Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves Blank Gurdon 22-0

The year is looking good for the Curley Wolves after last's Friday's 22-0 handling of the Gurdon Go-Devils.

The win was due in large part to the Prescott defense. Yet, the offense showed its stuff as well, going 67 yard for their first TD, and 75 yards for their last touchdown of the night.

Thanks to the defense the previous week, the Wolves were impressive to stay within one touchdown of the Hope Bobcats, and in the first game of the year the defense never permitted the Mineral Springs Hornets to score. And now they held the number six team in the state in Class AA scoreless.

In addition, the defense made the breaks for the offense and scored a touchdown to boot. The defense forced for turnovers. It had three fumble recoveries and one interception.

Certainly a large improvement was seen in the kicking game for the Curley Wolves. Up until Friday night, the Wolves had not kicked an extra point. Jarrod Miller was two for two against the Go-Devils. And Jarrod Yates averaged nearly 38.5 yards a punt Friday, which is another large improvement from the previous two games.

And just in time, too.

This week the Curley Wolves will begin conference play at Bismarck. One of the purposes of playing non-conference games at the beginning is to work out the mistakes on the team, to get better coordinated offensively and defensively. It looks good at this point.

The 7AAA Conference has some of the state's most respected teams, including Prescott, Nashville, De Queen and Fordyce.

As most everyone knows, Nashville, which lost to Hope last week 29-28, is picked to win the conference. Of course, Fordyce, De Queen and Prescott will have a say so about that. If Prescott can keep up the momentum and stay healthy, the Wolves will have a better opportunity than many thought before the season began.

While Nashville is picked to win this conference, Gurdon is picked to win the 7AA Conference. In fact, many had predicted the Go-Devils would go undefeated this year. The Curley Wolves had a say so about that.

Prescott won the toss Friday night and elected to kick to Gurdon the first half. Neither team made a first down until its second possession. Gurdon's came from a Prescott penalty, but the Curley Wolves earned theirs with outstanding determination.

After the Go-Devils made a first down they had to punt to Prescott. The Curley Wolves began their first scoring drive from their 33-yard-line.

Sophomore quarterback Josh Bullock, who took Ottis Harris' place after he was injured in the first game, came out passing but missing his intended receiver. Next he handed off to Calvin Flemons, who gained three yards. A little screen pass for Rafeal Marlow worked and Prescott had a first down at the 45.

Terry Woodley, who rushed for 96 yards in the game, lost two on the next play, and a penalty against Prescott was declined. Flemons then gained three yards and Woodley picked up the first down at the Gurdon 23-yard line.

He rushed for five more on the next play, then Marlow gained nine yards and a first down at the Gurdon nine-yard line.

Gurdon jumped offsides to move the ball near the four,from where Flemons took the ball in for the touchdown with 1:42 left in the quarter. Miller's kick was good to make the score 7- 0.

Prescott had four first downs in the first quarter while Gurdon had two. The Curley Wolves rushed for 54 yards during the period and Bullock passed for 10 more for a total of 64 yards. Gurdon netted 18, all on the ground.

Offensively, the second quarter didn't exist for the Wolves. They only rushed for10 yards net, but did not make a first down. It was almost as bad for the Go-Devils. They had a net of 24 yards rushing and 20 yards passing. A fumble occurred after the pass was caught by Josh Griffin, who was hit hard by Fred Hopson. Although he was hit around the 20, the ball was recovered at the four.

The Go-Devils fumbled again on their next possession, but neither time paid off for the Wolves, offensively.

The third period was just as bad for the Wolves offensively. They netted only four yards on the ground and a minus three passing. Gurdon ended the third quarter with a minus 18 yards rushing. But much worse for them, they gave Prescott a safety and a touchdown. All this came about by heads up playing.

Prescott received the opening kick-off, but had to punt on fourth and eight. Each team was called for a personal foul, which offset the other, but Gurdon began its first offensive play of the period at their 35-yard line.

Chancey Charles, who has been an offensive workforce for the Go-Devils in the first two games, got the call but was stopped at the line of scrimmage. He only gained two yards on the next play, then Gurdon was hit with a delay of game penalty. Andrew Fellows and Marlow got into the backfield on the next play and brought quarterback Eric Allen down at his 28, bringing up a punting situation.

Griffin waited for the punt which was over his head. When he got back to the goal line where the ball was, he did a smart thing to save a touchdown: he kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety. Of course this made the score 9-0 for Prescott and Gurdon kicked the ball back to the Wolves which brings around the next TD for Prescott.

After receiving the ball the Wolves began at Gurdon's 40, but had to punt on fourth and 15.

The punt rolled dead at the Gurdon three. On the first play, the ball was given to Brannon Hatley, who attempted to go around on the left but was met by Angelo Haynes, who hit him first, then Brad Harris who dislodged the ball. Fellows picked it up and jumped into the end zone for the touchdown. Coach David Bennett had Woodley attempt a two-point conversion, which failed to leave the score at 15-0 with 3:42 left in the third period.

The quarter ended with Prescott inside Gurdon territory, but on the first play third and nine of the final period the Wolves were backed up five yards with a penalty. Yates' punt was blocked with the ball going back into Prescott territory. Fortunately, Brad Harris picked it up for the Curley Wolves and did some fantastic running, but not enough for the first down.

Gurdon came on strong in the few plays, making three first downs before the Prescott defense stopped them cold.

On first and 10 from the Prescott 10, Charles managed two yards, then Allen was sacked by Flemons behind the line. A little screen pass next netted two yards and on the next play an offsides penalty moved the ball back to the 23 for Gurdon. Allen tried to run an option, but again Flemons caught him behind the line and Prescott took over on their 25-yard line.

Coach Bennett decided to run the ball right through the Go-Devils as the march to the goal began.

Woodley gained six yards on the first play and then picked up a first down with