Stroud’s Three Interceptions Lead Fordyce Past Prescott
Fordyce 48, Prescott 7
PRESCOTT — Jamartez Stroud returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass and caught another as Fordyce defeated Prescott 48–7. The Redbugs overcame a 7–6 first-quarter deficit by scoring the game’s final 42 points.
Fordyce intercepted five passes, with Ikeyston Thomas and Micah Gamble joining Stroud in producing takeaways. Gamble also scored two rushing touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass. Fordyce led 20–7 at halftime before adding 22 points in the third quarter.
Fordyce alternated Stroud in the shotgun and Landon Fawcett under center, using Gamble on outside tosses and Latreon Cones between the tackles. The rotation allowed Stroud to contribute as a passer and a receiver.
Stroud opened the scoring by intercepting a pass over the middle on Prescott’s first possession and returning it for a touchdown. The Curley Wolves answered through special teams: Brian Woodley blocked a punt, and Ja’Ryan Zachary recovered near the Fordyce 10-yard line. Tiden McKillion scored on the next snap, taking a handoff to the right and breaking a tackle. Rhett Cornish’s extra point gave Prescott a 7–6 lead.
Prescott created another opportunity when Zachary forced a fumble that Owen Glass recovered. Stroud then intercepted a fourth-down pass and returned it into Prescott territory. Gamble finished the ensuing possession with a short touchdown run in the second quarter. Woodley batted down the conversion pass, keeping Fordyce’s lead at 12–7.
McKillion and quarterback Desmond Prater moved Prescott inside the Fordyce 25 on the next possession, but a high snap pushed the Curley Wolves into third-and-long. Cornish’s punt pinned Fordyce at its 7. Three plays later, Gamble broke through the right side for a long touchdown run. Fawcett passed to Chase Humphrey for the two-point conversion, making it 20–7 with 5:05 left in the half.
Both defenses produced stops before halftime. Prescott’s Treyvion Evans hit Gamble behind the line and forced a fumble that Fordyce recovered before punting. Fordyce’s Vance Hornaday later tackled McKillion for a loss on third down, forcing another Prescott punt.
Fordyce’s first possession after halftime ended with Stroud throwing a touchdown pass on third-and-long, extending the lead to 26–7. Thomas intercepted Prescott’s next possession. On the ensuing drive, Gamble took the ball toward the left edge, stopped and threw to an open Stroud for a touchdown. Gamble’s conversion run made it 34–7 with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter.
Stroud struck again on Prescott’s next series, intercepting a shovel pass and returning it for his second defensive touchdown. Gamble added the two-point run for a 42–7 advantage with 5:29 left in the quarter. Gamble then intercepted a pass on Prescott’s following possession, giving Fordyce takeaways on three consecutive series.
Thomas picked up first downs on the final scoring drive, and Cones carried inside the 5. Fawcett finished with a 1-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter. Prescott blocked the extra point. The Curley Wolves’ last possession included a Bryce Block run that moved the chains at Fordyce’s 35, but the Redbugs kept them out of the end zone.
Scoring Summary
First quarter
- Fordyce: Jamartez Stroud interception return for a touchdown; two-point run failed. Fordyce 6–0.
- Prescott: Tiden McKillion rushing touchdown; Rhett Cornish kick. Prescott 7–6.
Second quarter
- Fordyce: Micah Gamble rushing touchdown; two-point pass failed. Fordyce 12–7.
- Fordyce: Gamble rushing touchdown; Chase Humphrey caught the two-point pass from Landon Fawcett. Fordyce 20–7.
Third quarter
- Fordyce: Touchdown pass by Stroud; two-point run failed. Fordyce 26–7.
- Fordyce: Stroud touchdown catch from Gamble; Gamble two-point run. Fordyce 34–7.
- Fordyce: Stroud interception return for a touchdown; Gamble two-point run. Fordyce 42–7.
Fourth quarter
- Fordyce: Fawcett 1-yard touchdown run; extra-point kick blocked. Fordyce 48–7.
Players Who Stood Out
- Jamartez Stroud, Fordyce: Three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns; one touchdown pass and one touchdown reception. His other interception set up Gamble’s go-ahead score.
- Micah Gamble, Fordyce: Two rushing touchdowns, a touchdown pass to Stroud, two successful two-point runs and a third-quarter interception.
- Ikeyston Thomas, Fordyce: Intercepted a third-quarter pass to set up the Gamble-to-Stroud touchdown and added first-down runs on Fordyce’s final scoring drive.
- Brian Woodley, Prescott: Blocked the punt that set up Prescott’s touchdown, batted down a two-point pass and stopped Cones at the line during Fordyce’s first offensive scoring drive.
- Tiden McKillion, Prescott: Scored Prescott’s touchdown on the first play after the blocked punt and supplied consecutive carries that moved the chains during the second-quarter drive inside Fordyce’s 25.