Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils Hammer Beavers 30-8

Two games into the season and Gurdon's Go-Devils are untested for the most part.

Game one saw the Devils demolish Fouke 28-0, followed by Friday night's laugher against Lake Village as Gurdon posted a 30-8 win.

The team could be tested this Friday night as they make the short road trip to Prescott for their annual date with the Curley Wolves. The Wolves gave Hope all they wanted before falling 21-14.

Still, Gurdon made the longest road trip the team will make of the regular season so they could whip the Beavers.

Lakeside, as the high school is called, has a new stadium this year, but its inauguration wasn't pleasant on the rainy night. The Beavers returned 16 starters from last year's team, but only had a 27 suited up against the Devils. Lakeside is the smallest of the 8-AAA schools.

The Beavers won the toss and elected to receive to get the game started. The opening kick was returned to the 32, with 15 more yards tacked on as Gurdon was nailed for grabbing a facemask. This set the Beavers up at their own 47.

Before the first snap of the game, Gurdon called a time out. When play resumed Ronnie Jackson carried to the Devil 48. Five straight carries by all-everything Johnny Moore had the ball deep in Gurdon territory at the 15, with Moore consistently being hit by several Devils at a time.

On the seventh play of the drive, the pitch from southpaw quarterback Lance Douglas wound up on the ground and in the arms of Gurdon's Demond Beasley at the 25.

Brannon Hatley gained five on the first carry before Chauncey Charles took the handoff on second down, broke over the right side and tightroped the sidelines for a 70-yard touchdown with 8:23 showing. The point after was wide right, but Gurdon led 6-0.

Lakeside showed it could move the ball against the Devils on the slick surface, but didn't show the capacity to score.

The Beavers set up shop at the 24 for their second possession, running 10 plays going both directions, and finally being forced to punt.

Gurdon took possession at the Lakeside 35 with 2:34 left in the opening quarter.

Hatley tried the left side for three, with Charles moving the ball to the 25 on second down.

The third play saw Hatley carry to the 16, but a hankie hit the ground and the Beavers were nailed for a facemask call. This put the ball at the 8 and gave Gurdon a first and goal.

Period one ended with Charles carrying twice, losing two on first down, but moving the ball to the five as the buzzer sounded.

As the second quarter began, Lakeside was flagged for being offside. This put the ball at the two-and-a-half yard line. Charles wasted no time in scoring his second TD of the night.

On the try for two, quarterback Eric Allen kept the ball, but was sacked. Still, Gurdon held a 12-0 lead with 11:55 left in the second.

The ensuing kick was downed at the Beaver 38, where the home team took over.

Lakeside move the ball deep into Gurdon territory before fumbling for a second time. The Devils recovered at their own 30 with 7:55 showing.

This time, though, Gurdon was unable to sustain a drive and had to punt. There was some excitement on the punt attempt as the snap was high and the kick was low. Still, it was downed at the Lakeside 44.

The Beavers did no better against Gurdon's swarming defense, as they ran three plays and punted to the Devil 17.

Gurdon returned the favor going three and out, punting to the Beaver 33.

The Beavers tried to get slick as the clock wound down toward halftime. Three offensive plays showed a net loss of three yards for the home squad, when they called for time with 0:30 on the clock.

Gurdon, expecting a punt, was caught napping as Mario Rodgers scampered to the Devil 31 before being brought down.

With 0:14 left, a pitchout was fumbled, with Gurdon's Adrian Meeks falling on the errant pigskin to end the half with Gurdon up 12-0.

The kick starting the third period sailed into the end zone, forcing Gurdon to set up shop at its own 20.

A dozen snaps later and Charles was in the promised land for a third time of the night, giving Gurdon an 18-0 lead. The try for two was again unsuccessful. The drive ate most of the period, consuming 5:53.

The Beavers dropped the kickoff, bu managed to recover it and move the ball to the 27. Seven plays later, they gave the ball to Gurdon on downs at the Lakeside 37.

The Devils began their drive by being nailed for an illegal block. This moved the pigskin back to the Gurdon 47. From there it was three and out, with the punt going out of bounds at the Lakeside eight.

Lakeside ran one play before the period ended. As the final 12 minutes began, the Beavers were still unable to solve the riddle of the Devil defense and had to punt.

Gurdon took over at the Lakeside 47. Allen winged a pass for Greg Rhodes, with the refs winging a flag against Lakeside for pass interference. This moved the ball to the Lakeside 32.

Unfortunately, the drive stalled as the Devil's were unable to penetrate Lakeside's defense for a change. The Beavers took over on their own 33 with 10:07 on the clock.

It didn't matter, the team was simply not on par to play against Gurdon's defense. Four plays later and Gurdon had the ball at the Lakeside 30 on downs.

Then the Devils returned the favor as they fumbled on first down. The Beavers recovered, temporarily dodging a bullet.

From there, play got sloppy. Lakeside lost 15 yards on first down as Josh Griffin found himself meeting the ball carrier deep in Beaver-land. Two plays and two consecutive fumbles had it fourth and forever for the host team.

The punt sailed to the Lakeside 37, giving Gurdon excellent field position.

Allen wasted no time as he rolled right, kept the ball and sprinted 37 yards for the score to give the Devils a 24-0 lead. Again the try for two was unsuccessful as Allen missed Bobby Charles in the end zone.

Lakeside set up shop at the 42, running two plays before Allen picked off a Steve Taylor pass, returning it to the 36.

Gurdon ran three plays, losing four yards and had to punt. But, the snap was high and the Beavers took the loose ball in for their only score of the night. Lakeside's try for two was good, making the score 24-8.

From there, the Beavers tried an onside kick. The officials said a Devil player touched the ball though it didn't travel the required 10 yards. Lakeside recovered at its own 48.

Moore took the first down pitch to Gurdon's 42, before Douglas was picked off by Allen again. Allen returned the interception to Lakeside's 43.

The Devils used most of the remaining 4:00 trying to score their fifth touchdown of the evening, and the drive was not without its moments.

On first down, Gurdon fumbled, but recovered. Charles took