Wolves open season with 56-20 win

BISMARCK – While the mercy rule wound up being in effect, it really didn’t matter.

This is because Prescott didn’t manage to get 35 points ahead until late in the fourth quarter. The Wolves, though, opened the 2023 grid season with a 56-20 win over the Lions.

Being the first game of the season, there were plenty of mistakes by both teams. Prescott turned the ball over twice, each time deep in Bismarck territory costing potential touchdowns. The real problem, though, was the number of major penalties Prescott had in the game – 10.

The game opened with Bismarck winning the toss and deferring until the second half. Jaylen Johnson returned the kick to the 40 where Prescott set up shop. The Wolves drove to the Lion 18 only to see Ja’Noah Harris cough up the ball with Bismarck recovering at the 10.

The Lions ran 10 plays, getting to the Wolf 44 before turning it over on downs. However, Bismarck discovered a weakness in the center of Prescott’s defensive line and had luck running up the middle throughout the game.

Prescott wasted no time in getting on the board first once it took over on offense again. The Wolves needed five plays with K.J. Page breaking free on a 31-yard run with 4:22 left in the first. The point after was good, making it 7-0.

Bismarck returned the ball to the 34 and drove 66 yards in five plays, scoring on a 32-yard run by the Lion’s quarterback with 2:43 showing. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Tiquan Box returned the squib kickoff to the 35. Prescott scored three plays later when Harris broke for a 44-yard run. The PAT made it 14-7 with 1:08.

The Lions took over at the Bismarck 37 and ran two plays, getting to the 43 as time expired in the first. Prescott’s defense stiffened, forcing a punt on the second play of the second quarter. The punt rolled to the Wolves’ five, but it didn’t matter as Prescott was hit with a roughing the kicker call, giving the Lions a first down on the Prescott 42. Bismarck was forced to punt three plays later anyway with the ball being downed at the 19.

Prescott ran 11 plays getting to the Lions’ 11 before Pierce Yates was picked off with the ball returned to the Lion 46.

Bismarck opened a gaping hole in the Prescott defense and scored on a 54-yard run with 6:29 left in the half. The PAT made it 14-14. An unsportsmanlike call against the Wolves allowed the Lions to kick from the Prescott 45 with the ball going into the end zone.

The teams traded punts as the clocked ticked closer to halftime. Prescott had returned a punt to its 41 with 34 seconds left. Yates hit Spencer Hubbard, who made it to the Lion 34. Prescott caught a break as Bismarck was flagged for pass interference putting the ball at the 19. Yates found Johnson in the back of the end zone with three seconds left for the score. The PAT made it 21-14 at the half.

Bismarck returned the opening kick of the second half to the 34 and drove to Prescott’s 10 where the Lions attempted a 25-yard field goal. The attempt was blocked with Prescott taking over with 6:16 left in the frame.

Five plays later, Yates connected with Dwayne White for six on a 39-yard pass play. The PAT doubled Prescott’s lead at 28-14 with 4:24 showing.

Bismarck set up shop at its 37 but ended up turning the ball over on downs four plays later, giving Prescott excellent field position at the Lion 44.

Yates scored on the third play, going in from the two. The PAT made it 35-14 with 2:05 to go.

Starting at its 36, the Lions went nowhere and had to punt, with the Wolves taking over at the Prescott 31.

Page found a hole in the Lion defense and raced 69-yards for the score. Prescott was hit with another unsportsmanlike call, which was assessed on the kickoff. The PAT made it 42-14 at the end of the third.

Bismarck returned the kick to the Prescott 40 and scored in six plays. The touchdown came on a one-yard quarterback sneak with 10:13 left in the game. A bad snap cost the Lions an extra point which left the score, 42-20.

The Wolves put two more touchdowns on the board, the final once coming with 3:44 left in the game to invoke the mercy rule.

The kick was returned to the 37, but Bismarck opted not to run another play as time expired.

The Wolves will be on the road again next week as Prescott travels to McAlister, OK for a date with the Buffaloes.