Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon falls 28-0 to Charleston, looks to rebound at Spring Hill

Gurdon came into Friday's game expecting the worst facing number one ranked Charleston minus two injured Go-Devils.

The weather and the overwhelming number of penalties did not help them any, as Gurdon fell 28-0 to the Tigers.

Gurdon started the game kicking to the Tigers who recovered the short kick at the Charleston 44-yard line. They started the drive with rushing plays by runners Drew Hill and Blake Bates for a first down. An offsides call against Gurdon helped them move further down the field. Then quarterback Matt Stewart hit Steven Brown for a 36-yard touchdown pass to give Gurdon an early knockout blow. The extra point was good and early in the game it was 7-0.

The Devils started their drive after a return to the 26 by Jamelle Lacy.

Calvin Nolan took over at quarterback early in the game for the injured Barry Nolan. The Devils would rely on their rushing for most of the game. After an offsides call on Charleston, Lacy started the drive with a four yard gain. Fullback Hunter Johnson added two yards for a first down. After a few stuffed runs and another off sides penalty against the Tigers it was third and six.

The Devils lined up receiver Davion Williams in the shotgun formation. Williams took the snap and ran for a first down. The next play Nolan fumbled the ball and recovered for negative yards. Then too many men were on the field and Gurdon got another penalty. Gurdon tried to run some more trickery with a reverse to Kentrell Green who attempted a pass to Williams, but came up incomplete.

On a fourth and 18 situation it looked as though the Devils would punt. However, they faked the punt and Williams ran the ball down to the Tigers 34 for the first down.

A few short runs and an illegal blocking call against Gurdon put the Devils fourth and 11. Gurdon went for it, but failed with an incomplete pass.

The Tigers could not get their offense going either after a few short runs and an incomplete pass. They punted the ball and downed it at the Devils 20.

A short loss on a run ended the first quarter. Hunter Johnson plowed his way to a first down on the next play. Gurdon would have to start the new set of downs with first and 15 because they had too many men on the field again. A few short runs and a delay of game penalty would cause Gurdon to punt.

Hunter Johnson punted the ball down to the Tigers 37. A couple of runs by Hill and Bates added up to a Tiger's first down. Defensive lineman Michael Testa broke through into the Tigers backfield to sack Stewart on the next play. The Devil's defense did not hold up on the next play though. The speedy fullback Bates broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run. His celebrating caused Charleston to back up 15 yards for their extra point attempt. The kick veered off and it was no good, which left the Tigers with a 13-0 lead.

Two flags against kicker Eduardo Carmona for kicking out of bounds made the Tigers kick from their 30 and Williams made a nice return to the Devil's 47 yard-line.

A six-yard gain by Marcel Johnson and a four-yard gain by Hunter Johnson gave Gurdon a first down. The Go-Devils picked up a few yards on the next two plays, but then turned the ball over on a fumble.

Two first down runs by Bates and Hill started the Tigers offensive drive. A sack by Calvin Nolan and a delay of game penalty left Charleston with a third and 19 situation. An incomplete pass forced them to punt. Gurdon started on its own 20 after a touchback. A few short runs by Hunter Johnson and Lacy caused the Go-Devils to punt it back to the Tigers. The punt was downed on the Tiger 27.

A holding call against the Tigers and a kneel down by Stewart ended the half with a score of 13-0.

The third quarter started and so did the rain. Gurdon received the ball, but had to kick it right back to Charleston after not being able to get its running game going.

A solid hit by Calvin Nolan caused the returner to fumble and Kentrell Green recovered the ball to give the Go-Devils good field position.

Another flag for too many men on the field put Gurdon back five. Runs by Williams and Marcel Johnson on the following plays picked up a Go-Devil first down at the Tiger 27. But with the rain comes the fumbles.

Charleston free safety Clay Crowley picked up a Gurdon fumble and ran it 73-yards for a touchdown. A successful two point conversion made the score 21-0.

Short gains by Lacy and Hunter Johnson made the Devils punt on the next drive.

Charleston took over after a short punt and made a couple of carries before they gave up the ball on a fumble. However, the turnover did not pay off for the Devils and it was three and out. The Gurdon punt sailed to the Tiger 38 and was downed.

Bates started the drive with two runs for 14 yards. Hill added 18 with some running of his own and the third quarter came to a close.

A big loss of eight yards started the fourth for the Tigers. Williams broke up a pass play and Charleston was forced to punt. Camron Kennedy made a fair catch on the Devils' 16.

Gurdon could not get any offense going and was forced to punt themselves. The kick made it to the Go-Devil 42 yard line where Charleston took over.

A series of runs by Bates gained 19 yards. Then a pass from Stewart to Crowley picked up 12 more. A seven-yard touchdown run by Jacob Talavera finished the drive successfully. The extra point went through making the score 28-0.

The Devils started on the 20 after a touchback. A few short gains and a pass interference call helped them get to the 38-yardline. A series of incomplete passes made Gurdon turn the ball over on downs and Charleston would run the clock down on running plays.

Before the game came to a close Gurdon racked up a final flag for un-sportsman like conduct making it 20 penalties in an ugly, rainy, fumble-filled game.

The Go-Devils look to start conference play off on a good foot next week as they travel to Spring Hill. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30.