Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Sinks Bismarck; Prepares For Big Scrap

Prescott's game plan against Bismarck, the opening conference game for the Curley Wolves, was changed and it worked.

Fewer passes were thrown by the Wolves, but quarterback Al Johnston still threw two touchdown passes in the 27-6 victory over the Lions.

Part of the game plan was to keep the ball on the ground much of the time, successfully, and keep the opponent out of the end zone. These both were accomplished.

Prescott rushed 42 times for 188 yards, an average of 4.47 yards per carry. Prescott's defense also did its part against the Bismarck rush, holding the Lions to only seven net yards on the ground.

The Lions' passing game was another story. Quarterback Marcus Brawley attempted 36 passes, completing 13 for 214 yards. Brawley threw 21 incomplete passes and he had two interceptions, once by Bret Wicker, who ran the interception 61 yards near the other end, and once by Al Johnston with a 28-yard return.

Johnston, on the other hand, only attempted eight passes, a far cry from the first three games of the season. He completed four for 124 yards. Johnston only had one incomplete pass, but he threw three interceptions.

Prescott racked up 312 offensive yards to Bismarck's 221. The Wolves had 15 first downs, but the Lions had 17.

Trying to come from behind in the first three games, Johnston had thrown some bad passes, many of the times the defensive line was in the backfield with him. However, Friday night he was only sacked twice. And the Bismarck only tipped one of his passes, whereas it was a common practice the first three games.

If Prescott had a trick play Friday night it was the running of Heath Duke. Duke, who had not been up to par in the previous games, was in the tailback position late in the third period.

He gained five yards and coach David Bennet liked what he saw. He told Johnston to keep the ball on the ground and tire the Bismarck defense down. It worked like a charm.

Duke carried the ball eight straight plays, from the Prescott 36 to the Bismarck 29, getting three first downs on the drive.

At the 29, Bennett put in a pass play that caught the Bismarck defense off guard. Jason Morrow nabbed the pass in the end zone for the third TD of the night.

Another `trick' play came later in the fourth period when Bennett sent in a reverse play. Johnston handed off to Terry Woodley, who went left, drawing almost all the Bismarck defense with him. Woodley handed off to Mike Fountain, who ran across field and 16 yards for the final TD.

Fountain, Prescott's place kicker, missed one point after try (PAT) Friday night (after the third touchdown), the first miss of the season. He has scored 13 points this year, a big improvement over last year; three points came from a field goal.

While the Prescott defense permitted Brawley a lot of yardage in the air, it was able to stop them in crucial situations, which is an improvement in the first three games.

All in all, then, the entire Prescott team looked better Friday night than it had against Ashdown, Hope and Gurdon.

Bismarck got the ball first and the Prescott defense was able to stop the Lions on the first series, but a roughing the kicker call against the Wolves nullified the punt play and gave the Lions a first down. However, the Lions had to punt on fourth and three.

Prescott came away with good field position with the ball on the Bismarck 49.

Carlos Van Hook started the scoring drive with a four-yard run and a one yard attempt. On third down, Johnston connected with Douglas Flenory near the 30, but there was no stopping the flanker as he made the end zone for the first touchdown of the night. Fountain's PAT was good, making the score 7-0 with 6:35 left in the quarter.

Once more the Prescott defense stopped the Lions, forcing a punt. On first down, Prescott was penalized and got another try. Johnston's pass attempt was tipped; it was intercepted by Kenny Ventress.

Brawley's pass from the Prescott 24 was completed for a first down at the five-yard line.

Brawley was then sacked by Justin Jernigan for a 10-yard loss. His next pass fell incomplete, then he hit Ryan Shuffield with a pass for a 10-yard gainer, setting up a field goal situation. Kyle Shultz's kick was good to make the score 7-3 with 3:43 left in the first period.

Prescott began its next scoring drive at the Wolves' 36. Van Hook liked about a foot getting the first down on the first carry, with Jerrigan then getting the first down at the 49.

Johnston then faked one direction in a bootleg play with the pass being completed to Morrow for a 35-yard gainer and a first down at the Bismarck 16.

Van Hook gained eight yards on the next play and then he picked up two more for the first down at the six.

Van Hook was allowed the privilege of going over for the score from the six with Fountain adding the extra point. Prescott led 14-3 with 1:56 left in the quarter.

Bismarck started its next scoring drive at its 34-yard line. Thirteen plays later the Lions were stalled by the Prescott defense at the 19-yard line. Shultz kicked a long field goal to make the score 14-6 at halftime.

In the first quarter, Prescott and Bismarck each made four first downs. The Wolves had 34 yards rushing and 99 yards passing. Johnston had one pass intercepted. Bismarck had 10 yards rushing and 67 yards passing. Prescott was penalized three times for 35 yards.

In the second quarter, the Wolves only rushed for nine yards. Johnston only threw one pass, which was intercepted. Bismarck was held to a minus nine yards rushing, but Brawley passed for 89 yards. He had attempted 14 passes during the period. Prescott had no first downs while the Lions had seven first downs. Bismarck was penalized once for five yards.

The third quarter was full of errors as the Curley Wolves were penalized three times for 40 yards. Bismarck was penalized once for 15 yards.

Johnston attempted two passes during the quarter. One fell incomplete, the other was intercepted. Both were on Prescott first possession.

The Wolves rushed 10 times for 40 yards during the period. Bismarck was held for zero yardage on the ground. The Lions attempted 11 passes, completing two for 43 yards.

Prescott had three first downs while Bismarck had five.

Things were more exciting for Prescott fans in the fourth period, though. It started near the end of the third with Duke rushing twice and getting, a first down at the Bismarck 49.

On the next play he gained three; then two; then seven for another first down.

From the Bismarck 37, Duke picked up six yards and then he got a first down at the 26.

However, on the next play for Duke, he lost three yards, setting the Lions up for what came next.

Once more Coach Bennett called for