Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils Fell Dierks 42-8

On a wet October Friday night, the home fans didn't stay for the football game.

However, the home fans were from Dierks and the game ended before the first quarter did as Gurdon pasted the Outlaws 42-8.

Security was heavy at the game, as there was some anticipation of revenge from the Gurdon fans after the stunt Dierks pulled last season, forcing the Go-Devils to forfeit after the officials failed to honor their contract and didn't show.

This was the only blemish on Gurdon's regular season.

Still, Friday night, the Devils made the trip to Outlaw country to play.

Dierks won the opening toss and deferred until the second half. This gave Gurdon possession first.

It quickly became obvious the officials would be an integral part of the contest.

After Chauncy Charles took the opening kick from the 4 to the Dierks 36, the zebras came into play.

On first down, Gurdon was flagged for illegal motion, moving them back to the Outlaw 41.

Two plays later, Charles lumbered through the Dierks defense to the 17. Brannon Hatley took over gaining six on the third play, with the drive capped by Eric Allen who kept the ball for the first score of the game.

Gurdon's scoring drive took two minutes and two seconds.

However, before the point after try occurred, the Devils were flagged a second time for motion, moving the ball back to the eight. Still, Josh Griffin booted the ball between the uprights giving Gurdon a 7-0 lead.

Kickoffs after scores have been an adventure for the Devils of late, with several winding up out of bounds. To prevent this, the kick was squibbed to Ben Allen at the Dierks 37 where the Outlaws took over.

Dierks came out in a double slot formation and used a lot of motion to confuse the Gurdon defense early.

Quarterback Scott McLaughlin came out throwing as well, missing his first attempt, but finding Lance Lowery on second down for a nine-yard gain.

Allen carried twice to Gurdon's 39 before the Outlaws again went to the air, with McLaughlin and Lowery hooking up to the Devil 11.

Allen moved the pigskin to Gurdon's nine before a pass fall incomplete and a flag hit the ground as the officials called the Devils for pass interference, though the defender clearly hit the ball and not the receiver.

This moved the ball to Gurdon's 5. The Devil defense stiffened, but three plays later gave up the score as Allen went in from four yards out.

Then it got weird. The Outlaws sent their linemen to one side of the field, keeping the center, holder and kicker in front of the goal.

At the snap, the holder fielded the ball and tossed a short pass for a two-point conversion.

This gave Dierks the only lead the team would have in the game at 8-7.

With 6:27 left in the first, the Devils were unable to mount a scoring drive. On two occasions, Gurdon players put the ball on the ground, but managed to recover the fumbles.

More than anything, this kept Gurdon from moving downfield and forced a punt.

Dierks took over at its own 21 and soon learned Gurdon came to play. Ball carriers were pounded as they came near the line.

Three plays later, the Outlaws booted the ball back to Gurdon, with the Devils taking over at the Dierks 44.

Hatley wasted no time in scoring, as he took the handoff the distance on first down with 2:59 showing.

Gurdon then led 13-8, but disdained the try for one, instead going for two. Allen pitched to Charles, who scored the deuce and gave his team a 15-8 lead.

Allen fielded the ensuing kick at the 28, returning it to the 40 where the Outlaws set up shop for one play.

McLaughlin dropped back to pass, winged the ball to the flat where it was tipped by Charles. Before it hit the ground, Griffin was there for the pick at the Dierks 44.

Five plays later, Adrian Meeks put the Devils up 21-8 by entering the promised land from 13 yards out.

Gurdon again went for two, with Allen keeping and scoring to give the Devils a 23-8 lead with 1:00 showing in the first.

The Outlaws were severely wounded and bleeding heavily as these early offensive shots found their mark.

From there, the hosts resorted to trickery. The kick went to Jake Hill at the 23, where a fake reverse was attempted. He kept the ball, making it to the 28.

Five plays later, though, Dierks punted to Gurdon's 14, as the Devils were wary of more chicanery and had no one back to field the ball.

Hatley gained two on first down, and saw his team moved backwards as a hankie hit the wet turf and Gurdon was called for illegal procedure on second down. This put the Devils back to the 11.

Rashun Hopson gained five to the 16, but the Devils were then flagged for holding after Hopson broke loose to the Outlaw 40.

Now Gurdon was back at their own 9 and had to punt.

Hill fielded the kick at the Dierks 48, handed it to Derek Kirby on the reverse with Kirby losing three to the Outlaw 45.

The good field position was wasted as the Gurdon defense again was up to the task and forced Dierks to turn the ball over on downs as they couldn't gain 10 yards on four tries.

Taking over at the Gurdon 37, Hatley rumbled to the Outlaw 47. Of course to help even things out, the officials flagged Gurdon for illegal motion on the next play, moving the Devils back five yards.

Allen went to the air, finding Griffin, who made it to the Dierks 49. He then found Demond Beasley via air mail and Gurdon moved to the 35.

A couple of running plays were thrown in during the drive before Allen found Meeks at the 5 with 1:16 left in the half.

Allen went in on the next play, giving Gurdon a 29-8 lead. The PAT was good and the Devils led 30-8.

The remainder of the first half was irrelevant as Dierks did nothing.

Off and on during the first half, the rains would fall in torrents. However, it appeared as though the weather gods were on Gurdon's side as it mostly rained on Dierks' offense.

During the halftime show, with the Go-Devil Marching Band performing, the rains held off. But when the home band took the field the heavens opened and rains fell.

Play started with the ball kicked to the Dierks 23, being picked up by Allen and returned to the 33.

Before the first play from scrimmage occurred, the Outlaws received their first penalty of the game for delay of game. From there it was three and out.

The Devils did no better on their first possession and punted back to Dierks, with the Outlaws taking over at their own 23.

Dierks moved to the 43 before losing 10 yards and having to punt back to Gurdon. The ball rolled dead at the Devil 23.

It took little time for the Devils to get into scoring territory as Charles gained 20 on second down and Allen found Meeks at the Dierks 19 on the thir