Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Homecoming sweet as Devils win, 21-6

Gurdon welcomed home for former Go-Devils Friday night with a 21-6 win against the Horatio Lions.

After the pageantry of the annual ceremony Gurdon's senior captains Davion Williams, Marcel Johnson and returning quarterback Barry Nolan took the field for the coin toss. Gurdon won and decided to receive.

Horatio kicked the ball twice out of bounds, but the third time was the charm and Kenneth Harper called for a fair catch at the Devil 40.

Jamelle Lacy started off the drive with a five-yard carry and he picked up six more on the next two plays for a first down. Five-yard penalties against both teams evened things out and Marcel Johnson got his first run for two yards. A holding call put the Devils back 10 on the next play.

Nolan went to the air trying to find Williams. Instead, the ball bounced out of his hands and ended up in the hands of Lacy, who was in the area, for a 16-yard gain.

A short run by fullback Hunter Johnson made it fourth and inches. Nolan tried to convert with a keeper but the Lions defense shut down the Go-Devils on the play.

Horatio took over and started moving the ball on the ground. Halfback Cattlin Ray picked up two yards before fullback Dustin Terry took the ball 20 yards. Ray picked up nine more and Terry picked up another first down with a gain of three.

A holding call and a tighter Gurdon defense held the Lions to a fourth and four situation, but quarterback Andrew Pettlegrew converted with a keeper for the first down. A 12-yard pass from Pettlegrew to Terry put Horatio deep in Gurdon territory. The Lions tried to run the ball on the next few plays, but could not pick up a first down.

With a fourth down and one situation, wingback Antonio Reyna took the Lions to pay dirt with an 11-yard run as the first quarter ended. The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete and the score was 6-0.

Marcel Johnson returned the kickoff to the Gurdon 32 to start the second quarter. Lacy only picked up a few yards on the next two plays, so the Devils went to the air again.

Nolan lined up in the shotgun, but the Horatio defense hurried him and he threw an interception that was returned to the Gurdon 10.

With things looking bleak, the Go-Devil's defense needed to step up big, and this is exactly what they did. Gurdon shut down the run on the first two plays and Brandon Sanders sacked Pettlegrew for a six-yard loss. The Lions went for it on a fourth and 15 situation, but failed on the pass and Gurdon took over on downs.

The Devils could not get the offense going again and went three and out. The punt was short and went out of bounds at the Gurdon 23 and the Devils had their backs to the wall again.

The defense saved the day once more though. Two Horatio runs and an incomplete pass left the Lions fourth and 14. An incomplete pass gave Gurdon the ball back.

The Go-Devils went three and out once more, but the punt was much better. Ray returned it to the Lions 35.

The Gurdon defense shut down Horatio again and after a punt the Devils started on their own 34.

With the half ticking down Gurdon needed to move fast. Nolan showed no lack in confidence after his interception and threw a pass down the middle of the field to Lacy, who broke a tackle and found his way to the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown. Williams made an impressive catch on the conversion, but a flag made the Devils try again and were unsuccessful, leaving the score 6-6.

After the kickoff Horatio downed the ball to end the half.

A squib kick started the third quarter and the Lions recovered on their own 45.

The Gurdon defense stayed consistent and made Horatio punt. The punt rolled out at the Devil's 24.

It was then time for the Jamelle Lacy show to begin. Lacy first took the ball six yards. On the next play he ran 70 yards down the sideline for his second touchdown of the game. The two-point conversion was good after the quarterback keeper by Nolan and Gurdon pulled ahead 14-6.

Horatio started on the 33 after the kick. It was the same story for the Lions offense though-three and out. Williams returned the punt to the Gurdon 40.

Lacy ran for two and Nolan connected with Camron Kennedy for eight and a first down. After a short run and a sack, Gurdon went to the air. Nolan tried to find Williams who was hit by the defender, but the official who was behind Nolan called an intentional grounding call against him, which ended the Go-Devil drive.

The punt was recovered at the Horatio 35, but the Lions would not have the ball long, going three and out.

After their punt, Gurdon took over on the Devil 44. A holding call put the Devils back 10 yards, but Marcel Johnson picked up 18 and a first down. Nolan was sacked on the next play, but rebounded on the following play and found Williams on a 21-yard pass as the third quarter came to a close.

After a few short runs and a holding call it was third and 12. Nolan dropped back to pass and was blindsided and hit hard causing him to fumble. The Lions recovered and took over on the Gurdon 35.

Horatio managed to pick up first downs on a pass to Terry and a run by Justin Craig. However, the next pass did not pay off. Williams read the quarterback the whole way and picked off the pass, making an impressive return. An illegal block penalty brought the ball back, but Gurdon kept possession on their own 46.

While the third quarter saw the Lacy show, the fourth saw the encore performance. Lacy took the ball 34 yards on six carries. Hunter Johnson then took the ball for four yards. Lacy again ran for 14-yard gain, which put the Devils inches from the goal line. Lacy got the ball again and finished off the drive with his third touchdown of the night. The extra point sailed through and the score was 21-6 with less than two minutes left in the game.

A booming kick that rolled out of the back of the end zone set the Lions on their own 20. Pettlegrew tried to revive Horatio with three complete passes for 15 yards. He then threw two incomplete passes and was intercepted by Kennedy who took the ball 40 yards and almost broke free for a touchdown.

The Go-Devils downed the ball and the game came to a close putting Gurdon 3-0 in conference play and Horatio 2-2.

After the game, Gurdon head coach John Pace told his players, "We're still undefeated in conference and we want to stay that way."

The Go-Devils will have their biggest test in the conference when they travel to Mineral Springs next week.

"Mineral Springs has been our nemesis for several years," Pace said. "It is a big, important game, but our kids are getting better every week."

The game will begin at 7:30.