Wolves dominate Hornets; post 60-32 win Friday night

By Staff, 11/1/19 10:25 PM

PRESCOTT – Camden Harmony Grove entered Friday night’s game against the Curley Wolves as the top ranked AAA team in the state. Prescott was ranked third. These rankings will change as the Wolves decimated the Hornets 60-32.

The odd thing about the game was only seven points were scored in the first quarter. From the outset, it looked as though it would be a slugfest. However, this wasn’t the case. Prescott relied on a punishing ground attack, while the Hornets utilized quick scoring plays.

This, though, meant the Hornet defense was on the field most of the game and simply didn’t have what it took to slow Prescott’s ground game down.

The game wasn’t pretty as Prescott’s snapping game on extra points went haywire with the ball being snapped over the holder’s head. The Wolves got lucky as Camden wasn’t able to scoop the ball up and head to the other end zone.

Prescott received to start the game, taking over at the 30. Jacobi Nolen hit Derriun Thompson with a screen, only to see the ball wind up on the ground as Thompson fought for extra yards. Camden recovered at the Prescott 35.

The Hornets drove to the Prescott one before turning the ball over on downs as the Wolf defense stiffened.

With 9:02 left in the first, the Wolves drove 99 yards in 16 plays, all of it on the ground, punishing the Hornet defense and driving the visitors back with each snap. Thompson capped the drive with a four-yard run with 4:14 showing. The point after made it 7-0.

Prescott tried an onside kick, but the kick hit a Wolf player and was downed at the Prescott 42.

Camden drove to the 27 before again turning the ball over on downs.

It was three and out for the Wolves as Prescott went to the air and was unsuccessful. The punt rolled to the Camden 17.

The first quarter ended with the Camden quarterback being sacked at the 11.

The Hornets opened the second frame showing they could score from anywhere on the field. Camden opened with a completion to the Prescott 49 on the first play, and scored four plays later from 34-yards out. The Hornets went for two, using the swinging gate formation, and failed miserably. This left the score 7-6. This was as close as the game would be the rest of the night.

Thompson returned the kick to the Wolf 44. Eight plays later Nolen scored from a yard out as the Wolves again stayed on the ground and beat the Hornet defense into submission. The PAT made it 14-6.

Camden recovered a squib kick at its 28 and scored two plays later on a 68-yard pass as the receiver got behind Prescott’s defense and went to the end zone untouched. The try for two was again unsuccessful leaving the score 14-12.

Prescott took over on its 38 and drove 62-yards in 13 plays, all on the ground, primarily on the legs of Nolen and Jaylon Hopson, who carried the bulk of the load. Alex George capped the drive with a three-yard run. The PAT made it 21-12 with 3:56 left in the half.

The squib kick was picked up at the Camden 24 and took to the house. The try for two was no good, leaving the score 21-18 with 3:43 left in the half.

The Wolves returned the kick to the Camden 46 and showed the Hornets they, too, could score quickly when needed.

Prescott ran seven plays, all rushes, with Hopson scoring from the six. The PAT put the lead at 10, 28-18, with 1:39 to go.

Camden recovered the onside kick, but saw its second pass picked off by Thompson and returned to the Hornet 30 with 1:15 remaining.

Five plays later, the Wolves punched it in again, with Nolen scoring from four-yards out. The PAT made it 35-18 with 10.9 seconds still on the clock.

Camden was unable to move the ball as time expired in the half.

The Hornets got the ball to start the third quarter, taking over at its 22. Camden drove to the 29 before lining up for a punt. A bad snap saw the punter dropped at the Hornet nine.

Three plays later, George went in from a yard out. The PAT was no good, leaving the score 41-18.

Camden recovered the pooch kick at its 41, and drove to the Prescott two before turning the ball over on downs with 5:23 to go.

One play later, Nolen hit Jacalyn Zachery on a slant. Zachery avoided a tackle and sprinted into the end zone. This is where the Prescott snapping game went awry as the snap went over the holder’s head, leaving the score 47-18 with 5:07 to go.

Camden took over at its 25 and saw Omarion Dickens pick off a first down pass at the Hornet 34.

The Wolves had a momentary mental lapse as Nolen had the ball slapped out of his hands while carrying it loosely. Prescott recovered at the 49 but wound up having to punt to the Hornet 12.

Camden drove 88 yards in eight plays, scoring from 15-yards out . The try for two was no good, leaving the score 47-24 with time running out in the period.

Prescott recovered the onside kick at its 47 and made it to the Hornet 43 as the third ended.

Three plays into the final 12 minutes, Prescott scored again with Hopson racing in from 40-yards out. As he hit the line, he spun away from a defender, who was left grasping air. Another bad snap cost Prescott a point and left the score 53-24.

The Hornets had one last gasp left as the kick was returned to the Prescott 10 on a reverse on the kickoff. It took Camden four plays, but the Hornets scored on an eight-yard run. The two-point conversion cut the lead to 53-32.

Camden recovered an onside kick at the Prescott 48, but saw the drive end when Thompson made his second pick of the night, returning the ball to midfield with 7:24 to go

The Wolves again went to the ground game, eating the clock and chewing up turf, but scored on a 22-yard pass from Nolen to Caleb Harris as the Hornets had stacked the line expecting a running play. The PAT ended scoring at 60-32.

Camden recovered the onside kick at midfield, but was unable to mount a drive, turning the ball over on downs.

At this point, the Wolves put in a new team and basically ran out the clock.

This puts the Wolves alone atop the 5AAA division with a 7-2 overall record and 6-0 in conference play.

Prescott will be on the road for the final regular game of the season Thursday night as the Wolves travel to Centerpoint for a date with the Knights. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.