaining in the half. Banks was good, and Prescott would take a hard earned 28-14 lead into the locker room.

Atkins would only manage five plays on their next drive before punting the ball away to Prescott. But the punt was a beauty, as Prescott had to start on their eight yard line. Prescott then mounted a fifteen play drive to eat up 92 yards and a lot of clock as Threadgill bulled his way in from the 1 yard line for his second score of the night. Banks was not good, and with 3:36 to play in the third, Prescott led 34-14. Atkins would again mount a long drive, going eight plays before stalling out and failing on fourth and long. Prescott would also stall out on their drive, having to punt after three plays. But on the next play, Banks intercepted his first of two for the night to give the ball right back to Prescott. A six play, 31 yard drive followed capped by Henderson to McCoy for a 5 yard touchdown with 7:00 to play in the fourth. T. Henderson was good on the two-point-conversion, and Prescott led 42-14. Prescott would get another interception, and turn the youngsters loose. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Williamson hit sophomore receiver C.J. Smith on a short little hitch play, and Smith rambled 42 yards for the final score of the evening with 5:08 to play in the game. Banks was no good again, and the score settled in as the final 48-14.

Atkins had a great season, and played very well against Prescott, but the boys in maroon were just to much for them, as the Red devils wore out on the race track we call Cummins Stadium.

Prescott will now spend Thanksgiving getting ready for the split-back veer of the Bauxite Miners this Friday in Bauxite. Bauxite is a very good team that touts their own stud running back. We will have to wait and see if the Miners are ready for these young, hungry Wolves. I have a good feeling about the game, and especially so if our defense keeps playing with the same violent, attacking style we have seen late this season.