Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves end Gurdon's steak with 34-8 win

Gurdon's domination of Prescott came to an end Friday night as the Wolves posted a 34-8 win at Go-Devil Stadium.

The Devils had won the last four meetings, but had to finally surrender the Picayune-Times Pigskin Classic Traveling Trophy.

From the outset, it was a hard-fought, hard-hitting game by both squads. However, Gurdon had no answer for Prescott's speed, and in the end, it proved to be more than the Devils could overcome.

The game opened on a perfect fall evening, surprisingly cool for early September. Gurdon won the toss, but deferred until the second half.

A.J. Lewis fielded the kick at the 17, returning it to the 34 where Prescott set up shop. Before fans could get comfortable in their seats, though, the Wolves struck for six.

On the first offensive play Zach Martin found Lewis behind the Gurdon defense, hit him in the hands and it was off to the races. A race Lewis easily won. With a scant 31 seconds off the clock, Prescott was up 6-0.

The point after was good, made by exchange student Urfan Taghizada, affectionately known as "Fufa" by his teammates.

Gurdon returned the ensuing kick to its 33, ran three plays and punted to the Wolf 35.

Prescott drove to the Devil 24 before the offense stalled and turned the ball over on downs with 8:03 showing.

This, though, was only a minor setback as Prescott would put two more touchdowns on the board before the opening frame ended.

The Devils managed to make it to the 30 before having to punt again.

R.J. Vanhook fielded the punt at the Prescott 48, and gave the Wolves excellent field position at the Gurdon 40.

However, Prescott's offense was again stymied by Gurdon's defense and the Wolves were forced to punt. Gurdon showed a ferocious pass rush throughout the game, forcing Martin to hurry his passes at times.

Gurdon took over at its 29, ran three plays and punted to Vanhook at the Wolf 45. He returned the boot to the Devil 43, only to see the run nullified by a clipping call against his team. This put the ball back on the Prescott 46.

For the second time, Martin hit Lewis, this time on a middle screen, with Lewis finding a gap and racing 54 yards to the promised land to make it 13-0 with 3:35 showing. Fufa's PAT made it 14-0.

An illegal motion call moved Prescott back to the 35 for the kickoff. It didn't matter, though, as Gurdon, after taking over at its 36, was unable to move the pigskin.

In fact, on the first play, Jamelle Lacy fumbled, with Prescott falling on the loose ball at the Devil 44.

Martin found Ray Smith behind the secondary. Smith made a juggling catch and scored the third touchdown of the quarter with 3:08 showing. Fufa made it 21-0 with his kick.

The kick was returned to the Gurdon 33, but a personal foul call against Prescott moved it 15 yards further downfield to the 48.

Barry Nolan kept the ball to the Prescott 42, then handed off to Lacy, who made it to the 40 for Gurdon's initial first down.

Nolan then found an open Davion Williams, who fought to the Prescott 22. Lacy lost three on the next play, with Nolan missing connection with Calvin Nolan. This set up a third and long situation for the Devils.

However, Hunter Johnson found a seam and battled to the Prescott 13 as time expired in the opening period.

It took the Devils three more plays to score at the 10:43 point, with Marcel Johnson going in from eight yards out.

The snap was bobbled on the point after attempt. Nolan picked up the errant pigskin and rambled into the end zone for a two-point conversion. This made it 21-8.

Neither team would score for the remainder of the half as penalties and mistakes kept both squads from mounting a consistent offensive attack. Of course, the mistakes were aided by the defensive units.

Gurdon took the kick to start the third quarter, with Kenneth Harper fielding the ball at the 23. He rambled to the 35 where the Devils began.

On three plays, Gurdon managed to gain a yard, before being forced to punt. The kick was short, and Prescott took over on the Gurdon 47.

The Wolves moved to the Devil 22 before the drive stalled. On fourth down, Martin hit Lewis, who made it to the 18, short of a first down.

This gave Gurdon the ball on downs, and the potential for new life. The Devils appeared to be taking advantage of the gift as the squad marched to the Prescott 32 before Nolan was picked off by Vanhook.

Vanhook made the interception at the Prescott 35, returning it to the Gurdon 36 before being brought down, thereby ending the Devil's threat.

Two incompletions and a fumble made sure the Wolves wouldn't put any points on the board during the ensuing drive, as Prescott turned the ball over on downs with 3:25 left in the third.