Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils fall short at Mineral Springs

Gurdon's Go-Devils traveled to Mineral Springs Friday night to face the Hornets in their conference opener.

The Devils would ultimately fall 32-6 to the Hornets, but only after a hard-fought battle seeing three Gurdon players injured.

The contest started with Mineral Springs winning the opening toss and electing to receive the ball.

Eddie Fort kicked off to Robert Forbes returning it for an eight-yard return.

Mineral Springs' first drive only lasted for six plays ending with a punt by Jeremy Green to Walter Hart of Gurdon.

Gurdon's first offensive series went for eight plays gaining 11 yards, but ending with a fumbled punt snap to Brandon Sanders which resulted in a low punt bouncing off a Hornet to land in pile of players with the Devils getting possession.

The next series for Gurdon was stunted by penalties; three procedure calls for a lose of 15 yards. The drive ended with Brandon Sanders punting 24 yards to Forbes.

The Hornets went 49 yards in five plays ending with touchdown and missed extra point attempt to make the score 6-0 Mineral Springs with 1:46 left in the first quarter.

The Hornets kicked off to K.P. Meeks who returned the ball 70 yards, all the way to the Mineral Springs 11.

The Devils could only advance to the six-yard line in four plays and turned the ball over on downs to the Hornets.

This ended the first quarter with a score of Gurdon 0, Mineral Springs 6.

Mineral Springs only had the ball for three downs before fumbling, with Jake Plyler of Gurdon recovering the ball.

Gurdon would start its drive on the Hornet 10, and take four plays for Plyler, on a quarterback keeper, to score.

The extra point attempt was no good and with 9:12 left in the half the score was tied at 6-6.

Fort kicked off 45 yards to Chad Goss of Mineral Springs who found the gap and returned 60 yards being stopped by Cevin Laster of Gurdon.

The Hornets started their drive on the Devil 25, and used six plays to drive into the endzone for six points. With the extra point being good, Mineral Springs led 13-6.

The Go-Devils would receive the kickoff on their own 12 by Davion Williams, who returned it to the 27.

Gurdon could only advance the ball three yards in three downs ending with a 35-yard punt by Brandon Sanders.

Mineral Springs started at their own 35, and used eight plays to drive the field ending with a touchdown. After the good extra point attempt, the Hornets led 20-6.

With 1:19 left in the first half, Gurdon would start another series at their own 29 yard line.

The Devils drove 16 yards in four plays, but the half ended with a score of 20-6.

Gurdon started the second half by receiving the ball at its18, with a 12 yard return by Hart.

Gurdon had a 13-play drive driving to the Hornet 33, but there Sergio McClenton intercepted a Gurdon pass to give the Hornets possession of the ball at its 18.

From there, the Hornets took eight plays to drive the length of the field to score six more point.

After a missed two point conversion, the Hornets would lead 26-6 with 1:28 left in the third quarter.

Hart received the kickoff from the Hornets at his own 24, then returned to the 34.

Gurdon would only get three plays before the third quarter ended.

Gurdon started the fourth quarter with the ball at its 45, and four plays later Brandon Sanders punted from the same spot for 31 yards.

The Hornets started their drive with a facemask penalty and were backed up to their own 14-yard line.

On the next play, Laster of Gurdon would leave the game injured.

Seven plays later, Mineral Spring would strike the endzone again for another six points.

Gurdon blocked the extra point attempt; and with 5:51 left in the game, the score was 32-6 in favor of the Hornets.

Tirrell Hatley of Gurdon received the kickoff at the Gurdon 10 and returned it to the 35-yard line.

A short four down series ended with a 21-yard punt by Sanders to Cortez Swopes at the Hornet 37.

After three play, Mineral Springs was hit with at 15-yard clipping penalty. Also on the same play, Uthel Gatlin left the game via ambulance with an injury. Mineral Springs then ended the game by letting the clock run out; with the final score of 32-6.

Individual statistics for Gurdon are as follows: a total of 54 offensive plays for 104 yards. The Devils had four pass plays for 10 yards, and 50 run plays for 94 yards.

Gurdon also had two fumbles, one interception, and one touchdown.

Hart rushed 39 yards in 16 attempts, Meeks rushed 26 yards in nine attempts, Laster rushed 25 yards in eight attempts, Plyler rushed seven yards in five attempts, and Gatlin rushed seven yards in three plays.

Tackles for Gurdon, Laster and Fort led with five each, Gatlin, Williams, and Sanders all with three tackles, Kelvin McPeak, Marcell Johnson, Josh Uchtman, Jake Plyler, J.J. Plyler, Hatley all with two tackles, John Watson and Hart both with one tackle.

Mineral Springs had 51 offensive plays for 393 total offensive yards. The Hornets had seven pass plays for 98 yards and 44 run plays for 295 yards. They also had one fumble, no interceptions, and five touchdowns.

The Devils will face the Deirks Outlaws this Friday night with kickoff at 7:30 at Go-Devil Stadium.