Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils Slay Dragons; Take on Lions Friday

One play literally ended Friday night's game between Gurdon and Junction City, and ruined the Dragons' homecoming.

The play came on the first snap from scrimmage.

It proved to be the start of a long night for the Dragons, as the Go-Devils extinguished any hopes the Junction City team had for post season play with a 27-0 whipping. The game wasn't as close as the final score would indicate.

The game began innocently enough as Gurdon won the toss and elected to receive. Wesley Buford took the kick at the 20 and moved it to the 38 where his team took over.

Quarterback Brian McGalliard stepped under center, looked over the defense and called the signal. At the snap, the field general handed off to D.D. Sheppard, who burst through the line and never looked back as he sprinted to a 62 yard touchdown. With 11:22 to go in the first quarter, Gurdon led 6-0. Joshua Thomas split the uprights on the point after attempt to make it 7-0 before the Dragons touched the pigskin.

Junction City proved it could move the ball against the Devils as it did on the ensuing drive. Jewel Easter fielded the kickoff at the 12 and carried it to the 26 where the offense began.

Before the first snap, flags flew and Gurdon was nailed for being offside. Two plays later, Junction City returned the favor by going in motion too early. The Dragons moved the ball to their 43 before a second motion call ended their drive.

The punt on fourth and seven was a low, line drive which rolled to Gurdon's 34.

Nick Hughes opened the second assault with a six-yard carry up the middle. Sheppard added five more on second down to give the Devils a first and 10 at the 45. McGalliard handed off to Sheppard again, who burst through the middle a second time and scampered 55 yards for what appeared to be Gurdon's second touchdown of the night. However, one of the officials dropped his little yellow hankie and the Devils were whacked with a holding call.

Instead of having a 13-0 lead, the Devils were faced with a first and 15 at their 40. The penalty was marked from the point of the foul. Hughes plowed his way to the 45 on the next play and Sheppard carried to the Dragon 48 and was nailed after being knocked out of bounds. This brought more laundry and 15 more yards for the Devil offense.

From there, it didn't take Gurdon long to post its second score. McGalliard and Mario Charles collided in the backfield on the handoff, but Charles managed to regain his balance and bull his way to the nine. Sheppard finished off the drive with his second touchdown of the evening.

Again, Thomas' boot was dead on and Gurdon led 14-0.

Thomas Meadows gave his team decent field position at the 27 on the kick, but the Dragons couldn't stand prosperity and were immediately flagged for motion. Jerry Stegall went to the air, connecting with Meadows at the 35. His next pass to Meadows was only good for a yard as the Devils smelled out the screen.

But the Dragons were on the move, as the Junction City offense looked like it might score, marching steadily toward Gurdon's goal line. But, after arriving at the Devil 13, the laundryman returned. A motion call sent the Dragons back five to the 18. Bill Graves managed to get the ball to the 14 as the first period ended.

Gurdon's defense woke up at the start of the second quarter, and Thomas hammered Meadows for a five yard loss. Chris Brown knocked down Stegall's fourthdown pass to give the Devils possession of the pigskin at their own 19.

Two plays later, the Devils were up 20-0. Sheppard, on first down, carried the Dragon defense to Junction City's 23. The home squad was then whacked with a five-yard offside penalty, putting the ball on the 18. McGalliard went to the air, finding Buford for the score. Thomas put the finishing touch on the drive with the PAT.

The Dragons ran seven plays, moving from their 25 to the 47 before coughing the ball up on a fumble, which Gurdon recovered at the Junction City 27.

Not that it mattered, because the Devils were unable to capitalize on the gift. Hughes moved the ball to the 15 on the first play, but the Devils were tagged for holding and began moving the wrong direction. McGalliard went to the air, completing two of four passes, but not for the necessary yardage.

Getting the ball back on downs, the Dragons went three and out, punting another line drive to Gurdon's 46.

But the dreaded laundryman returned, flagging Gurdon for a personal foul and loss of 15 to their 31. Taking over with a first and 25, the Devils attempted to jumpstart their offense. However, one of the zebras floated his hankie to the ground with a holding call against the visitors. This made it first and 35 at the 26.

A reverse to Charles netted one and the second down pass fell harmlessly to the turf. On third and 34, McGalliard found Travon Crow, who moved the ball to the Junction City 40 and a first down. The Devils moved to the Junction City 18, but ran out of time before posting another score.