Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils remain undefeated in league play with 29-18 win over Hornets

The Go-Devils came into the game still stinging from five straight losses to conference rivals, Mineral Springs.

Friday, Oct. 17, Gurdon stung back.

Mineral Springs received the opening kick in their home stadium and started the first play at the Hornet 28.

Short runs by Torey Martin and Terrance Erby could not pick up a first down on the first three plays and the Hornets were forced to punt.

After a short return by Davion Williams the Devils took over on the 28.

Two runs by junior running back Jamelle Lacy and a short pass from Barry Nolan to Williams left Gurdon short of a first down and the Devils had to punt on their first offensive drive as well. The punt rolled out of bounds at the Mineral Springs 37.

Martin started with a run, but was stopped at the line by Calvin Nolan. However, Hornet quarterback Dustin Young hooked up with Jerry Bearden for a first down. Bearden took a pitch on the next play, but only gained a yard.

Young tried to find another Hornet through the air, but all he found was a purple and gold number 33 as Camron Kennedy intercepted the ball on the Gurdon 23 yard-line.

Lacy started off with two carries for four yards. Nolan found Lacy through the air for 11 yards. A late hit penalty added 15 yards to put Gurdon near midfield.

Kennedy added four yards running the ball on first down. Nolan threw incomplete next, but Williams then ran for eight on the hand off and kept the Devil's drive alive. Runs by Lacy and Hunter Johnson could not get Gurdon a first down and they had to punt again.

The punt rolled into the end zone and Mineral Springs started on the 20.

A couple of runs by Martin and one by Ezell Adams put the Hornets up to the 34. Martin again carried, but fumbled and Lacy was there to pick the ball up and run it all the way back for a touchdown.

The two-point conversion failed on a pass and the score was 6-0.

Brandon Sanders kicked the ball off and it was returned to the 33.

Erby started the drive with a 12-yard run, and Martin picked up three more to bring the first quarter to a close.

Young started the second quarter with a 15-yard pass to Chris Threadgill. Martin and Erby picked up nine on the ground on the next two plays. Martin only went backwards on the next play when Marcel Johnson broke through the line. A short run and an incomplete pass later and Mineral Springs faced a fourth and 11 situation. Young found a way to make it though, and connected with Tyrell Daniels for a first down inside the 10 yard line. A couple of short runs by Martin and the Hornets found the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point attempt was no good and the score was tied at 6-6.

Marcel Johnson returned the kick to the 43 where the Devils started. Penalties plagued Gurdon on the drive and on a second and 17 situation Nolan threw an interception to Adams who ran it back to the Gurdon 33.

The Devils stepped up defensively and got a sack on the first play and stopped the Hornets on the next two plays, but a roughing the passer call on third down gave Mineral Springs 15-yards and great field position. Three plays later Young threw a touchdown pass to Martin. The conversion was no good and Mineral Springs pulled ahead 12-6.

Gurdon tried to get moving with little time remaining in the half, but could not and had to punt.

Mineral Springs took a knee and ran the clock down.

The Go-Devils came alive in the third quarter and so did Gurdon fans. Marcel Johnson fielded the kick and returned to the 33.

Lacy took the first carry for a big 30-yard pick up. He added 26-yards on two more carries. Despite penalties against Gurdon, Lacy and the Go-Devils kept moving down the field. On first and goal from the nine, Lacy took the ball untouched for a touchdown. Nolan ran the ball on the keeper to add two points and the score was 14-12.

Good coverage on the ensuing kick left the Hornets on the26.'Martin was hit at the line on the first play. He was hit behind the line by a group of Go-Devils on the second play and Brandon Sanders intercepted the ball on the third.

Gurdon took over, but could not get any offense going and was forced to punt.

The punt sailed deep into Mineral Springs territory where it was fumbled and the Go-Devils where there to recover on the two yard line.

On the next play Nolan ran into the end zone. He then repeated the play for a two-point conversion to make it 22-12.

After the kick Mineral Springs started on the 37.

A pumped-up Gurdon defense only gave the Hornets three downs and they had to punt.

Lacy started Gurdon's drive by spinning to avoid tacklers and picking up 20 yards. He added eight more yards on two plays as the third quarter came to a close.

Lacy gained a yard, which brought up fourth and one. The Devils tried, but could not convert and Mineral Springs took over.

Martin was stopped for a short gain on first down. He then threw a deep halfback pass, which fell incomplete. Calvin Nolan sacked Young and ended the drive.

After the punt Gurdon only accumulated short runs and penalties and were forced to punt as well. The punt was returned to the Gurdon 43.

On the first play Young hit Martin with a 30-yard pass. They hooked up for nine more yards on the next play. Martin took the ball into the end zone on the ground after that, but the two-point conversion failed again and the score was tightened to 22-18.

Williams returned the kickoff to the 30 and Marcel Johnson started the drive with a seven-yard run. Lacy was caught behind the line, but Marcel Johnson gained five more to pick up the first down. Kennedy carried the ball a couple of yards. Lacy broke free for 20-yards. He added five more on the next run and a 15-yard personal foul call against the Hornets put Gurdon in scoring position. Lacy ran to the four yard line and Marcel Johnson finished the drive off with a touchdown run.

The extra point was good and the score was 29-18 with only 2:37 left in the game.

Mineral Springs started at the 40 and tried passing to get back into the game. All they found was Hunter Johnson who intercepted the ball to end all hope of a comeback.

Gurdon could not get a first down and turned the ball over on downs, but the clock had run down and ran out on Mineral Springs.

After the game head coach John Pace told his players, "We're right where we want to be."

"We're in the driver's seat," Pace said.

"I didn't think we could pull it off," said Lacy after another strong rushing performance. "But now Lafayette County doesn't stand a chance."

Lafayette County is the final game on the Go-Devil's schedule. The Cougars also hold a win against Mineral Springs. That final game could possibly see two teams without a conference loss play each other for the title.

Gurdon has to focus on Dierks right now though. The Devils travel to play the Outlaws next Friday at 7:30 p.m.