Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils fall 20-7 to Cougars, will go to Junction City

Gurdons Go-Devils played hard for a comeback Friday night against Lafayette County, but lost 20-7 because of what some might call questionable officiating.

The strategy to plow down the middle of the field was changed up after halftime because of the realization the Cougars had a strong, center-of-the field, defense.

Statistically, the Devils were in control. Jonathan Lacy fought hard for yardage, as the Devils piled through Lafayette County in away game action. The Cougars came on a little early in the first quarter, but Lacy recovered a fumble and regained control of the game.

The control came back in the last half of the first quarter and started becoming habitual.

The Devils had the ball 11:25 for the first quarter and Lafayette had it just 35 seconds. Even so, nobody scored in the period.

Robert Plyler was an early candidate for defensive player of the game. Gurdon took over again in the second quarter at its 39-yard line.

The Devils tried to force points up the middle of Lafayette, but found the Cougars strongly defending the center. They continued unsuccessfully in that technique until the half.

Jonathan Lacy was all over the field, with a ripped jersey, as the Cougars were grabbing wherever they could to stop him.

But Shawn Beaver, of the Lafayette County Cougars, made the first touchdown on a 74-yard run, nearly untouched. Gurdon gave up more yards on that play than in the rest of the ball game.

The score was then 6-0 and the Cougars led.

Camron Kennedy had a nice return. Jonathan Lacy gained about seven yards.

The Devils got tough when Kentrell Green showed some moves. It was first down Devils on the 42-yard line.

There was 5:43 left in the second quarter. Lacy played running back and linebacker. He continued to gain a few yards, but no points.

Quarterback Daniel Francis was in the shotgun formation, but could not get the ball thrown fast enough to help.

Then Shawn Beaver of the Cougars went 65 yards for another touchdown. It was followed by a successful two-point conversion.

It was 14-0, Lafayette County over the Devils of Gurdon. There was 2:03 to go in the first half.

The clock ticked away but senior lineman Kentrell Green got some yardage and a first down at the 45-yard line for the Devils.

With 42 seconds in the half, the ball was back on the 50, but Lacy got down the sideline and was tackled at the 10 yard line.

There were 11 seconds left on the clock for the first half. A penalty was called and the ball went back to the 44-yard line on a clip call. This was one of the places where logic of the official's call was questioned by more than one Devil fan.

That finished the first half, with the Devils trailing the Cougars in the game, 14-0.

In the first half, Gurdon had 38 plays for 167 yards of offense. Everything but the scoreboard was dominated by Gurdon.

In the second half, the Gurdon team started to mix it up on offense.

The line, Kentrell Green, Camron Kennedy and Jonathan Lacy, known as the triple threat of Gurdon, tried to come alive.

The third quarter began with progress on the part of Kenneth Harper.

Lonnie Lacy came out passing, despite a reported shoulder injury. It was third and 13.

Then it was a fourth down. Lafayette took over on downs with 9:45 left in the third quarter.

It was first down, at the 49 for Lafayette's Cougars. Kenneth Harper, Jerome Pollins and Kentrell Green made a "team tackle."

First down Devils. Then a pass from Kentrell Green to Jesus Prado was completed. It was the first catch of the year for Prado. There were 27 yards picked up on that play.

Lonnie Lacy then ran the ball down to the 16-yard line. This was a 14-yard gain. It was time to put some points on the board. A facemask penalty against Lafayette was called and Gurdon went to the five with first down Devils.

With 1:58 left in the third quarter, Jonathan Lacy went left and made the three, just a bit away from pay dirt.

Then Lonnie Lacy made the first touchdown of the season for him. It made it 14-6 and the Devils were back in the game.

The extra point was good and Gurdon moved a bit closer to the Cougars, with the score 14-7.

Gurdon, at that point, had 254 yards of offense, with 15 first downs and just seven points to show.

Robert Plyler kicked and the Cougars hit the 45-yard line for the fourth first down of the game for Lafayette.

A player was injured on the Cougar team, with the Devils taking their helmets off at the edge of the field, waiting to hear the condition report.

The quarterback was injured but walked off on his own power.

Garrett Camp, of the Cougars, was back-up quarterback, and took over the game for Lafayette.

The momentum changed. Gurdon went into the fourth quarter behind 14-7. Kentrell Green was determined to change things, as were other senior linemen.

Then there was a fumble. Devil Andrew Franklin made a pivotal mistake.

The game got more intense. The Cougars were carrying the ball.

There was 10:03 to go in the fourth quarter. Then there was a fumble. Gurdon got the ball and the ball was given back to Lafayette.

But then the ball was covered in a fumble by Gurdons Kenneth Harper, but officials gave it back to Lafayette County in a controversial call in the red zone. These two calls caused several Devil fans to become discouraged with the officials.

Mario Daniels of Lafayette County made the third Cougar touchdown, boosting Lafayette's lead to 20-7.

The muscle man, Jonathan Lacy, drove the ball down the field.

It was Lonnie Lacy running then and Camron Kennedy had the first down for the Go-Devils.

So at the Go-Devils 42-yard line, with 5:56 in the game, Gurdon lost possession of the ball on a floating pass.

Lafayette had the ball and snapped it. The hope was for Gurdon to stand up and strip the ball  and to run the needed yards.

The Go-Devils had to rally a tough defense. Gurdon took over deep in its own territory. Gurdon needed to score and stay away from the traditional running up the middle.

Lonnie Lacy ran. He got close to a first down. Lacy got the first down. The Go-Devils were moving the chains.

Prado went out left. Then a hand-off to Lonnie Lacy. There was a fumble, but Lacy recovered his own fumble.

At shotgun formation, Francis had his third interception of the evening. Then it was 3:24 and ticking, with a 20-7 lead by Lafayette.

There was a holding call on Lafayette, putting the ball back on the 40-yard line. A host of Go-Devils brought down the Cougars, with a one-yard gain for Lafayette.

Then there was a huge sack for Kentrell Green, as a Cougar went down. But with 1:59 left in the game, more than a show was needed.

Gurdon took over in its own territory deep. Officially on the 30-yard line, Gurdon needed to get 70 yards in a matter of seconds.

Lonnie Lacy ran. He got some yards. It was 1:45 left. Then 1:09, but Gurdon did get a first down.

It was one-yard to go in third and one now. The time said 38 seconds.

Quarterback Zack Duncan got in the shotgun formation, but he got hit hard. And that was the end of the game.

Lafayette County went to 2-0 and the Go-Devils went to 1-1.

That final score was 20-7, Cougars.

Statistics indicate the Cougars won the game on the line of scrimmage.

The Go-Devils had 66 passing yards and three interceptions. This included 66 plays for 288 yards.

Go-Devil Camron Kennedy went 96 yards on 20 carries.

Lafayette had 30 plays. Gurdon outplayed the Cougars, but could not get the points on the board.

Gurdon had five tackles for lost yardage. Lafayette had 10 tackles for lost yardage.

Lonnie Lacy had 12 carries for 53 yards in the second half, and he scored the only touchdown for Gurdon.

Robert Plyler set the tone on Gurdon defense against Lafayette.

Junction City is on tap for Friday, at 7:30 p.m. in more road action.

The Dragons and the Devils will be matching up. Last year, Gurdon beat a highly ranked Junction City.

Gurdon Coach John Pace said road games are always tough, but the Go-Devils will be ready to play "and Gurdon has the talent to have a winning season."