Wolves drop Patriots, advance in playoffs

PRESCOTT – Palestine-Wheatley was Prescott’s first victim in the AAA state playoffs Friday.

The Wolves posted a 42-0 win over the Patriots and move to round two where they face the winner of the Fordyce-Gurdon game.

The Patriots didn’t provide much of a challenge in the first meetings of the two teams. Palestine-Wheatley entered the game with a 3-6 overall record, while Prescott came in at 9-1 and the champs of the 5AAA conference. Prescott put 35 points on the board in the first half, with the mercy rule starting with less than four minutes left in the second quarter. The first half score could have been worse as Prescott lost a fumble early in the second period.

Palestine did what it could, working the clock to keep Prescott’s offense off the field. Two turnovers didn’t help as Lavante Gleason picked off a Patriot pass at the Wolf 20, returning it to the Palestine 37. Late in the second, Palestine fumbled with Prescott recovering at the Patriot 12. Both turnovers resulted in touchdowns.

Prescott Coach Brian Glass began emptying the bench in the third quarter to give younger players some playoff experience and help the program in the future.

The game began with Palestine getting the ball, running three plays and punting. The punt was tipped and rolled dead at the Prescott 45.

Three plays later, Pierce Yates found P.J. Gulley in the end zone for six. The point after made it 7-0 with 9;44 showing. This was pretty much how the game went all night long.

Palestine’s second possession was aided by a facemask call against the Wolves. The Patriots made it to the Prescott 26 before being picked off by Gleason at the 20 and returned to the Patriot 37.

It took four plays for Prescott to find the Promised Land, but Ja’Noah Harris went in from the 14 to make it 13-0. The PAT put with the Wolves up 14-0.

Paliestine’s third possession managed five plays before a punt to the Prescott seven.

The Wolves drove 93 yards in eight plays, with Harris scoring on an eight-yard run. The PAT made it 21-0 as the first quarter came to an end.

Period two opened with the Patriots on the Palestine 32 and getting to the 45 before punting to Decari Prater at the Prescott 15. Prater returned the punt to the 28. Next came the first time Prescott failed to score. Yates hit Jaylen Johnson, who fumbled with the Patriots recovering at the Wolf 37.

It didn’t matter as Palestine turned it over on downs four plays later, having lost to the 49.

The Wolves only needed two plays to cover the distance, with Harris breaking free and racing 40-yards for the score. The PAT made it 28-0 with 4:25 left in the half.

The Patriots returned the ensuing kick to the 29, but were hit with an illegal block call, moving the ball back to the 14. Two plays later Palestine fumbled with Prescott recovering at the 12. Yates went airborne to Dwayne White for Prescott’s fifth touchdown of the game. The extra point sealed Palestine’s fate as the score was 35-0.

The mercy rule began after the touchdown though roughly four minutes was left in the half.

Prescott got the ball to start the second half, with an entirely new offense taking the field. The kick went out of bounds, giving Prescott the ball on its 35. Two plays later, Prescott scored. The PAT made it 42-0. This ended scoring as neither team was able to keep a drive going for the remainder of the game.

Prescott will be at home Friday night, hosting the winner of the Fordyce-Gurdon game. The Wolves faced both of these teams earlier in the year, beating each. Whoever Prescott faces will be looking for some revenge.