Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils Falter, Fall 22-0 To Former Arch Rival Prescott

Gurdon's football team, the won with convincing wins over Fouke and Lake Village, didn't show up Friday night.

As a result, the Go-Devils who did take the field wound up on the short end of a 22-0 loss to arch-rivals Prescott.

This gave the Curley Wolves the Nevada County Picayune-Gurdon Times traveling trophy for the third time in the trophy's four-year existence. Each time the Wolves have taken the trophy, they have blanked the Devils.

In spite of the score, Prescott didn't play well either, but was able to capitalize on Devil mistakes, while Gurdon was not as fortunate with the Wolves screwed up.

For a while, it appeared as though neither team wanted to win, but didn't want the other to win either.

Prescott's defense stacked the line and blitzed throughout the game. This disrupted Gurdon's offensive timing during the contest.

The Devils won the opening toss, took the ball at the 22, ran three plays and punted as they tested the Prescott defensive front.

Prescott took control at its own 30, ran three plays and punted as well, with Gurdon's defense solid early on as well.

Gurdon's second series began with Chauncey Charles gaining eight yards from the Devil 37 to the 45. An offside call two plays later gave Gurdon initial first down of the game at midfield.

Unfortunately, after two more plays, Eric Allen began the option play and was nailed at Gurdon's 45. Facing a third and long, Allen dropped back had Demond Beasley wide open behind the secondary and overthrew his target, thereby forcing Gurdon to punt.

Prescott mounted its first scoring drive of the evening on its second possession.

The Wolves began at their own 33 and made use of a middle screen to get their inaugural first down on third down. A pitch from Brad Harris to Terry Woodley cost Prescott three yards.

For some reason, the officials called a time out in the middle of the drive for a water break with 3:41 showing in the first quarter. Once play resumed, Calvin Flemons carried to Gurdon's 46.

Woodley took the ball on a sweep to the Devil 22, with Rafeal Marlow moving the pigskin four-yards closer to the end zone on his first carry of the game. His second carry moved the Wolves to the nine.

The Devils were flagged for being offside, giving Prescott even better field position at the five. Flemons capped the drive with a touchdown. The point after split the uprights giving Prescott a 7-0 lead with 1:42 left.

Following the kickoff, Rashun Hopson lost a yard to the Gurdon 34. Allen, on second down, dropped back to pass, faced a heavy rush, scrambled to the 49 to give the Devils better field position and a first down.

Three plays later, however, Gurdon had to punt after Allen's pass to Jeff Rhodes was tipped away.

The punt sailed to Woodley at the 10, and was brought back to the 18 where the Wolves set up shop.

Three plays saw a net gain of four yards and the Wolves in punt formation. The kick rolled dead at Gurdon's 46.

This drive looked promising as Hopson carried to Prescott's 38 on first down. Brannon Hatley lost two, after missing the hole, before the Devils went to a slant pass.

Allen nailed Josh Griffin over the middle, with Griffin being off to the races. For a second it looked like Griffin would score, but a Wolf caught him from behind, knocking the ball loose.

Prescott recovered the loose ball at the Wolf 4.

Still, Gurdon's defense was tough, forcing a punt after three downs.

With 6:00 left in the half, the Devils began again at their own 38.

The drive, though, was short lived as a pitch to Charles wound up on the ground, with Prescott recovering at the Gurdon 39.

The Wolves still couldn't move against the Devil front line, and punted again after three plays.

This time, Gurdon began at its own 5 with 4:07 showing. Before the Devils ran a play, the officials called another time out for a water break on the sultry evening.

For the remainder of the half, however, neither team did much to move the ball toward the other team's goal line. Gurdon and Prescott swapped punts, with the Devils ending the half pinned deep in their own territory.

Flemons took the kick opening the second half at his own 16, returning it to the 28 where the Wolves began.

The one, two, three, kick dance ensued with Prescott punting to Charles at the Gurdon 32. He returned it to the 35.

Then the wheels fell off the Gurdon trolley.

A pitch to Myram Mitchell gained nothing on first down. Charles made it to the 38 on the second play from scrimmage. A delay of game call moved Gurdon back to the 33, with Allen getting sacked back at the 27 on third down.

Lining up in punt formation, the snap sailed high over Griffin's head. He was alert, though, and kicked the ball through the end zone for a safety and a 9-0 Prescott lead.

With 8:45 showing in the third, Gurdon lined up for the kickoff. Woodley fielded the kick at the Prescott 35, returning it to the Devil 13, where he fumbled.

A member of the Gurdon squad fell on the ball, giving the Devils possession.

It didn't matter as the Devils were three and out, punting to Harris at the Gurdon 46. The return came to the Devil 40.

Three plays had a net loss of five yards, with Prescott punting to the Gurdon 3 with 3:50 showing.

Another mistake cost the Devils six points as Hatley fumbled on first down, with Andrew Fellows recovering the ball for a touchdown.

Prescott tried for a two-point conversion, but was unsuccessful. Still, the Wolves were up 15-0.

The kickoff rolled through the end zone for a touchback, giving Gurdon the ball at the 20.

Allen was sacked by an all-out blitz at the 14, and left the game with an injured ankle.

Griffin replaced Allen under center. His first snap was a toss to Charles, and a loss back to the nine. On third down, Griffin missed Adrian Meeks and the Devils were again forced to punt.

Harris fielded the ball at the Gurdon 39 moving it three yards closer to the Devil goal line.

The Wolves ran three plays, gaining a grand total of two yards before the third quarter ended.

The fourth began with Prescott lining up to go for a first down needing five yards at Gurdon's 34.

However, a hankie on the field moved the Wolves back five to the 39. Prescott coaches opted to punt, only to see the kick blocked by Beasley and recovered by Prescott's Harris at the 42.

With 11:45 to go in the game, the Devils still had a chance. Allen returned at quarterback, giving to Charles, who moved the ball to the Prescott 45.

Hatley was stuffed on second down, but Allen made it to Prescott's 27 to put the Devils in great position to score.

Charles picked up eight more on a sweep, and then made it to the 12 on first down.