Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils drop second straight, fall 31-20 to Outlaws

For the second straight week, the Go-Devil pass defense and special teams made costly mistakes the offense could not overcome against Dierks.

Dierks won the game 31-20. The Dierks Outlaws (7-1, 5-1) took a big step toward a second place finish in the conference, while Gurdon (6-2, 4-2) took one step back to what will likely be a third place finish in the conference.

Dierks received the opening kickoff and advanced the ball to their 34.

After a short gain on the first play, quarterback Ben Mclaughlin scrambled to the right side and picked up 15 yards into Gurdon territory.

McLaughlin completed three out of four passes in the opening series, including a nine yard touchdown pass that ended the drive.

Kyle Jones added the extra point, and Dierks led 7-0 early in the first quarter.

Gurdon gave a gift to the Outlaws on its first possession. Gurdon Head Coach John Pace elected to go for a fourth and seven from the Devil's 32. Gurdon went to the shotgun, and the snap sailed over the head of the Gurdon quarterback, Jake Plyler. Gurdon recovered the fumble at the 11, but the turnover on downs gave the football back to Dierks.

Gurdon kept the Outlaws out of the end zone, but Jones kicked a 23-yard field goal to put Dierks on top 10-0 late in the first quarter.

The Gurdon offense could not pick up a first down on its second possession. Pace punted the ball on fourth down, and the it was downed inside the Dierks 40.

Having no success running the ball against the Devil defense, the Outlaws started throwing again.

McLaughlin completed three more passes on the second series. On third and goal from the Gurdon 12, McLaughlin threw another touchdown pass with a lob to the back right corner of the end zone.

Jones' extra point attempt was good and the Outlaws took a 17-0 lead.

On first down from the Gurdon 40, Plyler threw a pass under pressure down the right sideline. Heath Griffin made a diving catch at the Dierks 36, and the Gurdon offense looked as if it was going to come to life. A penalty on the next play dampened the mood, and a fumble after a completed pass that was recovered by the Outlaws near midfield drenched it.

The Devil defense forced a punt on the next possession which rolled to the Gurdon 35.

On the first play of the drive, the Devils marched backwards 10 yards for holding, and on the second play Plyler threw an interception at the Gurdon 46 which was returned 15 yards.

McLaughlin would scorch the Devils for another 24 yards with three more completions before he took the snap and ducked behind his center for a three-yard touchdown run.

With just over one minute remaining in the first half, the Devils found themselves in a 24-0 hole.

A different Gurdon team took the field in the second half.

Gurdon received the kickoff and marched 60 yards in just seven plays.

The drive was capped off with a 14 yard touchdown run by K.P. Meeks.

With 7:45 remaining in the third quarter, Cevin Laster made a diving catch for an interception at the Dierks 44.

What followed was a clinic on how to run the football. Gurdon ran 13 consecutive running plays over the next seven and a half minutes, rushing for 44 yards. Meeks ended the drive with his second touchdown of the night.

The Outlaws were forced to punt with just over nine minutes remaining in the game.

For the second straight week, Gurdon fumbled a punt return in a crucial part of the game. The Outlaws recovered the fumble at the Gurdon 30.

With the game still in question and Dierks reeling from 12 unanswered points by the Go-Devils, the Outlaws called on their sophomore gunslinger to put the game away.

On fourth and five McLaughlin threw a high lob to Mason Greene for a 24 yard touchdown pass.

The extra point was no good, but the Outlaws had put the game away by expanding the lead to 31-12 with eight minutes remaining in the game.

The Go-Devils did manage to score one more touchdown before time expired. Meeks found the end zone on a six yard run for his third touchdown of the night.

Despite the loss, there was one bright spot. K.P. Meeks rushed for more than 100 yards in the second half alone while the Gurdon offense tallied 183 total yards during that period.

Unfortunately, the Devils only gained a total of 67 yards in the first half.

Gurdon hurt themselves with penalties. The Devils were penalized seven times for 43 yards in the game, while the Outlaws had only one penalty for five yards.

Then, of course, there were the turnovers. Gurdon turned the ball over four times in the game. The Outlaws scored 16 points after the Gurdon miscues. Gurdon lost by 11.

Third place looks to be the spot the Go-Devils will settle in when playoff time comes around.

Gurdon would have much rather been in second place. The third place finisher does not host a playoff game.

Gurdon will more than likely be traveling when the playoff season hits.

Gurdon travels to Foreman this Friday.