Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Clearcuts Lewisville

Gurdon faced a dangerous opponent in Lewisville Friday night on the gridiron.

When the battle had concluded, both teams kept their conference records intact. This was possible as the Red Devils were winless in the 7AA West coming in and Gurdon was unblemished in league play.

After the final buzzer sounded and mud was wiped from everything, the Go-Devils had a 40-0 win.

Lewisville, though, was dangerous because they were winless and it would have been easy for Gurdon to take the Red Devils too lightly. As it was, the Go-Devils clear cut Lewisville, fighting off the Red Devils and mosquitoes.

Fans were drenched shortly after the game began as the heavens opened and torrential rains fell. Just to make things interesting, a light fog rolled in from the north end zone.

The home team won the toss and took the opening kick. Of course, Gurdon's kicking game has been an adventure throughout the season and the inclement weather didn't help. The opening boot sailed out of bounds with Lewisville taking the ball on the 35.

The hosts ran five plays, moving the pigskin to their own 49 before being forced to punt.

The kick sailed to Rashun Hopson at the Gurdon 19 and the track meet was on. Hopson's run covered all four cardinal directions before finding a resting place in the Lewisville end zone with Gurdon up 6-0 and 9:28 showing on the clock. Josh Griffin's kick made it 7-0 for the visitors.

Lewisville, for some bizarre reason, went to a little trickery. The kick was fielded by the Red Devil quarterback (there were no programs available, therefore no names of the Lewisville players), who huddled with several Red Devils before giving the ball to a number 25, who slipped at the 15 and was downed.

Three plays later the Red Devils punted again with the kick rolling dead at the Lewisville 30.

With 7:52 showing in the first, Gurdon's offense took the field briefly. Lewisville jumped offsides to move the ball to the 25.

From there, the scoring drive ended with Brannon Hatley taking it in on the first play. Griffin's kick again split the uprights and Gurdon led 14-0 with 7:08 left in the opening period.

It got worse.

The ensuing kickoff was fumbled at the Lewisville 12, with a Gurdon player falling on the loose ball.

The Go-Devils then had to waste a time out because the team had no center to begin play. When the center showed, the offense needed twice as many plays to score as it did on the first drive.

Chauncey Charles carried both times with the score coming at the 6:20 mark in the period. Griffin's kick was partially blocked and went wide right.

This ended scoring for the first period, as Lewisville never really threatened during the contest.

The Red Devils did rely on the razzle-dazzle play on the kickoff, using the huddle method, and moving the ball from the 12 to the 26.

Lewisville ran three plays, moving to the 43 before coughing the ball up with Gurdon recovering the fumble at the Red Devil 40.

Unexpectedly, Gurdon didn't score on this drive in the deluge. Hatley gained one on first down, with Hopson moving the ball to the 35 on the second play.

Third down saw Allen wing the ball to Jeff Rhodes, but the pass fell incomplete, forcing Gurdon to punt.

The ball rolled dead at the Lewisville 6.

The home team came out fired, up, moving to the 30 on three plays as the first quarter mercifully ended.

As period two began, the Red Devils flame was quickly extinguished and the drive stalled, forcing yet another punt.

Gurdon took over at the Lewisville 46 with Hopson gaining 27 yards to the Red Devil 27 before fumbling. However, the Go-Devils recovered the errant ball.

Unfortunately, Gurdon's drive also stalled as the turf was a wet, muddy mess. On fourth down, Allen rolled out to pass, tried to keep the ball and was sacked at the 26 where Lewisville took over.

The Red Devils came out in a wishbone offense, but still couldn't move the ball effectively and again had to punt.

Charles fielded the kick at the Gurdon 30, giving his team decent field position at the 34.

Lightning struck on the next play as Hatley broke free of the line and raced 66 yards for the score.

Halloween came early on the try for two as weirdness set in. Allen kept the ball, trying to get into the end zone, but fumbled. The ball was then picked up by Hatley, who also fumbled. This time, lineman Flint King found the greased pigskin and appeared to score, but the refs waived off the two points.

Still, Gurdon led 26-0 with 5:54 left in the half.

Rod Serling's presence was felt on the kickoff as the boot went off the side of the kicker's foot and appeared to go out of bounds. However, after the ball had traveled about 10 yards, a Gurdon player fell on it, making it an onside kick, as ruled by the officials.

Gurdon's offense set up shop at the Lewisville 41.

Hatley moved the Go-Devils closer with a 10 yard scamper to the 31. Charles added six moving the ball to the 25, before Hatley capped the drive on a trap up the gut for the score with 4:03 showing.

With the score 32-0, the Devils went for a conventional point after, only to see the kick blocked.

Lewisville again went to the huddle on the ensuing kick, getting up to its own 21. The Red Devils managed to get to midfield by the time the buzzer sounded ending the half.

Halftime was also an adventure as the Go-Devil Marching Band braved the elements to perform its routine, while the host band refused to take the field at the break.

Moths the size of destroyers were seen flying above the field, accompanied by mosquitoes as big as PT boats.

The press box was built along the lines of World War II sniper roosts small, cramped and with little visibility.

When Gurdon's band concluded it's performance, fans on both sides began leaving. For all intents and purposes, the game was over except for the final score. No one expected the Red Devils to come back and post a win, or even make it a game.

The third period came and went with neither team scoring. Both squads fought between the 20s, but neither really seemed to interested in crossing the goal line. Of course, the weather conditions remained horrid as the rain fell in sheets, making it hard for runners to keep their footing, much less make cuts.

Gurdon lost the services of sophomore Adam Clark who was injured on the fourth play of the second half and had to be carried off in an ambulance. Clark suffered a leg injury which could end his season.

Midway through the quarter, Gurdon Coach John Pace began substituting heavily to get his younger players some valuable playing experience and minutes in action.

The fourth quarter began with Lewisville on its own 35, but punting three plays later.