Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils Stamp Out Redbug Invasion, 15-13

It could easily be said Christmas came early for the Gurdon Go-Devils as the team broke a 13-year drought Friday night against the Redbugs of Fordyce.

When all was said and done, the fans streamed onto Gus Brown Field in celebration of the 15-13 victory, which gives the Devils a perfect 4-0 record on the season, and a 1-0 mark in 7-AA league play.

In the first quarter, it appeared as though Gurdon would run away with the win, as the Go-Devils put 12 points on the board in the initial 12 minutes.

For the first time this season, the Devils won the toss and received the opening kick, which was done twice because a Fordyce player was offside. The second attempt was squibbed to Nick Hughes, who fell on the pigskin at the 36.

But, it was three and out for the home team in its first series.

Fordyce's Ronald Coleman fielded the punt at the 30 and took it to the 47, where the Bugs began. Quarterback Steve Morgan gained seven yards on a keeper, setting Fordyce up at the Gurdon 46. However, on second and three, the Bugs were stung with a motion penalty, which moved them back five yards. Morgan, on second and eight, dropped back to pass, spotted a receiver open on the wing and overthrew his man.

However, Gurdon's Wesley Buford kept his eye on the errant pass, caught it after it was tipped and rambled to the Fordyce 38, where the Devils offense took over.

Six plays later, Mario Charles sprinted in from the eight on a reverse to give the home team a 6-0 lead with 4:42 left in the first. The point after attempt was wide right.

Joshua Thomas booted the ball into play on the ensuing kick, but the receivers for Fordyce fell asleep and never touched it. The ball is live on kickoffs after traveling 10 yards, and the Devils recovered the freebie at the four.

Two plays later, D.D. Sheppard bulled his way in from three yards out to give the Devils a 12-0 lead. However, on the two point conversion, Sheppard was stopped just short of the goal line.

Thomas' kick this time sailed out of bounds, giving Fordyce the ball at its own 35.

The Bugs marched to Gurdon's 45 before penalties forced them to punt the ball back to the Devils.

Buford fielded the punt at the 15 and took it to the 30 where Gurdon's offense managed only five plays before having to return the favor.

Defensive football abounded as Fordyce was unable to sustain any type of attack against the Devil front line. However, Gurdon's offense fared no better.

After swapping punts, Gurdon's offense shot itself in the foot with a holding call, which eventually led to yet another punt. But the snap from center sailed over the punter's head and rolled to the Devil 14, where he recovered it.

The Bugs took over on downs and only needed four plays to hit pay dirt, as Dra Hall scored on a reverse which kept the Devil defense stunned all night. The initial try for point after split the upright, but was called back after a piece of laundry sailed to the ground from an official. It seems the Bugs put too much bite on a Gurdon player and were flagged for holding. Before the PAT could be tried again, the Fordyce coach was hit with a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. This moved the ball back 15 more yards, and the PAT was from 27 yards out.

The Bugs assumed the Devils would be fooled by a fake kick, but the pass from holder Jason Richart was picked of by Buford with 1:34 left in the half.

Antonio Gatlin fell on the ball at the Gurdon 33 on the ensuing kick. Gurdon'soffense again was unable to move the pigskin 10 yards and punted to the Bugs.

Fordyce ended the half with Hall gaining six yards.

The Bugs came out fired up to begin the third quarter, while the Gurdon defense was somewhat flat.

Cody Shankles fielded the kick at his 26 and moved it to the 38, where Fordyce began a time consuming drive which resulted in the Bugs' second touchdown and the lead. Gurdon helped Fordyce on its march with a facemask penalty on a third down play in which Morgan was sacked for a 24-yard loss.

Instead of Gurdon getting the ball back on a punt, Fordyce had a first down at the Devils' 27. But the Gurdon defense was unwilling to give up the score without a fight, and battled the Bugs tooth and nail on the 14-play drive, which culminated with Morgan taking the snap and going in behind center on a quarterback sneak. The PAT was good and Fordyce led 13-12 after a drive which consumed 6:37.

The Bugs attempted an onside kick, which Paul McMillan recovered for Gurdon at the Devil 47.

But the Devils' offense was unable to move and punted after Brian McGalliard's pass was behind Buford. The punt sailed to the 11 with no return with 2:16 in the period.

It appeared as though the Bugs were on the march for more blood as the offense steadily marched toward what appeared to be the Gurdon jugular vein, and overcame a delay of game penalty in the process.

Fordyce kept the ball for the last 2:16 of the third and almost two minutes of the final period before a solid hit removed the pigskin from Shankles with Gurdon recovering at the Fordyce 38.

Immediately following the fumble, the Bugs were bitten by an offside call, which gave the Devils better field position at the 33. Sheppard, who had been stuffed all night, finally broke loose on a sweep to the 12. Hughes bulled to the nine on first down, and a screen to Charles got the ball to the seven on third down, after Sheppard was stopped for no gain on second.

Gurdon Coach John Pace called a time out with 7:59 left in the contest. Meeting with his squad, Pace discussed their options, reassured the players and sent in the field goal team, in spite of the fact the Devils haven't even attempted a field goal all season.

Thomas set up seven yards behind center. McGalliard took the snap. Thomas drove through the ball and sent it sailing between the uprights, giving Gurdon a 15-13 lead at the 7:55 mark.

Thomas was so pumped after the field goal, his kickoff flew nine yards deep in the end zone.

But the game was far from over. Fordyce's offense had proven to itself and the fans it could move on Gurdon's killer `D'. The Bugs capitalized on the fact Gurdon's defense had done little to stop a reverse to Hall all night, and began the trek downfield.

The first two plays netted 17 yards. The third play saw Hall put the ball on the ground, but the Bugs swarmed on it for no gain. Richart gained 13 on a tight end reverse which put the ball at midfield.

Two plays later, the Bugs were swatted with a holding call, which sent Fordyce back to its own territory at the 43 and effectively ended the drive, forcing a punt.

However, it was three and out, with a five yard penalty for delay, for the Gurdon offense, which gave the Bugs one last chance starting at the