Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fouke Panthers Out Rush Curley Wolves; Prescott Still Wins, 33-8

Once more the Prescott Curley Wolves scored five touchdowns to take an easy 33-8 win over a 7AA foe, this time the Fouke Panthers.

This is the fourth straight victory for the Wolves in as many games, after the 32-21 loss to Nashville October 4. Before that the Wolves defeated Hope, 25-16; Gurdon, 14-0; and Bismarck, 32-0. The Wolves had to forfeit their first game, 2-0, after defeating Ashdown, 27-12.

In all, officially, the Wolves have scored 218 points to their opponents' 78, including the two losses.

Friday night not only did coach Eddie Jackson let the regular reserves play, but the freshman got to see action as well. Jackson moved his ninth grade football team up after they completed the regular season last week with only one loss for the year.

Sam Marlow and Rashad Johnson each scored two touchdowns for the Wolves. Al Johnston completed passes for two TD's, one to Johnson and one to Mike Fountain.

In all, the Prescott offense scored four times and the defense scored once. After Johnson intercepted a Panther pass two yards in the end zone, he ran it back for the Wolves' fifth score of the night.

Ironically, the Panthers out-performed the Wolves on first downs, on total offensive rushing yardage and passing yardage. The single wing offense seemed to be confusing to the Prescott defense on many of the plays, with the quarterback spinning around for the handoff or taking it down the middle or around himself, or passing.

Fouke finished with 344 total yards on offense, 237 rushing and 107 passing. Prescott finished with 202 total, 112 rushing and 90 passing. Of course, this does not include the 102-yard run-back by Johnson.

The Panthers finished with 18 first downs to Prescott's 10.

No telling what the Panthers could have done had they not had 11 penalties that totaled 100 yards. Prescott had seven penalties for 65 yards; another (a 15-yard clipping penalty) was declined by Fouke.

Three times the Wolves tried to make a fourth down and failed. Four times the Panthers tried and failed.

Three times Prescott intercepted passes from quarterback Mike Miller; three times the Wolves captured Fouke fumbles.

Three times in the first quarter each team had possession of the ball. Twice each team gave it up after failing to make a fourth down. Prescott tried to make a fourth and one at the Fouke 28, but failed on their first possession. On their second possession the Wolves punted.

Prescott's scoring drive began on their third possession. This possession came after the Panthers had driven to the Prescott 34, getting two first downs on this series.

The Panthers were caught holding and were penalized 10 yards; then they were penalized for illegal motion; then they were penalzied for holding again. By this time the Panthers were back at their own 39-yard line. They managed to get to their 46, where on third down they tried a quick kick. Coach Jackson had anticipated this and the rush was on. Unfortunately, the Panthers recovered the ball and still had fourth down to go. A screen pass picked up 15 yards, but failed to get the first down, so the Wolves took over on their own 46.

Marlow gained two yards on the first carry, then six on the next. Carlos Vanhook the got the first down at the Fouke 41.

On first down Marlow gained 20 yards, getting stopped at the 21 as the first quarter ended.

Vanhook picked up three on the ground before Johnston went to Johnson with a pass for the touchdown. The point after try by Fountain missed, but Prescott led 6-0 with 11:17 left in the half.

Fouke took possession on their 19 after the kick-off, but fumbled on the first play with Jared Yates recovering the ball for Prescott at the Fouke 15. Four plays later a field goal attempt by C.D. Flemons for the score to remain unchanged.

On their next possession Fouke got a first down before fumbling again. This time Terrell Burton recovered the ball for the Wolves at the Fouke 41.

Vanhook got the first call and gained five yards with Johnston getting three more on the next play with an option. Vanhook then managed one more, and Johnston got the first down with a sneak.

A five-yard penalty against Fouke moved the ball to the 24, where Marlow took the ball from Johnston on a delay and went up the middle for the TD. Johnston took the 2-point conversion attempt into the end zone with an option play to make the score 14-0 with 6:50 left in the half.

Fouke picked up another first down before punting time, and for the second time in the game the punt was blocked. Prescott took over on the Fouke 17.

On first down Johnston connected with Fountain with a pass for the TD. The PAT was missed by Flemons, but Prescott led with 4:29 left in the half.

Before the half ended Rashad Johnson had intercepted a Miller pass to stop a Panther drive. In two plays and a major penalty against Fouke, the Wolves had worked the ball to the Panthers' 11-yard line, where Flemons missed another field goal attempt as time ran out.

As usual, the Wolves had won the coin toss at the beginning of the game and had elected to receive to begin the second half.

An onsides kick by Fouke was captured by Vanhook at the Prescott 41, but the Wolves had to punt on fourth down. The punt was killed on the Fouke 10.

The Panthers managed one first down before stalling on their 22-yard line. On fourth down they attempted a pass that fell incomplete. The Wolves took over.

On first down Marlow gained two yards, but an offsides penalty moved the ball back to the 25 before the next play began. Then an illegal substitution against the Wolves moved the ball back to the 30.

So, on second and and 18 Johnston connected with Flemons near the 22. Flemons was stopped at the 11, but had picked up a first down on the weay.

On the next play Marlow went up the middle for the score. The PAT by Fountain missed, but Prescott led 26-0 with 5:06 left in the third period.

At this time, Coach Jackson began putting the reserves in, including the freshmen. Fouke picked up three first downs on six plays, moving the ball to the Prescott 10-yard line.

Finally, on fourth and seven, Miller attempted a pass to a player in the end zone. The pass was intercepted by Johnson, who ran across and up field. Going along the left sidelines he out-distanced all pursuers for the touchdown. The PAT kick by Fountain was good and Prescott led 33- 0 with 12 second remaining in the third quarter.

A personal foul penalty against the Panthers had Prescott kicking the ball from the Fouke 45. The kick went into the end zone.

In the fourth period, the Panthers failed to make a first down on their first possession and turned the ball over on downs. Ditto Prescott.

However, on their second possession, the