Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils beat Curley Wolves 18-8

The Gurdon Go-Devils got what may be their biggest win of the season on Friday, Sept. 28, as they defeated the Prescott Curley Wolves 18-8 in Prescott.

The heated rivalry got even hotter at times throughout the game, and a large number of police were called back to the stadium at the conclusion to keep the peace as the teams left the field.

One of the most heated moments of the evening came as the first half came to an end just as Prescott ran the ball into the end zone for what would be its first score of the game. A penalty against the Curley Wolves called the touchdown back, and the Prescott team showed that it was not happy with the call. The teams actions lead to an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Curley Wolves. The penalty was assessed at the beginning of the second half.

The first half of the game was all about the Go-Devils as Gurdon scored on each of its first two possessions.

Gurdon began its first offensive drive after the Curley Wolves turned the ball over on down after a failed attempt on fourth and two. The Go-Devils took over on their own 47 yard line.

Senior Andrew Franklin brought the Go-Devils their first first down of the night after a four yard run on third and three. Junior OBryan Bell got his hands on the ball for a nine yard gain.

Franklin brought the next first down, and the senior Jeff Henry picked up 12 yards for a first down on the next play.

A hand-off to Franklin on third and three got the Go-Devils within inches of the goal line. Junior Justin Smillie made it across the line with the ball two plays later to give Gurdon the first points of the game.

An attempt for an extra point was not successful after the Go-Devils were assessed a five yard penalty for a false start before the kick.

The Curley Wolves made no progress down the field in its next drive. A series of incomplete passes forced the team to punt the ball away on fourth and 10.

Senior Beau McKenzie caught a pass from senior quarterback Zack Duncan for a first down during the next drive. McKenzie would come back to make another big play only a few seconds later as he caught a 38 yard pass and fell into the end zone, bringing the score to 12-0.

An attempt for a two point conversion was not successful.

The Go-Devil defense proved to continue to be too much for the Curley Wolf offense that just couldnt pull off a first down on the next drive, forcing a punt.

Gurdon got one first down on their drive, but was eventually forced to punt for the first time of the ballgame on fourth and 12.

The ball sailed over the head of the Go-Devils punter, and Prescott landed on the ball at Gurdons 30 yard line.

The Go-Devils were determined to keep the Wolves out of the end zone, and Duncan and senior Kendall Harper sacked the quarterback in the backfield for a six yard loss.

The Wolves punted on fourth and 16, but senior Go-Devil Marcus Williams jumped up to block the punt, and Henry, not able to pick up the ball, finally got it out of bounds at the Prescott 25 yard line where Gurdon set up first and 10.

Gurdon was eventually put in a fourth and eight situation and decided to go for the first down. Duncan connected on a pass to junior Princeton McPeak near the Prescott 11 yard line.

The Go-Devils would make it to the 10 yard line, but the Curley Wolves did not want another Go-Devil score before the half, and the Go-Devils ended up turning the ball over on down at the Prescott 10 yard line.

Gurdon pushed Prescott back to within inches of the goal line bringing the possibility for a safety for the Go-Devils. Gurdons chance for two points was lost when the team was called for an off-sides penalty.

The ball was moved to the 18 yard line where the Curley Wolves were first and 10. In a last ditch effort as the clock wound down for the half, the Curley Wolves managed to run the ball all the way into the end zone. A flag on the play called the touchdown back, and the teams went to the locker room with Gurdon leading 12-0.

Due to an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Curley Wolves as the first half wound down, the 15 yard penalty was assessed during the opening kick-off of the second half.

After the kick-off, McPeak returned the ball 14 yards to the 40 yard line. Gurdon was eventually forced to punt on fourth and five after coming back from third and 14.

The Curley Wolves did not get a first down on their first offensive drive of the second half. They punted on fourth and six.

The Go-Devils were heading back towards the end zone when they fumbled the ball on the 30 yard line. Prescott recovered and returned it to the 32.

Prescott was later forced to punt on fourth and 11.

Franklin got the next first down for the Go-Devils as he caught a pass at the 28 yard line. Bell later ran the ball in for the Go-Devils third score of the game, increasing the lead to 18-0.

A two point conversion attempt was not successful.

Prescott finally made it into the end zone with about five minutes left in the game. The two point conversion was good, and the score became 18-8.

Both teams defenses went into overdrive throughout the remainder of the game.

Prescott took over on down with about two minutes left on the clock.

They turned the ball back over on down with 47 seconds remaining, and Gurdon took a knee ending the game.