Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils edge Cougars

The Gurdon Go-Devils went 1-1 for the season after beating the Lafayette County Cougars Friday night, 14-13, in the first home game of the season for Gurdon.

Assistant Go-Devil Coach Nick Kelnhofer said, "Defense was the key to this game. We had three goal line stands where our guys really held them. Then there was that big interception by Frank Smith (at the 6-yard line at first and goal) that really got things going."

The game got off to a slow start with the Lafayette County Cougars leading 7-0 with 4:50 left in the first half. Then Go-Devil Hunter Johnson scored a touchdown from two yards out, making it 7-6 Cougars at halftime.

Then with 29.7 seconds left in the third quarter, Go-Devil Kenneth Harper, scored a touchdown. Following him in more action, with 11.5 seconds to go in the third quarter, Go-Devil Lonnie Lacy, made the successful two-point conversion, making it 14-7 Go-Devils.

But then there was a scare as the Cougars took a wild run nearly fully down the field and scored a touchdown out of the blue, making it 14-13.

The game announcer said, "What a night for football."

Indeed it was. Head Coach John Pace described the brave defense exhibited by the Go-Devils that held the Cougars at bay with three goal line stands, two of which occurred in the fourth quarter by the Go-Devils determined defense.

And to top that off, Go-Devil defense, in the last couple of minutes of the game, managed to get the Cougars a 15-yard penalty. The result, no more Cougar scoring and the Go-Devils sealed the victory at 14-13.

Pace said, "With three goal line stands and even getting a penalty to hold them, you can't ask for any more than what our defense gave tonight."

The Go-Devils will be at home again next Friday night, Sept. 17, when they take on Junction City. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Go-Devil Stadium.