Wolves enjoy homecoming blowout, 56-7

By John Miller, 10/7/22 9:15 PM

PRESCOTT – It was homecoming for the Curley Wolves Friday night and the squad feasted on the Fouke Panthers, 56-7.

The weather was as close to perfect as possible for homecoming. Mild to moderate temperatures, clear skies and stands packed full of family and friends on hand to watch the festivities. After the queen and her court were introduced, it was time for the Wolves to get down to business.

Fouke came in with a 4-2 overall record and 2-0 in conference play. Prescott was 5-0 and 2-0, having dispatched the Junction City Dragons last week, 55-20 in a game not as close as the score would indicate. However, the Panthers entered having been unable to win on the road this season. The Wolves made sure that record remained intact.

There were fewer penalties in the game with a total of six thrown during the game. The problem, though, is five were against Prescott.

Fouke took the opening kick to its 35, gained three on first down and looked to be about to score as the quarterback went up the gut to the Prescott 29. However, this is where the drive stopped as the Panthers ended up turning the ball over on downs at the Wolf 28.

Carston Poole got things started with an 11-yard pass to Eric Grigsby, but his second pass, to P.J. Gulley, saw the Wolves going the wrong direction back to the 34. Travion Dickens gained 12 to keep the drive alive. Overall, the drive took nine plays with Dickens scoring on an 11-yard run with 5:56 left in the first quarter. The point after made it 7-0.

Fouke started its second drive on the Panther 35, ran three plays and punted. The kick was caught by Rashawn Bell at the Prescott 30 as he called for a fair catch.

Poole was dropped for a loss on the first play, but the Wolf offense turned things around and ended up driving 70 yards in eight plays, with Poole scoring on a four-yard run. The PAT made it 14-0 with 2:33 showing.

Starting at its 31, the Panthers ran three plays and punted to the the Prescott 32, where the ball was again caught by Bell, who returned it to the Panther 35, only to see the run nullified by an illegal block and brought back to the Prescott 23.

Poole hit D’Wayne White, who made it to the Panther 33, and connected with Grigsby on the final play of the period. Grigsby was brought down at the Panther 18. The second quarter opened with Branen Bradley scoring. The PAT made it 21-0.

This is where the wheels came off for the Panthers as the Wolves scored three times in less than a minute into the second quarter.

The ensuing kick was fumbled and scooped up by Talan Smith, who rambled to the Panther five. Grigsby scored on the next snap. The PAT made it 28-0.

The next kick was returned to the 22. However, the pass was picked off by Smith who scored. The extra point put the Wolves up 35-0 with 11:16 left in the half.

Offensively, things didn’t improve for the Panthers, as the visitors were unable to do much.

The following kick was returned to the 30, but it was three and out with the punt getting to the Prescott 46.

The Wolves were hit with a holding call on first down, moving the ball to the 30. It didn’t matter as Dickens found a gap and raced 70-yards for the score with 8:26 left. The PAT now made it 42-0.

The Panthers began at the Fouke 28 and managed to run 10 plays before turning the ball over on downs at the Prescott 26.

Six plays later, Grigsby scored on a 15-yard run. John Rabadan’s kick split the uprights to make it 49-0. Rabadan was busy in the first half, especially the second period, with his kicking duties.

The final 24 minutes were played under the mercy rule, and with substitutes on both sides of the ball. Prescott set up shop at its 40 and drove 60 yards in seven plays for the Wolves’ final score of the night. The score came on a 29-yard run by Decari Prater, who’d taken over under center. The PAT made it 56-0.

Fouke started at its 33, ran three plays and punted to the Prescott 37.

The Wolves ran two plays, getting to midfield as the third came to an end. The final period saw Prescott get to the Fouke 43 and punt. The kick rolled into the end zone for a touchback, giving Fouke the ball on its 20.

The Panthers put together the team’s only scoring drive of the night as Fouke drove 80 yards in 11 plays, scoring on a one-yard run. The extra point ended scoring, and pretty much ended the game.

Prescott will be on the road next Friday as the Wolves head to Homer, La. to play the Pelicans. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.