Wolves drop Knights, 62-34; win 5AAA conference
By Staff, 11/7/19 9:44 PMCENTERPOINT – Prescott had its hands full Thursday night, but pulled off a 62-34 over the Centerpoint Knights.
The win leaves the Wolves alone atop the 5AAA conference, and gives the team another conference title. Prescott will be the top seed from the conference when the high school playoffs start next week.
The Wolves will be at home, but their opponent is yet to be determined as several games are to be played tonight. Prescott ended its regular season with an 8-2 overall record and 7-0 in conference play.
It wasn’t the most pleasant of nights for the game as the temperatures were falling and the winds howling. A wet field didn’t help anything either, though neither team had turnover problems. Because of the conditions, the bulk of the game was played on the ground, with neither team willing to go to the air very often. The Knights did air the ball out a few times, successfully, while the Wolves rarely attempted a pass.
All in all, the Knights gave Prescott all it wanted and then some. The Wolves managed to pull away, but couldn’t put stop the Knights.
The game opened with Prescott receiving the kick and starting at its 40. The Wolves drove downfield, scoring on a 37-yard run by Alex George. The point after was good and with 10:22 left in the opening period, Prescott held a 7-0 lead.
It didn’t take the Knights long to score, as the home team tied the game a minute later.
An illegal block on the ensuing kick nullified a good runback and put the ball on the Centerpoint 48. It didn’t matter as the Wolves went ground and pound, scoring on a five-yard run by Jacobi Nolen. The PAT put Prescott up 14-7.
After a pooch kick, the Knights started on the home 40 and drove 60 yards, scoring on a two-yard run. The PAT again tied the game, 14-14 with 2:21 left.
This was plenty of time for Prescott, taking over on its 39 after the kick. The Wolves scored in five plays, but a bad snap cost the extra point. This left Prescott’s lead at 20-14.
Centerpoint returned the kick to the 354 and made it to midfield as the first period came to an end.
Prescott’s defense showed up in the second quarter, but only after the Knights scored again. The PAT put the home team up 21-20.
Prescott took over at its 45 and pounded Centerpoint’s defense, ending the drive on a 25-yard run by George. Prescott went for a two-point conversion, successfully, to make it 28-21. From there on out the Wolves wouldn’t look back.
Prescott recovered an onside kick at the Knight 45 and scored five plays later on a two-yard run by George. The PAT put the Wolves up 35-21.
The Wolves tried another onside kick, only to see the Knights field the ball at its 46. However, it was three and out with the punt rolling dead at the Prescott 33 with 3:00 left in the half.
It took seven plays for the Wolves to score for the sixth time in the half. The touchdown came on a 16-yard run by Jaylon Hopson. The PAT gave Prescott a three score lead at 42-21 with 56 seconds left.
Centerpoint got the ball to start the third quarter, returning the kick to the 45. The Knights made it to the Prescott 43 before the drive stalled and the team punted to the Wolf 12 with 8:05 left.
Nolen was sacked on first down, moving the pigskin back to the six. The Wolves gained a yard on second down and got a break with an offside call on third down. Hopson pushed the ball to the 20, but the Wolves were faced with a fourth and two. After a time out, the Wolves went for it with Nolen gaining 11 yards and giving Prescott some breathing room. The drive continued with the Wolves moving the ball on the ground. The score came on a five-yard run by Derriun Thompson with 2:59 left in the third. The PAT made it 49-21.
For a brief period, it looked as though Prescott would be able to invoke the mercy rule. However, this wasn’t to be as the Knights simply refused to go away.
Centerpoint took over on its 38 and drove to the Prescott 40 as the third quarter ended. The Knights completed the drive in the final 12 minutes, running eight plays and chewing up 4:18 off the clock. The PAT made it 49-28.
An onside kick attempt only went nine yards, giving Prescott the ball on the Knight 49. It didn’t take Prescott long to score, with Nolen connecting with Jacalyn Zachery on a 40-yard screen. The extra point made it 56-28.
Both teams would score one more time in the game, though the outcome wasn’t in doubt.
While the playoff bracket isn’t set, in all likelihood the Wolves will be at home next Friday night, hosting Mansfield from the 1AAA conference. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
