Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Drop Opener To Ashdown, 42-35

If Prescott fans went to see action Friday night, they got plenty of it - albeit all offensive.

A total of 77 points were scored between the two teams, with Ashdown scoring last and taking a 42-35 win over the Curley Wolves. Fans witnessed a total of 10 touchdowns during the game, four by the home team and six by the visitors.

Added excitement for the fans were two field goals by Mike Fountain, one from around 50 yards out. The offensive play was from the 34-yard line, but frm where the ball was spotted and the 10 extra yards in the end zone to where the upright are made the distance close to 50 yards. Fountain, who had trouble last year getting the ball between the uprights, also kicked three extra points.

Al Johnston, Prescott's quarterback, passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns with Jason Morrow getting both. In all, however, Johnston attempted 38 passes and only completed 13.

It wasn't necessarily his fault only 13 were completed. The Wolves seemed to have had the `first game with a new coach' jitters. Many passes were dropped that should have been caught.

Ashdown, the team from the 7AAA Southwest Conference, came up with its yardage on the ground. The Panthers finished with 346 yards rushing and only 49 passing for a total of 395 yards. They also returned a punt 45 yards for a TD.

Prescott finished closely behind with 393 total offensive yards with Carlos Van Hook picking up 104 yards for the Pack on 19 carries.

The game's leading rusher was Ashdown quarterback Daniel Henderson, who gained 152 yards with his running ability. Following close behind was Panther fullback Chomsly Ricks with 127 yards. Tailback Ricardo Muldrew rushed netted 73 yards for the Panthers.

There were a total of 124 offensive plays during the game. Prescott had 72 and Ashdown had 52.

Just glancing at the number of plays and the offensive yardage and scores, one can tell immediately that defense was lacking. So, while the crowd was getting thrilled with both teams scoring, the coaches were trying to encourage the players to do more on defense. That part of the game never developed.

Prescott lost the coin toss to begin the game and Ashdown elected to kick to the Wolves, who could never get the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, but Fountain booted it around 50 yards for a 3-0 lead.

Ashdown on its first possession turned it over to Prescott at their 31-yard line.

Prescott then had to punt on fourth and 20. Jarrod Yates' punt went to Michael Williams near the 45, who evaded all tacklers for a run-back. The extra point by Cory Chandler was good and the Panthers led Prescott, 7-3, with 2:53 left in the first period.

A bad snap on another punt attempt near the end of the period resulted in another TD for the Wolves' opponent. The ball was on the Prescott 41 and the snap was recovered by Ashdown back at the 12.

On the first play, Muldrew gained seven yards and on the next he went in from the five for the TD. The PAT by Chandler was good to give the Panthers a 14-3 lead with 11:18 remaining in the half.

Prescott, however, came back with a quick score.

The Wolves began the drive on their own 30 with Van Hook picking up nine yards on the first play, then he got the first down on the next at the 44.

Van Hook, on the next play, took the ball inside Ashdown territory to the 48-yard line. Justin Jernigan gained two more yards on the next play, setting up a 46-yard touchdown. Johnston hit Morrow with a long pass around the 20. Morrow then went in for the touchdown.

Coach David Bennett elected to go for a two-point conversion. A pass from Johnston to Fountain was good to make the score 14-11 with 8:24 left in the half.

The first turnover occurred on the next Ashdown series, as Murldrew coughed up the ball to the Wolves at the Ashdown 38.

Prescott then had to punt with Ashdown taking over at the six. Prescott's defense held the Panthers this time and they punted from their 10 with the Curley Wovles taking over on the Ashdown 34.

On the first play, Johnston handed off to Van Hook on a draw that had the tailback going all the way for the TD. Fountain's kick made the score 18-14 with 4:51 left in the half.

Ashdown then came back with another score. After eight plays, the Panthers had the ball on the Prescott 3, where Henderson ran the quarterback sneak in for the touchdown. A bad snap on the attempted point after kept the score at 20-14 in favor of the Panthers.

The Wolves, however, using a combination of offensive plays, were able to come back with another field goal to lead at halftime.

Fountain took the Ashdown kick at his 25 and returned it to the 47, where the Wolves began their drive.

Van Hook took the Johnston handoff on the draw and gained nine yards on first down, then a pass in the midst of defensive players was caught by Morrow at the two-yard line of Ashdown.

Van Hook was stopped for no gain with the clock running out. Johnston quickly stopped the clock with an incomplete pass and 28 seconds on the clock. A pass attempt in the end zone failed, but defensive pass interference was called against Ashdown, moving the ball to the one and giving the Wolves a first down.

Prescott was moved back five yards (actually the ball was moved back to the seven) with a penalty. Then the mis-catches began. First, a pass for Morrow was dropped, then one for Van Hook fell through his hands with 13.9 seconds left. A bad pass for Van Hook went to the ground with 10.7 second left and coach Bennett called for a field goal from Fountain.

The kick was through the uprights and Prescott led 21-20 at intermission.

The first half had taken one hour and 15 minutes to play. The game ended after 10:00 due mainly to the clock being stopped with incomplete passes.

Ashdown took the kick-off to begin the second half, but punted on fourth and six fromtheir own 27.

A bad punt gave the Wolves advantage at the Ashdown 43-yard line.

On the first play, Terry Woodley gained nine yards, then a bad pass for Jeremy Morrow fell incomplete. On the next play, Yates was stopped for no gain, but Johnston ran a sneak on fourth down for the first down at the Ashdown 32.

Jernigan gained another yard next and Johnston ran an option play to the 27-yard line. On third and five, he completed a screen pass for Van Hook who made it to the Ashdown six before he was stopped.

Another interference call against Ashdown moved the ball to the three for Prescott. Then Van Hook got the call and the TD. Fountain kicked it between the uprights for a 28-20 lead.

After the kick-off, Henderson gained 17 yards on the first play to begin another scoring drive for the panthers.

In Five plays the Panthers had moved the ball to the Prescott 37, where Hend