Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Curley Wolves To Have Experience; 14 Seniors Return

Prescott will have experience to help lead the Curley Wolves on the gridiron this season.

The Wolves will field about 43 players, with 14 seniors returning to do combat in the ever-tough 7-AAA division.

Injuries early last season felled the team, as four starters were lost in the first three games. Still, the Wolves had chances to do well, but low numbers proved to be more than the team could overcome.

Prescott had a chance, last season, to beat Nashville there, but the team couldn't take advantage of its opportunities in the first half. With superior numbers, Nashville spent the second half pounding on the Wolves.

This year, though, should be different. First, the Wolves have about twice as many players dressed out as the team had last season. There were 24 players for the 1998 campaign, with about 43 out this year.

Then there's the senior leadership. The 14 players in their final high school season want to go out on a positive note.

Head Coach and Athletic Director Dave Bennett said the Wolves have had a good attitude during two-a-day drills of late, in spite of the blistering heat.

Josh Bullock played six games under center at quarterback as a sophomore last season, and gets the early nod to lead the team this year.

Bennett said Bullock has been throwing the ball well in practice and had a good spring.

He will be backed up by senior Brad Harris, who will spend most of his time playing receiver. Harris, Bennett said, has good hands and will also be the team's punter. As punter, Bennet said, Harris is showing daily improvement.

Prescott's receiving corps includes Ronnie Nolen as one of the split ends, Andrew Fellows at tight end, along with Joey Wyman, who Bennett said is a big target with good hands.

The backfield will be anchored by Rafeal Marlow and Keon Sockwell at fullback, while Calvin Flemons and Fred Hopson will split time as tailback. Flemons and Hopson will provide the bulk of the team speed as Flemons posted a 4.5 in the 40-yard-dash and Hopson runs a 4.6.

Bullock should also get plenty of protection from the offensive line, as the two guards and tackles tip the scales at more than 220 pounds each.

Antone Purifoy and Eric Jackson will divide time at right guard, while Gabe Morman will play left guard.

Clint Cornelius and Matt Yates will be the centers for the Wolves, while the tackles will be Brian Woodley on the right side and Chris Gulley on the left.

While most of the starters will have to play both ways, Bennett said there will be some depth to help spell them and get them some rest.

Ed Glen and Sidney Giles will be the two slot receivers, while Brian Joseph will play some at fullback. Mark Jones should see action at split end as well.

Still, the Wolves will be faced with a tough schedule as they play in one of the toughest conferences in the state.

The schedule is loaded every year no matter what with teams like Nashville, De Queen, Fordyce, Mena, Hope and Gurdon, all perennial powers and contenders.

Nashville has been picked to win the 7AAA conference title this year, even though the Scrappers were knocked off by De Queen last season, with the Leopards making it to the finals of the state tourney.

The Pumpkinheads will again have numbers and depth, but will most likely not have the caliber of athlete they've had in recent years.

On the other hand, De Queen's black and gold division will also have plenty of warm bodies to throw at the opposition, but should have more experience and be playoff contenders again.

Mena's Bearcats will have plenty of players to put on the field, but the experience and skills could be questionable.

Fordyce, well, what more needs to be said. The Redbugs are the Redbugs and will field a hard-playing team yet again.

Bennett said the 'Bugs will have a good group returning from last year and a loaded junior class.

All in all, though, Bennett said the Wolves should be playoff contenders, barring injury to key players.

"If we stay healthy," Bennett said, "we'll be in the hunt. We've been working on conditioning.

"I'm concerned about our depth on the interior line, but we've had some sophomores step up during practice."

All in all, nothing will really be known until the Wolves get a chance to butt heads with a team wearing different colored hats.

Prescott's Maroon-White game will be Friday, Aug. 20, with admission being a towel. The game will start around 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Aug. 28, the Wolves will head to Little Rock and War Memorial Stadium to play in the prep bowl against Hot Springs Lakeside. This game will be a 50 minute scrimmage and is set to start at 6 o'clock.