Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils escape nightmare with 7-6 win over Foreman

Gurdon got a week off from traveling after three weeks on the road when they hosted the Foreman Gators Friday, Oct. 31.

Staying true to the theme of Halloween, Gurdon got quite a scare from the Gators, beating them by a single point, 7-6.

Foreman received the opening kick and started on its 26.

Runningback Kirk Walker was stopped behind the line of scrimmage on his first run, but fired back on the next four plays for 24 yards rushing.

Quarterback Frankie Picking took the ball 15 yards on a keeper to move deeper into Go-Devil territory.

An illegal shift penalty and an incomplete pass slowed down the Gator drive.

A new quarterback checked in for the Gators and kept for three yards. He followed this with a 23 yard run and Foreman's only touchdown of the night.

The two-point conversion failed and the score was 6-0 with eight minutes left in the first quarter.

Camron Kennedy returned the kick to the Gurdon 40 where the Go-Devils started with four-yard run by Davion Williams.

Gurdon missed Jamelle Lacy and Hunter Johnson in the backfield because of injuries. Lacy, however, saw some action on defense.

After an offsides call against both teams, Williams took the ball again for five yards. Fullback Kenneth Harper failed to pick up the first down, but on fourth and inches, quarterback Barry Nolan took the sneak for three yards to keep the drive alive.

Marcel Johnson got his first carry of the night for two yards. Next, Williams went on a reverse for 19 yards. The Devils continued on driving down to just yards from the goal line, but failed to get in the end zone.

Gurdon had trouble all night converting in the red zone.

As the first quarter ended, the Gators shut down the Go-Devils and took over on the Foreman two.

Gurdon's defense stepped up the pressure and made Foreman punt.

Kennedy made a good return, but it was brought back to the 40 because of an illegal block call against the Go-Devils.

Gurdon returned the favor after three plays and punted the ball into the end zone for the touchback.

Runningback Buck Daniels took the ball four yards to start the drive, but it ended quickly as Foreman fumbled and Gurdon recovered.

Nolan started and ended the drive on the next play as he ran the ball untouched for a 21-yard touchdown. The crucial extra point kick sailed through and the score was 7-6.

Foreman recovered a squib kick at the 46 to start its drive.

The first play for Foreman was another turnover in the form of an interception by Marcel Johnson.

Kennedy took the ball for seven yards to start the drive. Williams added seven yards on the next three plays and Nolan picked up eight on a quarterback keeper. Harper took the ball for seven yards, but fumbled, giving Foreman the ball back.

The Go-Devil's defense stayed strong and drove the Gators back six yards on three plays and forced a punt.

The punt was downed on the Foreman 42.

Harper took the ball for 13 yards on the next two plays. Williams lost yards on a pitch and Courtney Berry picked up four yards, but came short of the first down.

The Go-Devils went for it on fourth and six. Barry Nolan hooked up with his younger brother, Calvin, to pick up a first down.

Marcel Johnson took the ball down to the six with time ticking down in the half. A holding call killed the drive and put Gurdon back 10 yards. An incomplete pass and a sack ended the half.

Williams returned the kick to the 43 to start the second half.

Gurdon kept it on the ground with runs by Harper, Williams and Marcel Johnson to get the ball down to the 11.

Again Gurdon had problems finishing the job. The Devils racked up penalties for illegal procedure and holding. Then in a third and 15 situation, Nolan's pass was intercepted by Joseph Adcock in the endzone for a touchback.

It was three and out again for the Gators and they were forced to punt.

Kennedy took the punt to the Foreman 45 and then on the first play, ran the ball for seven yards. Williams picked up two and Kennedy gained one for a first down. Williams and Marcel Johnson picked up five apiece for another first down.

As the Go-Devils settled into the red zone they once again were stopped in their tracks. On a fourth and three situation, Gurdon could not get the job done and turned the ball over on downs as the third quarter ran down.

Foreman could not pick up yards again, and as the fourth quarter began, and was again forced to punt.

Williams returned the punt, with 15 yards tacked on for a personal foul when Williams was hit out of bounds.

Gurdon worked its way downfield again. The Devils rushed for 19 yards on four plays, but penalties hurt them again. On fourth down Nolan threw incomplete and Foreman took over.

This time the Gators were more productive on offense.

Their quarterback took the ball 40 yards in four keep plays. Daniels followed with a 10 yard gain. Williams was shaken up on the play and the game was stopped as an eerie silence swept over the stadium. Williams returned later in the game.

As play resumed, so did the Gators. They moved the ball 12 yards on the next two plays and were threatening to score.

Brandon Sanders stopped the threat and the Gator's momentum when he got a sack for an eight-yard loss. Ben Gooding then matched Sanders with another huge sack of his own. Foreman took to the air on fourth and 23, but could not pick up enough yards and turned the ball over.

Gurdon tried to keep to the ground, but fumbled with just 45 seconds left in the game.

The Gators made one last attempt through the air and was intercepted by Williams.

The Go-Devils ran the clock out to preserve the win.

After the game head coach John Pace told his team they could not take any team lightly and this game proved it. "We must play a much better ball game next week," Pace said.

Gurdon will take on Lafayette County at Stamps next week for the conference championship. Both teams are undefeated in conference play.

Pace left his team with a few words of advice for next week: "No penalties, no fumbles and no excuses."