Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Travels To McGhee Friday

Prescott has advanced in the state play-offs by beating the Gosnell Pirates 18-6.

The Curley Wolves, however, will give up their `home' status, because the McGehee Owls also advanced. The Wolves will travel Friday night to McGehee to play the Owls in the next round.

The Owls eliminated Prairie Grove, 37-12, in last week's action. Had Prarie Grove won, Prescott would have been the home team.

Also advancing were Dover, winner of the 5AA North Conference, and Atkins, which finished third in the 5AA Central Conference. The winner of the McGehee-Prescott game will meet the winner of the Dover-Atkins game next week.

If Dover wins, either Prescott or McGehee will have to travel there. If Atkins wins, Atkins will have to travel to the other winner's home field.

Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) has set up the brackets with what it thinks is the best team being the home team. However, if one of the runners-up knocks off the team on top, and a team with a better conference ranking is on the bottom of the bracket, then that team will be the home team.

Dover is at the top of the bracket Prescott (second in the 7AA Conference) and McGehee (first in the 8AA Conference) is playing in, but Atkins finished third in its district. Therefore, if Atkins wins, it will have to travel to either Prescott or McGehee because both of these these teams finished higher in their respective conferences than Atkins.

Home field advantages are often talked about, but the Curley Wolves played well on the road this year. How bad they want to face Nashville again also will play a big part on how they finish on the road.

The home crowd should be a determining factor, but apparently not this year. The crowds at the PHS Stadium have been down compared to other years, especially at the last three home games. Of course rainy weather could have something to do with two of them, but not last Friday.

It would appear the Prescott fans are not interested in supporting the Curley Wolves or the band as both have been playing extremely well this year. There have been lots of empty seats at the last three games.

Quarterback Al Johnston led the attack against the Pirates by throwing two touchdown passes and rushing six times for 36 yards.

The TD passes went to C.D. Flemons and to Rashad Johnson, both in the second quarter. The third touchdown was scored in the third period by Carlos Vanhook from one yard out.

A fourth touchdown -- by Rashad Johnson -- was called back because of a holding penalty.

Gosnell's TD came in the fourth period when Wes Huffman went over from the one.

Noticeably missing are the extra points.

Gosnell's was blocked by Flemons. Mike Fountain's point after try went wide right for Prescott after the first TD. Johnston attempted to make a two-point try after the second, and a pass attempt from Johnston to Channing Butler was batted away after the third Prescott TD.

Prescott lost the coin toss Friday night, but the end results were the same: the Curley Wolves received the kick-off to begin the second half.

Prescott kicked to the Pirates to begin the game. Terrell Burton's kick was low and it was taken at the Pirates' 14. Gosnell took over on their 18.

Using a wing T offense, one that was very confusing to fans throughout the game and to the Curley Wolves at first, the Pirates marched to the Prescott three-yard line before the Wolfgang D stopped them. They had used up most of the first quarter.

The Curley Wolves took over on their three and drove as deep as the Gosnell 19 before Sam Marlow fumbled the ball away. Two previous fumbles at the snap had been recovered by the Wolves.

Thanks to a great defensive effort by Flemons on third down, the Pirates had to punt on fourth and eight. The punt rolled dead at the Gosnell 48.

Marlow gained four yards on the first carry and Vanhook picked up the first down on the next at the Gosnell 35.

Johnston then connected with Johnson at the 28. Johnson was pulled down at the Gosnell 21.

Marlow was able to get to the Pirates 10-yard line before he was stopped, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty at the 20. The penalty moved the ball back to the 30, still a first down play.

Johnston's pass play caught the Pirates off guard and the pass was good for Prescott's first touchdown as Flemons caught it in the end zone with 6:47 left in the half.

This time Burton's kick went two yards in the end zone for a touchback with Gosnell beginning at their 20.

The Pirates had to punt from mid-field with the Wolves letting it roll dead at their 16. They had to punt from their 37.

Gosnell was backed up to their goal at the eight-yard line and on fourth and two, they punted with the ball rolling dead at the Gosnell 34.

A pass for Channing Butler fell to the ground, but an interference penalty was called against the Pirates. The first down was at the Gosnell 19.

Once more Johnston went to the air and found Johnson in the end zone for the second TD with 28 seconds left in the half. The two teams went to their respective dressing rooms with Prescott leading 12-0 at halftime.

Gosnell's kick-off to begin the second half was meant to be short, but not this short: Ben Casarez's kick went out of bounds at the Prescott 45-yard line, drawing a penalty. The Wolves elected to take the ball at the 45.

Marlow again got the first call and picked up the first down at the Pirates 45.

Vanhook got the next call and gained nine yards to the Gosnell 36. Johnston went to the air again and connected with Flemons at the 34. He was stopped at the 29 for a first down.

Marlow again got the call and dodged all defenders as he went over the goal line for the touchdown. The TD was called back because of a holding penalty at the 13.

The ball was placed at the 23, however, for the first down. The team only needed to get to the 19 for the first down. Tracy Stafford got the first call and gained seven yards for first down at the 16.

Vanhook had a tremendous run and got the first down at the four for the Wolves.

Marlow hurdled the line, but only managed to get three of the needed four yards. Vanhook then got the call and went over for the TD with 9:15 left in the third period.

This time the Pirates took over on their 21-yard line. Their drive was climaxed early in the fourth period, when Huffman went over for the TD.

If the Pirates had had a passing game the score could have been different, but quarterback Heath Cross only threw five times, completing three for 17 yards.

Johnston attempted 15 passes, completing seven for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Prescott rushed for 205 more yards for a net total of 308 yards. Gosnell rushed for 209 yards for a total