Wolves advance to round 2 with 30-18 win over Piggott

By Staff, 11/10/17 10:03 PM

PRESCOTT- Prescott kept its football season alive with a 30-18 win over the Piggott Mohawks Friday night at Cummins Stadium.

It was a tough game from start to finish as the Mohawks’ running game kept Prescott’s defense on the field most of the night. The win gives Prescott a 10-1 record and will see the Wolves hit the road Friday, Nov. 17, as they head to Osceola.

Piggott entered the game with a 7-3 record and the reputation of a solid ground attack, having racked up more than 3,000 rushing yards on the year. The ‘Hawks pounded Prescott’s defensive line all night, pushing the ball downfield and chewing up the clock, only to have the Wolf defense stiffen and deny scores most of the game.

The Wolves won the opening toss and deferred to the second half, giving the ‘Hawks the ball first. The kick was returned to the 30. The ‘Hawks drove to midfield in three plays, mostly up the gut though the Wolves stacked the defensive line. It appeared as though Piggott was on its way for the game’s first score until the ‘Hawks coughed the ball up at the Prescott 37 with nine minutes left in the first period.

Prescott wasted no time, going to the air and going deep as Thomas Muldrew hit Ka’Darius Pearson with a first down pass. Pearson lost his footing and was brought down at the Piggott 12. Muldrew broke free on the next snap giving Prescott a 6-0 lead with 8:42 showing. The point after made it 7-0 and the Wolves never looked back.

The ensuing kick was returned to the 42, but the Mohawks were forced to punt as Piggott’s offense was held to two yards in three plays. The punt went to the Prescott 34 with 6:39 to go.

Three plays netted three yards and the Wolves lined up for an apparent punt. However, Pearson kept the ball and was brought down at the Prescott 35, giving Piggott the ball and excellent field position with 5:39 on the clock.

The ‘Hawks needed five plays to cover the distance, the score coming off a surprise fourth down pass from the 12. The ‘Hawks had a successful two-point conversion and took an 8-7 lead with 3:24 left in the opening period.

The kick was returned to the 28, with Prescott driving 72 yards in eight plays. MyKal Burns took it in from the four with 47 seconds to go. The Wolves also tried for two, successfully, and were up 15-8.

Piggott started at its 31, gaining four yards on two plays as the first quarter ended. The second opened with the ‘Hawks running two more plays and turning the ball over on downs at the Piggott 40 with 11:15 to go in the half.

Seven plays later Muldrew went in from 13-yards out to put the Wolves in control 21-8. The PAT made it 22-8.

Piggott started at its 20 with 9:34 to go and chewed up most of the period, running 15 plays before turning the ball over on downs at the Prescott nine with 2:37 to go.

From there, the two teams were unable to mount offensive drives before the half.

The Wolves got the ball to start the second half, returning the kick to the 42. Unfortunately, the Wolves fumbled on the second play, with Piggott recovering at the Mowhawk 47.

This would prove to be Piggott’s final scoring drive of the game as the ‘Hawks needed six plays, scoring on a 40-yard run. The try for two made it 22-16 with 8:03 to go.

The two squads each turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, with Prescott’s final scoring drive starting at the Piggott 48 with 4:22 remaining.

The Wolves needed four plays, with Burns going in from a yard out. The two-point conversion made it 30-16.

For the remainder of the game, the two teams swapped possessions either by punting or turning the ball over on downs, with the exception of Prescott’s first possession of the fourth quarter when Muldrew was picked off at the Piggott eight.

With the game winding down, the Mohawks turned the ball over on downs at the Prescott 30. The clock showed 2:05 left in Piggott’s season. The Wolves ran around, not worrying about gaining yards, just taking time off the clock. Three plays and a procedure call later, Prescott was at its seven facing a fourth and long. Pearson took the snap, ran around in the end zone and took a safety to end scoring with 0:18 left.

This made it 30-18. Piggott returned the kick to the Prescott 49 and ran two plays as time expired.

Prescott will be on the road next week as the Wolves head to Osceola. The Wolves will be traveling throughout the playoffs, barring a higher seed getting upset by a team with a lower seed than Prescott.

In other first round playoff games, Glen Rose was edged by Newport, 28-27; McGehee dumped Horatio, 44-14; and Haskell Harmony Grove edged Hoxie, 26-20.