Hornets smoked, 40-0

By Staff, 10/26/18 9:31 PM

CAMDEN – Prescott made it 8-1 and 5-1 with a 40-0 shutout of the Camden Harmony Grove Hornets Friday night.

It’s doubtful Curley Wolf fans expected such a blowout as the Hornets entered the game 5-0 in conference play and 7-1 overall. With the win, the Wolves are guaranteed a second place finish in the 5AAA with one game remaining, that against Centerpoint Thursday, Nov. 1, in a game the Wolves should win easily.

There must have been some good home cooking involved as the officials appeared to favor the Hornets, calling most penalties against Prescott and on two occasions ruling plays dead when Camden had fumbled.

Prescott scored on its first five possessions of the game, but missed an extra point and two-point conversion leaving the score 33-0 at the half. The Wolves corrected this problem in the third with a touchdown and PAT to go up 40-0 and invoke the mercy rule.

Prescott got the ball to start the game and drove 60 yards in nine plays, overcoming two penalties in the process. The touchdown came on a six-yard run by Alex George with 8:54 left in the first. The point after made it 7-0.

Camden returned the kick to its 35, ran three plays and punted. However, on second down the Hornets fumbled with Prescott recovering, but the officials called the play dead. Third down saw a loss of two forcing a punt, which rolled to the Prescott 21.

Cam Cox lost three on first down before Ryan Johnson hit Derriun Thompson with a screen to the 43. From there, the Wolves marched downfield with Johnson connecting with Cox on a 35-yard scoring strike. The PAT put Prescott up 14-0.

Camden returned the kick to its 40 and drove to the Prescott 29 only to see the first Hornet pass of the game picked off and returned to the Prescott 34.

Three plays later the Wolves were at the Hornet 32 and the first period was at an end. The second quarter opened with Prescott finishing the drive in eight plays with Johnson going in from the one with 9:10 left in the half. The PAT made it 21-0.

The ensuing kick was picked up at the one and returned to the 15, but the Hornets caught a break as Prescott was hit with a personal foul call, moving the ball to the 30. It didn’t matter as the Wolf defense stiffened and the Hornets went nowhere and punted to the Prescott 36 with 6:58 to go.

Five plays later, Thompson went in from the one to make it 27-0. A change of holders on the PAT went awry as Luis Rabadan missed the kick after a high snap.

The Hornets returned the kick to the 37 and went backwards, ending up at the 19 with a fourth and forever. Camden punted with the ball rolling to the Prescott 38 with 2:35 left in the half.

This was plenty of time for the Wolf offense to put more points on the board. George broke free on first down and was dragged down at the Hornet 11. He fought to the three on the next play and was held for no gain on his third carry. Thompson took over on third down, going in from the three to make it 33-0. The try for two was unsuccessful.

Camden started at its 32, and managed to get to the Prescott 29. A hail Mary on third down wound up in Cox’s hands, giving Prescott the ball on its 20 with six seconds left.

Camden got the ball to start the third quarter, but ended up turning it over on downs after getting to the Prescott 20.

Prescott returned the favor, turning the ball over on downs at the Wolf 39.

The Hornets gained five yards on two plays before Camden’s quarterback was stripped of the ball, with Prescott taking over at its 41.

The Wolves drove 59-yards in 10 plays with George scoring from the one. For the most part, Prescott pounded the Hornet defense on the drive, not eating up huge chunks of yardage at a time, but grinding it out. The point after ended scoring in the game and invoked the mercy rule with the score 40-0.

Prescott substituted players freely for the remainder of the game, as the Hornets were unable to do much. Turning the ball over on downs to start the final 12 minutes, giving the Wolves the ball at the 49.

Prescott went nowhere and punted the only time in the game with the ball rolling to the Camden 10.

The Hornets drove to the Prescott 35, but saw the game end on a fumble.

The Wolves finish the season returning to the friendly confines of Cummings Stadium on Nov. 1, where it will be Senior Night. Seniors in all sports will be honored prior to the start of the game.

Prescott should handle the Knights. A win would give the Wolves a home game the first round of the playoffs, but the Wolves will be on the road for week two.