Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Wins Pigskin Classic 19-14

On September 10 a new football stadium was dedicated at halftime when the Gurdon Go-Devils hosted the Lake Village Beavers. The Go-Devils lost the game and took their revenge against Prescott last Friday night, 19-14.

It was a battle of two of the most competitive small high school teams in southwest Arkansas. The outcome was not as pleasant for the players and fans of Prescott as it was for Gurdon. One never knows how the game will come out, but one thing for sure: The Go-Devils played hard.

The new field could still use some fixing. Eventually, when the new field is re-done next year, it could be a good stadium. Presently, it beats the one at the old high school. And this one will have a track around it. Gurdon has never had its own track before. In the past when it hosting a district track meet, it was held in Prescott.

Some people live in Prescott and work in Gurdon. Some people live in Gurdon and work in Prescott. The closeness of these two towns has almost everyone knowing someone in the opposite townor knowing the reputation of some else. It may not have been friend or relative over friend or relative Friday night in the game, but each knew the reputation of the other. There has always been a connection between the two schools  and great competition.

The preceding week Prescott lost a game against AAAA Hope simply because the Curley Wolves virtually gave the Bobcats three touchdowns. It was not supposed to happen again so soon, but it did on the kick-off. The first time a Go-Devil touched the pigskin, he scored. It was not supposed to happen.

Conference play begins this Friday night when Prescott hosts the Bismarck Lions. Bismarck is now 2-1 for the season with the Lions loss coming from the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams. Prescott needs to be ready. The team can't let its mistakes turn into touchdowns for the opponent.

Prescott won the toss Friday and elected to kick-off to begin the game. Antone Purifoy kicked the ball good with it being caught by Rashaun Hopson at his 12-yard line. A few missed tackles and some fast running had a score 14 seconds later. The point after try was good and Gurdon led 7-0.

The Curley Wolves punted on fourth down, although it was short, giving the Go-Devils the ball at the Prescott 34-yard line. The Gurdon players managed only two yards and on fourth and eight they went for the first down. The ball was fumbled in the backfield and was covered up at the 37, giving the Wolves better field position than they thought they would get.

Running back Calvin Flemons didn't get the ball as most thought he would. In the two previous games, he had been the choice to hand off to. Terry Woodley was given the ball on Prescott's first play and picked up a first down 28 yards down field.

On the next play Woodley again got the ball and another first down at the Gurdon 35.

Fred Hopson then got the call and picked up a first down at the nine. The Wolves were knocking on Gurdon's front door, but then the plays shifted.

Rafael Marlow picked up one yard on the next call; Hopson lost a yard; then a pass from quarterback Josh Bullock to Woodley fell incomplete. Bullock tried it again and this time he connected with Marlow, who was wide open for the TD. The extra point try was missed by Brad Harris to keep the score 7-6 in favor of the Devils.

After exchanging punts, the Go-Devils got serious and began their first scoring drive.

They began on their 42-yard line, but a five-yard penalty against the Wolves moved the ball to the 47. Fullback Brannon Hatley, who was the game's leading rusher, was stopped for no gain. Quarterback Colby Pace, coach John Pace's son, hit Rashaun Hopson with a pass for the first down at the Prescott 38.

Hatley gained five on the next play and four more on the second before losing two on the third. Cody Cox, who gained 36 yards for Gurdon during the game, got the first down at the Prescott 27.

Hatley picked up only two yards on first down; a pass fell incomplete and then a little screen pass went to Hatley, who went in for the TD. A two-point conversion attempt failed to leave the score at 13-6 with 10:41 left in the game.

Once more each team exchanged punts, then on Prescott's next possession, a fumble was recovered by the Go-Devils. Not to worry. After making a first down the Go-Devils stalled and had to punt with Prescott getting the touchback.

Finally at their own 40-yard line, Harris punted for the Wolves with Gurdon getting the ball at their own 23 and time running out in the half.

Two yards were picked up by Cox, but on the next play a penalty against Gurdon moved the ball back to the 20. Hatley gained the five back, setting up a third and eight. Pace attempted a pass that was intercepted by Sid Giles, who managed to get to the five before he was stopped.

Woodley gained four yards, then Bullock sneaked' it in for the TD. This time Bullock hit Bryan Joseph for a two-point conversion and the Curley Wolves led 14-13 going to the locker room, in spite of Gurdon's efforts to score again.

Prescott had made seven first downs in the half while Gurdon had made six.