Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils handle hapless Stamps, 41-6, head to Mt. Ida for playoffs Friday

Both the Gurdon offense and defense dominated the Stamps Yellowjackets Friday night in a 41-6 win.

The Devils (8-2, 6-2) racked up nearly 300 yards rushing while holding the Yellowjackets to less than 140 yards total offense.

Gurdon started the scoring on its second drive. After forcing a fumble and recovering at the Stamps 38, Gurdon would march from that point into the end zone in a five minute drive that would take 13 plays to complete.

Cevin Laster and K.P. Meeks swapped carries until quarterback Jake Plyler ran to his right side until he found a seam for a five-yard touchdown run. Barry Nolan added the extra point and Gurdon led 7-0 late in the first quarter.

Gurdon would not have to wait much longer for its next score. On the first play of the second quarter, Laster found room to the outside and sprinted down the left sideline for a 43-yard touchdown run. The two point conversion attempt failed, but Gurdon led 13-0.

Gurdon forced a punt on Stamps' next possession, but like the Devils have done in the previous three games, fumbled. Stamps recovered inside Gurdon territory.

Unlike Gurdon has done in the previous three games, the defense held the Yellowjackets to no points after the turnover.

With Stamps knocking at the door at the Gurdon 25, the Devil defense came up with another turnover.

Marcus Madison of Stamps had the ball stripped loose which was recovered by the Devils.

After a 22-yard pass from Plyler to senior wideout Heath Griffin and another heavy dose of Laster, the Devil's moved inside the Stamps 20.

John Watson scored from the Stamps 15. Plyler crossed the end zone for the two point conversion and the Go-Devils would take a 21-0 lead at halftime.

After forcing Gurdon to punt on its first possession, the Yellowjackets moved to the Gurdon 40 with a first down.

On the next series of downs, Meeks made two crushing hits on the ball carrier to halt the drive and force the turnover on downs. Gurdon took over at its 32.

Gurdon drove to the Stamps 20. Gurdon ran a reverse to Davion Williams who took it the distance for another score. Barry Nolan's extra point extended the Gurdon lead 28-0.

On Stamps' first offensive play after the ensuing kickoff, Madison fumbled again and the Devil defense recovered inside the Stamps 30.

With just under two minutes left in the third quarter, Barry Nolan found the end zone from the three yard line. Nolan's extra point try was perfect and Gurdon's 35 point lead forced the mercy rule.

Gurdon forced a punt and started its next drive from the Devil 35. After one running play from Laster, the Devils moved past midfield to the Stamps 37.

Sophomore Jamelle Lacy followed that run with a 20-yard rush to the 17. The facemask penalty against Stamps tacked on another eight yards to the nine yard line of Stamps.

With third and goal from the five, Plyler found Williams on a slant route for another Devil touchdown. The extra point was blocked. Gurdon led 41-0.

Stamps finally got on the scoreboard with just under one minute left in the game with a 38-yard touchdown run from Madison.

That touchdown came with mostly second and third stringers on defense for Gurdon.

Although Gurdon did not shut Stamps out, this may be the most impressive defensive game the Devils have played all year. Head Coach John Pace was very pleased with the play of his linebackers.

"[K.P. Meeks and John Watson] probably played their best game of the yearIf there is a time to play, this is it."

The secondary was impressive against Stamps as well. Gurdon had allowed numerous big plays through the passing game throughout the year, but was rock solid Friday night. Stamps completed two of eight passes for only 38 yards.

On the other side of the coin, Gurdon threw the football with precision. Plyler completed four of five passes for 56 yards. He also threw the touchdown pass to Williams.

"When we do throw we want to be accurate and we want to catch the ball," Pace said. "We want to throw a bit, make [other teams] look at it."

Mount Ida will be looking at it. Gurdon travels to Mount Ida for the first round of the playoffs this Friday. Mount Ida is 9-1 on the year and finished second only to Jessieville in the 5AA conference.

"The real season starts Friday," Pace told his team referring to the playoffs. "We're tired of getting beat in the first round of the playoffs."

Barry Grooms of Hooten's Arkansas Football Magazine said, "Mount Ida is playing as well as Jessieville right now, and Gurdon seems to have bounced back after two blowouts."

Grooms considered this game to be one of the premier first round match-ups in the AA bracket.

The winner of Gurdon and Mount Ida would likely face Marked Tree in the second round.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.