Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PHS Headed To Play-Offs

For the second year in a row, the Prescott Curley Wolves have made it to the state play-offs.

Last year they went in as champions of the 7AA Conference and the Nashville Scrappers were second.

This year the roles have been reversed. Nashville is first and Prescott is second.

Last year the only loss Nashville had going into the play-offs was against Prescott.

This year Prescott's only loss in the conference is against Nashville. (However, the Wolves had to forfeit their game against Ashdown because of an ineligible player.)

Last year the Curley Wolves were undefeated going into the play-offs.

This year the Scrappers are undefeated.

Last year the two teams were in different brackets and met for the championship at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock with Prescott beating them the second time. Prescott was in the upper brackett and Nashville in the lower bracket.

This year the two teams are in different brackets, Nashville in the upper one and Prescott in the lower one. This means that the Scrappers will play at home in every game but the championship game, and even then they will be the home team.

Prescott is in the lower bracket. The first game in the play-offs will be in Prescott with others away, or are they? According to Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), the team with the highest ranking will be playing on home turf.

The main thing is, the Wolves are in the play-offs and are looking forward to playing in the championship game again.

And who says they won't be there? No one from Prescott.

The Curley Wolves may not be as strong as last year, but they certainly have the potential to meet Nashville again in the finals. The outcome of that game will surely be different than it was October 4, when the Scrappers defeated Prescott 33-21. The Wolves will be seeking revenge.

That was the lowest-scoring game Nashville played all year.

And Prescott is the team the Scrappers dread the most.

The Scrappers still dreads the awesome defense of last year. Quarterback Jarrod McBride can still hear the footsteps of C.D. Flemons and others coming after him.

This year's defense is just as good. Flemons is back. So is Carlos and Brian Vanhook, Jamie Williams, Kyron Johnson, Channing Butler, Terrell Burton, Jared Yates, Tobias Tidwell, Rashad Johnson, Al Johnston, Sam Marlow, Ben Jones, Jeremy Morrow, Heath Duke and Ross Cowling, just to name a few.

Only because of the defense was Nashville's scoring held to 33 points October 4. In other games the Scrappers have scored as many as seven touchdowns. Nothing unusual for their side of the score to be in in the 40' or 50's. McBride can strike fast with his passing attack, almost averaging 500 yards a game.

While Presoctt's defense is one of the best in Class AA in the state, the Prescott offense must out-score the opponent -- it must do its part to get the win. And this is what's been going on.

Prescott has scored 257 points this year to 88 for their opponents.

So the Wolves do have the potential to be in that final game.

One thing the Wolves must remember now: The time for mistakes is past. No more foolish penalties. No more fumbles. No more bad passes.

This is what Prescott has been playing for all season.

If the Curley Wolves couldn't be in first place this time of the year, second was where they wanted.

The game last Thursday with Fordyce was to see which school would be in second place. Prescott won 12-0. Fordyce is third and De Queen is fourth in the conference.

Now the Curley Wolves will host the Gosnell Pirates this Friday at PHS Stadium. Game time is 7:30.

Gosnell is the third place team from the 3AA North Conference. The conference includes Highland (10-0), Nettleton (7-2-1), Gosnell (8-2), Corning (5-5), Hoxie (5-5), Jonesboro Westside (2-5), Piggot (1-9), and Clay County Central (1-9).

Also this Friday the McGehee Owls (9-1, winner 8AA) will be hosting the Prairie Grove Tigers (5-3, fourth from 1AA).

If the Owls win, Prescott will have to travel to McGehee next week after the Wolves demolish the Pirates. The Owls' defense has only allowed 61 points this season.

If the Tigers win the game will be in Prescott (of course, assuming the Wolves do take care of the Pirates).

Season ticket holders need to take note. Gate admission rules are set by the AAA in the post season games such as the play-offs. No seasonal tickets will be accepted Friday night. Those holding AAA cards will be honored.

One of the things the Wolves need now is support from their fans. Crowds, due in part to the weather, did not fill the stands the last two games. This is unusual for Prescott fans.

This week the stands need to be full of Prescott supporters. Be there for the kick-off and plan to be at the other games, too.