Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils enter play-offs this week

The Gurdon Go-Devils have played tough all season, but the teams biggest test yet begins this week as they enter the Arkansas state football play-offs to take on Hoxie in round two.

The Go-Devils were the top seed team from the 7AAA conference which allowed them a bye week during the first round of the play-offs. Hoxie played England in round one and won 37-7.

The Hoxie team is no stranger to Go-Devil Stadium as they defeated Gurdon 16-6 in the first round of the football play-offs in 2006.

Gurdon Head Coach John Pace said the Hoxie team has not changed much since its trip to Gurdon last year. Three linemen graduated, but all of their skill guys are back, he said. The teams quarterback and two runningbacks are also returning this year along with a receiver and a defensive end who has switched to playing defensive tackle and center.

The Hoxie team is 10-1 this year, having lost one conference game. They came from behind to win in some of the games, Pace said. They mix it up good.

The Go-Devils are 9-1 on the season and undefeated in conference play going into the game this week. The Go-Devils only loss was to Bearden earlier in the season. That team is now the number one team in the 2A.

Pace said his team will be ready come game time.

Weve got to go into it with the mind set that were not going to beat ourselves, he said. Weve got to execute on offense. Redemption is going to be a battle cry.

After the Go-Devils final regular season game at Horatio, Pace noted a few injuries that needed to heal before the play-off game. He said having the one week off has helped on the injury front and that everybodys pretty much healthy.

Weve still got a foot here and an ankle there, he said.

Pace said he expects a good performance from the Go-Devils on Friday. There are 16 teams still playing in the 3A right now, he said. If you want to make it into that final eight or final four, youve got to lay it all out on the line.

The game begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be played at Go-Devil Stadium in Gurdon.