Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils prepare for Curley Wolves

The fall of 2005 Go-Devil football season is about to kick off, with the first official game to be played at the Gurdon stadium against the Curley Wolves of Prescott.

This year's Prescott game will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, with the Wolves coming to Go-Devil country for the annual rivalry. It is a non-conference battle, but historically fills the bleachers.

Head Coach John Pace said this year's Go-Devil team is a little deeper than last year, with eight returning seniors and everybody starting out healthy.

"We had four key players to get injured last year. Hunter Johnson hurt his knee, Camron Kennedy had a hip injury, Kenneth Harper had a neck injury and Calvin Nolan broke his ankle," Coach Pace said.

He said the eight returning seniors are: Kentrell Green, Kenneth Harper, Robert Plyler, Camron Kennedy, Jesus Prado, Jerome Pollins, Deondra Williams and Dusty Craig.

"The game between Gurdon and Prescott is such a rival ball game, it is hard to say who will win, especially if we stay healthy. I know Prescott has eight returning starters on both sides of the ball.

"But this is the first official game of the year. We may not have as deep of material as our opponents, but it is really hard to say how a Gurdon/Prescott rivalry battle will turn out. Sometimes you have to throw out the past and the record books. There is an excitement to this game. Usually, in a first game of the season, it really depends on who makes the least amount of mistakes."

Pace said it is the 15th time he has been through pre-season practice to take on Prescott.

This year's Devils have been chosen number one in the 7AA conference by a statewide magazine.

"We have the talent and the opportunity to have a good season. But everybody has to continue to work hard and we need to get everyone playing in the right place. Practice this year is hot as usual," he said. "Overall participation has been pretty good. The senior high has been going twice a day. I would say the overall attitude has been good. The kids have been willing to come out and work."

Coach Pace said the senior Devils will travel to Magnet Cove on Friday, Aug. 26, to play Beardon in a scrimmage.

Pace said this will be the last football season for Gurdon to be in the 7AA conference.

"There is a realignment taking place," he said. "The changes are because of small A schools starting football. So it puts us in AAA next year, giving us Bismarck and Prescott to play as conference games in the fall of 2006."

Pace said he has an excellent staff of assistant coaches for the 2005 season. They are: Hank Lewis, Todd Lewis, Bryan Biley and Eric Allen.

"Coach Hank Lewis is the head coach for junior high school, but we all try and work together around here," Pace said.

"I don't really want to announce a full starting line up yet, as I am still deciding on a few things. However, the quarterback for first string is junior Daniel Francis, and second string quarterback is Zack Duncan, sophomore."

Pace said Jonathan Lacy, a junior, will be a fullback, and Lonnie Lacy, also a junior, will be a tailback.

Senior linemen include: Dusty Craig, Robert Plyler, Jerome Pollins, and Deandre Williams. Senior Kentrell Green will be a tight end and wide receiver.

"There are 28 out for senior high school football, and I want to see these boys to work as hard as they can to maximize the talent we have and bring Gurdon home some victories," he said.