Wolves cruise to 48-26 win

GENOA – Friday night’s game between Prescott and Genoa Central was over pretty much before it began as the Wolves cruised to a 48-26 win.

The Wolves go to 5-2 on the season and 4-0 in 5AAA action.

As expected, the game was little more than a practice for the Wolves as the Dragons had little in the way of anything to slow Prescott Down. The Wolves practically scored at will during the first half and did score on every possession in the first two periods in spite of substituting heavily on offense and defense.

Jeffery Williams replaced Jacobi Nolen under center before the first quarter ended, and several starters watched the second quarter from the sidelines. This gave younger players valuable experience which will come in handy later on, especially next year. It also kept the starters from any chance of being injured. Williams gave way to Jason Patrick, Jr. in the second half

Genoa got the ball to start the game, starting at the Dragon 31. It was three and punt with the center snapping the ball while the punter was looking at the sidelines. Genoa managed to recover at its six, but the Wolves had excellent field position to start the game.

One play later, Nolen found Jacalyn Zachery in the end zone for six. The extra point was called back due to an offside call against Genoa, but it didn’t matter as Luis Rabadan split the uprights making it 7-0 with 10:59 to go in the opening frame.

It was three and out again for the Dragons as the hosts could go nowhere against Prescott’s starters. The punt rolled to the Wolf 36.

The Wolves needed all of three plays to cover 64-yards, the touchdown coming on a 45-yard pass from Nolen to Derriun Thompson. With 8:17 showing, it was 14-0.

Genoa didn’t go three and out on its third possession. After completing a long pass to the Prescott 35, the Dragons went to the air once too often and Tywan Thompson picked off a pass at the 18, returning it to the 37.

Nolen hit Jaylon Hopson, who lost the ball, but Prescott recovered at its 31. D. Thompson took a handoff, ran around the end and sprinted 69-yards for the Wolves’ third touchdown of the quarter. the PAT made it 21-0 with 6:36 left.

Taking over at its 31, the Dragons marched to the Prescott 44 before turning the ball over on downs. The drive took 10 plays.

Hopson found a seam on first down and bolted to the Dragon 25. Alex George took the next handoff and scored. The PAT made it 28-0 with 3:30 to go.

Genoa started at its 30 on the next drive, but went three and out with the punt rolling dead at the Prescott 42.

The Wolves basically pounded the 58-yards out, using eight plays to cover the distance. Facing a fourth and 12, Nolen found Zachery in the end zone for the fifth touchdown of the period The extra point made it 35-0 with 30 seconds left.

The kick was returned to the nine, with the period ending seeing the Dragons gain five to the 32.

The Dragons had some success with the passing game early on as the Wolves didn’t seem to be taking the game seriously. However, Genoa’s aerial attack was an adventure as no one was sure where the ball was going. Sometimes it sailed high, sometimes it wasn’t anywhere near a receiver and at other times a poor grip saw the ball practically thrown into the turf. On the other hand, the Dragons showed they could run against Prescott.

Genoa made it to Prescott’s 14 before getting picked off a second time, this time by George at the six. He returned the pick to the 24 with 7:42 left in the half.

Nolen raced 76-yards for Prescott’s final score of the half. The PAT was wide left, leaving it 41-0.

The Wolf coaching staff began substituting heavily, which allowed the Dragons to move the ball more efficiently. Genoa started at its 23 and drove for its first touchdown, a one-yard plunge that ended the half. The PAT was wide, leaving it 41-6 and ensuring the mercy rule would be in effect the second half.

Genoa attempted an onside kick to start the third, only to see the Wolves recover at the Prescott 41.

Nolen was in for a couple of plays, getting the ball to the Dargon 28, before being replaced by Patrick who completed the drive. The score came on a two-yard run by Bayliss Price with 8:50 left in the third. The PAT made it 48-6 and ended Prescott’s scoring.

Genoa scored on the kickoff, taking it more than 80 yards. The PAT cut the gap to 48-13 with 6:33 showing.

Prescott returned the kick to the 31 and promptly went backwards, ending up at the 15 before punting for the only time in the contest. The punt rolled dead at the Wolf 45.

Genoa was hit with a motion call, moving the ball to midfield. The period ended with the Dragons gaining four to the Wolf 46.

The Dragons needed eight more plays to score, with the touchdown coming from 12-yards out. the extra point made it 48-20 with 6:00 left in the game.

Prescott took over at its 35, managed to gain five yards on three plays and turned it over on downs as a fourth down run went nowhere.

Genoa managed to put another touchdown on the board for the final score, 48-26.

The Wolves will be in a strange place next week – Cummings Stadium, where the team has rarely been this season. Prescott will entertain the Horatio Lions in what will likely be another practice game for the Wolves. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.