Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils earn top spot in conference

The Gurdon Go-Devils advanced to 8-1 on the season and 6-0 in conference play after a tense battle with the Lafayette County Cougars in Stamps on Friday, Oct. 26. With the win, the Go-Devils will enter the 3A state football playoffs as the top seed from the 7AAA.

Both teams struggled to make it down the field in the first half, with no points on the board as the clock ticked past the one minute mark in the second quarter.

After the Go-Devils turned the ball over on down late in the second quarter, Lafayette County was able to make it all the way to the Go-Devil 31 yard line. On third and six, a long pass by the Cougars was picked off by senior Go-Devil Ryan Davis and ran back the Lafayette County 21 yard line where Gurdon took over first and 10.

The Go-Devils picked up another first down at the 10. On second and four, senior Jeff Henry took the ball in for the games first touchdown with only three seconds remaining in the half. Quarterback Zack Duncan kept the ball on the two point conversion and made it into the end zone.

The teams went to the locker rooms with Gurdon leading the Cougars 8-0.

Coming back from the half, Gurdon received the kick from the Cougars. On second and nine at the Go-Devil 34 yard line, Henry carried the ball to the Cougar 15 before he was stopped.

Kendall Harper carried the ball in with 9:52 in the quarter from the one yard line. A two point conversion attempt was not successful, bringing the score to 14-0.

The third quarter ended with the Cougars first and goal at the nine yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Cougars fumbled the ball, and senior Go-Devil Andrew Franklin recovered it at the 20.

Junior OBryan Bell carried for eight yards and Henry for seven to pick up a first down. The Go-Devils were not able to turn the possession into points and punted the ball on fourth and two.

Taking the punt at the 17 yard line, the Cougars made quick work of moving down the field with consecutive first downs at the 29, 50 and 27 yard lines. A flag pushed the Cougars back to second and 20, but a long pass was completed and run into the end zone, putting the Cougars on the board for the firs time fo the night.

The game ended shortly thereafter, with the Go-Devils winning 14-7.

Other exciting plays during the game included an interception by senior Go-Devil Zack Duncan on the Cougars first possession of the game.

During one of the Go-Devils punts during the second quarter, the Cougars were called for a personal foul, roughing the kicker. The 15 point penalty gave the Cougars and automatic first down.