Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PHS Routs Fouke; To Face Fordyce Thursday

The Prescott Curley Wolves varified their desire to play in the state play-offs last Thursday with a 58-0 trouncing of the Fouke Panthers.

The Wolves are now in fourth place in the 7AA Conference, behind Fordyce, Nashville and De Queen in that order. De Queen and Prescott have the same conference record, 3-2, but the Leopards edged the Curley Wolves 26-25 in a contest October 10, giving them the position over Prescott.

Prescott's next opponent will be the Redbugs this Thursday night at Fordyce.

Fordyce is tough (they shut out Nashville by four touchdowns), probably the toughest opponent the Curley Wolves will play this season. However, the Wolves are playing their best at this time, and they could upset one of the best teams in Class AA.

Prescott quarterback Al Johnston, who had already broken the school record in passing before last week, completed 10 of 14 passes for 379 yards against Fouke. He had 300 yards by halftime with his longest (64 yards) coming just before halftime.

Johnston threw three touchdown passes - to Carlos Van Hook, Jason Morrow and Brad Harris, all in the first half.

Backup quarterback Brent Jordan passed once, in the fourth period, completing a 76-yard touchdown pass to none other than Al Johnston for the Wolves' eighth TD.

Van Hook scored three TD's in all, including the first two. His first was a 31-yard run. The second was an 80-yard pass from Johnston. Van Hook's third touchdown came in the third period from two yards out.

Also scoring were Brock Jordan, who scooped up a kick-off fumble around the 13- or 15-yard line of Fouke in the first quarter, Terry Woodley, who went in from five yards out in the third period, and Douglas Flenory, who got to the outside and out-distanced everyone for a 19-yard run.

Fouke got first possession of the ball, and on first down quarterback Blake Crabtree scrambled 37 yards for a first down. From all appearances, the Panthers were going to be tough, but three plays later they fumbled with Jarrod Yates recovering the ball for Prescott. The Panthers never got another first down until late in the second quarter.

They only had eight first downs all night with Prescott finishing with 19.

On Prescott's first possession, the Wolves also gave up the ball as a little screen pass was picked off by T.J. Deshazo for Fouke.

On Fouke's next possession, a personal foul on third down moved the ball near mid-field, bringing up a fourth and long. The snap for the punt was bad and Prescott got the ball at the Fouke 31.

On first and 10 Johnston handed off to Van Hook, who broke up the left side for the first touchdown. The point after try by Mike Fountain missed for the score to remain 6-0 with 7:43 left in the quarter.

Yates, who has suffered a bad ankle the past few ballgames, picked off a little screen pass on the Panthers' next possession, giving the Wolves the ball at their own 20.

Johnston threw a play action screen pass to Van Hook around the 25. Van Hook dodged defenders and again found running room for another TD. This time coach David Bennett decided to go for two extra points since the first had been missed. However, the pitchback to Van Hook on the attempt was fumbled for the score to remain 12-0 with 5:28 left in the first quarter.

Prescott came close to scoring again a few minutes later. They had begun on their own 46 and suffered two penalties. With the ball on their 36, Johnston connected with Morrow for a 47-yard gainer. From the Fouke 17, Woodley was headed for the goal line when he fumbled the ball around the five. A Fouke player recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback.

Fouke's confidence was built up and on four and one from their 29, they went for a first down. The Prescott defense stopped them solidly and took over on their 29, ready to score again.

Johnston went for the pass again and hit Morrow in the end zone for the TD. Once more the two-point try was missed as Calvin Flemons was tackled before he could get in the end zone. There were 52.8 seconds left in the quarter.

Fountain kicked off with Jason Walls taking the kick somewhere around the 15. The ball came loose as he was hit with Brock Jordan getting the recovery and the TD. Celebrating, he threw the ball in the air, which cost the Wolves a 15-yard penalty. However, the extra point was delivered through the uprights by Fountain's toe and the score was suddenly 25-0 with 39.9 seconds left in the period.

Fouke punted to Prescott on the second play into the quarter with Prescott beginning its next drive 75 yards away from another touchdown.

On first down Johnston's pass went to Ben Jones for a 29-yard gainer and a first down at the Fouke 46.

A penalty moved the ball back to the Prescott 49, then a screen pass to Van Hook set the ball on the Fouke 45. Johnston the connected with Harris around the Fouke 10 where he scrambled for the touchdown. This time the PAT by Fountain was blocked for the score to remain 31-0 with 9:07 left in the half.

Close to the end of the half, Fouke had moved the ball to the Prescott 33, but once more the Curley Wolves held and took over on their 33.

Johnston first pass attempt on the series, intended for Fountain, fell incomplete with 9.2 seconds left. On second and 10 he hit Morrow around the Fouke 15. Morrow was able to get to the three before he was pulled down as time ran out in the half.

Johnston had completed eight out of 12 passes the first half.

The running side of the offense was good as well - 123 yards fort the first two quarters with Van Hook getting 51 of that the first period and Flemons getting 47 the second quarter.

Prescott had 10 first downs during the two quarters, but penalties had plagued them as they were penalized seven times for 50 yards. Fouke had made only three first downs. The Panthers had been penalized twice for 20 yards.

During the first half, Fouke had rushed for 105 yards. No passes were completed during the two periods for the Panthers. In fact, Crabtree's only completion came in the fourth period, and then no gain was made.

Prescott only punted once during the entire game and that was in the second quarter.

The Panthers kicked off to begin the second half with Woodley taking the kick around the 25 and running to the 47 before he was stopped, setting up another score for the Wolves.

On first down, Van Hook gained 26 yards and a first down at the Fouke 27.

Johnston again connected with Morrow with a pass near the 20. He was nearly down at the 13, but Morrow managed to break away, finally being stopped att he five for another first down.

Woodley got the touchdown from the five. Fountain's kick was good for the extra point and Prescott led 38-0 with 10:42 left in the third period.