Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils come up short against Prescott in season opener

Mistakes and missed opportunities were more than the Go-Devils could overcome in the season opener against the Prescott Curley Wolves.

Though the Devils managed to lead 12-6 early in the second quarter, the Wolves capitalized on Gurdon mistakes and posted a 37-12 win.

Gurdon won the opening toss and deferred until the second half. This gave Prescott the ball first.

Gurdon pooch kicked the ball to Tristan Stuart at the Wolf 33, with the return to the Prescott 44. A facemask call against Gurdon moved the ball to the 49 where the Wolves took over.

Ryan Roberson took the first snap of the year, handed off to A.J. Lewis, who found a wide open Luther Stueart for six points on the opening play. The point after was no good, but Prescott led 6-0 with 11:44 showing in the first.

Gurdon wasted no time in getting the six points back. Lonnie Lacy took the kick at the Gurdon five, returning it to the Prescott 30.

Jamelle Lacy went nowhere on first down, and Gurdon fumbled on the second play, but recovered the errant pigskin, gaining three yards in the process. Cameron Kennedy found a gaping hole in the Wolf defense and barreled his way to the two. Hunter Johnson capped the drive with 9:43 left in the period.

The point after was no good, and the game was tied 6-6.

Chris Phillips fielded the next short kick at the Prescott 40.

The Wolves drove to the Gurdon 11, primarily on the ground, before Roberson's shovel pass was picked off by Kenneth Harper and returned to the Wolf 40.

Gurdon managed to work to the Prescott 10 before being moved back by a motion penalty. The drive ended when Johnson fumbled with Prescott's Maxwell Hamilton falling on the ball at the 20 with two minutes left in the first.

From there, though, it was three and out for the Wolves, with the punt rolling dead at Gurdon's 42 as time expired in the first quarter.

Lonnie Lacy made it to the 48 to get the second period underway, before Jamelle Lacy found a massive gap in the Wolf defense and scored on a 52-yard run to give Gurdon a 12-6 lead with 11:06 left in the half. Gurdon's two-point conversion attempt was no good, but the Devils were in control at this point.

Daron Burks took the short kick at the 32 returning it to the 36.

The Wolves needed eight plays to cover the 64 yards, with the drive ending when Lewis broke for 31 yards on a quarterback draw to tie the game with 7:41 showing. Prescott's try for two was no good, but the game was knotted at 12-12.

Jonathan Lacy took the kick at the 11, returning it to the 27 before being brought down.

Two plays later, though, he fumbled with Lewis picking up the ball and racing into the end zone for a Prescott touchdown. With 6:38 left in the half, the Wolves were up 18-12. The try for two was no good.

Neither team was able to mount or sustain a drive for the remainder of the quarter.

Lonnie Lacy took the kick starting the third quarter at the two, returning it to the 32.

Three plays saw Gurdon gain five yards and have to punt. However, before the ball could be kicked, the Devils were flagged twice for illegal procedure, putting Gurdon back at its 27.

The punt was tipped, mishandled by a Prescott player and left lying on the turf as a live ball. The Wolves eventually recovered the fumble at the Gurdon 38.

Five plays later, Lewis found Ben Smith on a slant for six to make it 24-12 with 9:40 left in the period. Again, the try for two failed.

Gurdon took over at the Devil 16 and made it to the 25 before fumbling the ball away with 6:02 left.

Prescott was called for holding on first down, moving the ball to the 28. Once more, the Wolves snapped the ball five times, with the touchdown coming when Roger Muldrow went in from the five to make it 30-12 with 3:49 left in the third.

The try for two was no good.

Gurdon began at its 20, with Calvin Nolan being caught at the 13 under a heavy rush.

The Devils fought back, getting to the 46 and getting help from the officials with a facemask call against Prescott. The call was a major infraction, giving Gurdon 15 yards and putting the ball at Prescott's 39.

Gurdon battled to the Wolf 22 as the third came to an end.

Period four began with Johnson fighting to the 13. From there, though, the Devils were unable to move the ball and turned it over on downs with 9:51 left in the game.

Nine plays later, Lewis found Roberson with an 18-yard touchdown strike for the final touchdown of the night. This made it 36-12. The only PAT of the night followed, giving Prescott its 37-12 lead with 3:50 left.

Both teams cleared the bench to get the younger players some game experience from this point.

Gurdon began at its 38, making it to the Prescott 47 before turning the ball over on downs.

Prescott's offense ran out the clock to preserve the win.

Unofficial statistics show Gurdon ran 42 plays, while Prescott snapped the ball 49 times.

The Devils rushed the ball 39 times for 246 yards, while Prescott ran 34 times for 244 yards.

Prescott dominated the passing game, connecting on seven of 14 for 150 yards and one interception, while Gurdon was one of three for 17 yards.

Gurdon had a total of 263 offensive yards, while Prescott managed 394.

Both teams punted once. Gurdon's punt went 11 yards after being tipped, while Prescott's boot rolled 36 yards.

The Devils were flagged seven times for 45 yards, while Prescott was penalized nine times for 75 yards.

The Wolves had more first downs than Gurdon, 18-12.

Gurdon fumbled six times, losing three, while Prescott put the ball on the ground three times, recovering them all.

Jamelle Lacy was Gurdon's leading ground gainer with 144 yards on 16 carries.

Overall, the Devils averaged 6.31 yards per carry.

Gurdon will be at home Friday night as the Devils play host to the Cougars of Lafayette County.