Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils end season after play-off game

Despite a having an extra week to rest, a groundswell of community support, a huge pre-game tailgate party and a visit from a television news helicopter, the Gurdon Go-Devils couldnt come back from an early deficit to advance in the 3A state football play-offs on Friday, Nov. 16.

The Go-Devils fell 27-14 to the Hoxie Mustangs in the second round of the play-offs at Go-Devil Stadium. This was the second consecutive year the two teams have met in the play-offs.

With the loss, the Go-Devils football season is over. The team lost only two games including the play-off loss. The first loss came in week three of the season to Bearden. The score on that non-conference game was 7-0.

The Go-Devils went on to remain undefeated in 3A-7 conference play and is the conference champion team.

The game appeared to be going the Go-Devils way early on. The Mustangs won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. After fielding the ball at the 17 yard line, the Mustangs were forced to punt on fourth and four.

Go-Devils senior Jeff Henry broke through to block the punt, and the Go-Devils began their first offensive drive only 25 yards from the goal line. Junior OBryan Bell carried to the 21 yard line. Bell made it to the 19, and Henry was stopped at the line of scrimmage on the next play to bring up fourth and four at the 19. A pass on fourth down was batted down, and the Go-Devils turned the ball over on down.

On first and 10 from their own 19 yard line, a complete pass was run 81 yards by Hoxie for the first score of the ballgame. The extra point was good, and the score was 7-0.

The ensuing kick return was recovered by Hoxie, but the Mustangs eventually turned the ball over on down at the mid field stripe.

An incomplete pass to senior Go-Devil Beau McKenzie brought up second and 10. A complete pass to senior Ryan Davis resulted in a turnover after the ball was knocked loose from Davis hands. Hoxie began first and 10 at their own 42.

Just four plays later, Hoxie found the end zone again to take their lead to 14-0 with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter.

The first quarter ended with Hoxie in possession of the ball after the Go-Devils were forced to punt.

Gurdon began to get a rhythm back in its offense on its next possession. First and 10 at the 16, Bell rushed to the 19. A pass to McKenzie got the team out to the 30. Senior Andrew Franklin rushed to the 10 of Hoxie before making it to the five on the next play.

A holding call sent the Go-Devils back to the 19 yard line. On first and goal from the 19, Bell made it to the 10, Bell made it to the four and Henry put the Go-Devils on the board with the touchdown. The extra point was no good, and the score remained 14-6 with Hoxie in the lead.

Hoxie continued to find holes in the Go-Devil defense as the team got its third touchdown of the night on a 79 yard run on the second play from the kick return. The extra point was good to extend the Mustangs lead out to 21-6.

The ensuing kick was fumbled, and Hoxie retained possession. Hoxie made it to the five yard line where they were forced to turn the ball over on down. A false start on Gurdon moved the ball half the distance to the goal. The Go-Devils fumbled the ball, and Hoxie recovered at the four yard line of Gurdon.

On fourth down, a field goal attempt was good, but an offsides call on Hoxie called the points back. On their next attempt, the kick was blocked by the Go-Devils as the teams went to the locker rooms for halftime.

The second half seemed to bring some wind back to the sails of the Go-Devils. On the first possession of the game, Gurdon was forced to punt, but Hoxie was called for roughing the kicker, resulting in a first down for the Go-Devils at the 33 yard line. A pass across midfield to senior Brady Vandiver was complete at the 39 yard line of Hoxie. On second and 10 at the 23, Henry rushed to the seven yard line. Bell found the end zone two plays later. Henry made it in for the two point conversion, pulling the Go-Devils within seven points as the score was 21-14.

Hoxie was forced to punt on fourth and 17. The Go-Devils made it back to the 41 yard line before having to punt as the third quarter ended. From the sideline, it appeared as if Vandiver downed the ball at the one yard line, but the officials called the punt a touchback, and the Mustangs began the final quarter first and 10 at their own 20.

A quick score by the Mustangs expanded their lead to 14-27 and silenced most in the home stands.

No other points were scored in the game.

In the post-game huddle, Head Coach John Pace tried to console the upset team. All I can say is thanks, he said. Theres no reason to hand your head. You did your best every time.