Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils Feast On Gators, 38-0

By JOHN MILLER

In spite of a near perfect season, the Gurdon Go-Devils are still not guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.

The Devils must win one of their next two games to be assured of post-season play.

However, Foreman would say Gurdon is more than qualified for a berth in the playoffs. This after the Devils roasted the Gators 38-0, spoiling the Foreman homecoming festivities Friday night.

The Devils spent 48-minutes thrashing their hosts, being terrible guests at the party. Because of their manners, the Devils had to also overcome the officiating.

The game started with Gurdon receiving the kick and setting up shop at the 38.

On the second play from scrimmage, the laundry started falling as Gurdon was nailed for clipping.

This pushed the Devils back to the 22. Jarod Toland went to the air on second and third down, but was unable to connect with his receivers.

Gurdon punted, giving the Gators the ball on their 41. Foreman moved to the Devil 45 before returning the favor.

The visitors began on the 11, moved to the 23 on crisp runs and a pass from Toland to Eric Hatley before being flagged again, this time for an illegal shift.

The penalty again killed a drive and forced Gurdon to punt.

Foreman began its second series at its own 46, moving to the 49 on first down. Quarterback Clint Lisenby dropped back to pass on second down and found a leaping Eric Allen in the secondary.

Allen ran the ball from the Gurdon 35 to Foreman's 7 before being dragged down.

This was all it took to get the Devil offense fired up. Chauncy Charles took the handoff from Toland, swept around right end and sauntered into the end zone. Josh Griffin booted the point after and Gurdon never looked back.

Foreman showed signs of moving the ball throughout the game, but could never get the Gurdon defense to break.

The Gators ran six plays before punting away with 36 seconds left in the first, giving Gurdon the ball at the 33.

Three plays netted a little more than nine yards and a fourth and short situation. Coach John Pace had his team line up, with Toland drawing the defense offside with a hard count.

Toland connected with Antonio Gatlin on the next play, with Gatlin making it to the eight before being stopped.

Kenny Hughes followed with a burst for six, only to see more laundry on the ground. The Devils were flagged for an illegal block and the ball was brought to the 23.

Hughes got most of this back on the next play, as he gained to the eight. Gatlin made it to the one on a counter, with Hughes putting the finishing touches on the drive for the touchdown.

The PAT went wide right, but Gurdon was up 13-0.

Foreman's offense ran three plays, netting four yards before the Gators lined up to punt. But, the Devils did not benefit from the change of possession.

A zebra's hanky had hit the ground, with Gurdon being nailed for roughing the kicker. Foreman kept the ball for two more plays before the Devils forced a fumble.

Six plays later, Charles was standing in the Gator end zone and the Devils led 19-0.

In fact, with the exception of one carry by Kaleph Williams, Charles was the offense on the drive. His touchdown run came on an option from 21-yards out with 3:20 left in the half.

After the score, the Devils lined up for two, but were unsuccessful.

Gurdon was also flagged for being offside on the ensuing kick, and were pushed back to the 35 where Josh Griffin booted the ball from.

Foreman was nailed for an illegal block on the return, giving the Gators the ball at their own 19.

The Gators were able to move near midfield before Gurdon's wrecking crew defense again stiffened and harassed and harried Lisenby, forcing yet another punt.

However, the Gurdon offense couldn't get on track and punted the ball back to Foreman.

Shortly before halftime, the officials sent a Gurdon fan to the bleachers. It seems this fan had been standing by the fence surrounding the field and questioning the calls being made.

When he went to the bleachers, he received a round of applause from Gurdon fans.

Foreman's luck didn't change during the halftime break.

The Gators got the ball to start the third quarter, but fumbled on second down with Gurdon falling on the ball at the Foreman 45.

Hughes carried three times in the four-play drive, with Griffin getting the other rush.

Hughes, on his first two carries, powered to the Gator 36. Griffin was able to break through the line and rumble to the 18 before being brought down. An option to Hughes capped the scoring drive, putting Gurdon up 25-0.

The try for two involved an illegal motion penalty and sack.

Foreman ran five plays before giving Gurdon the ball back. On a fourth down situation, the Gator signalcaller was met and introduced to a number of Devil defenders in the backfield.

Gurdon took over with 7:13 left in the third at the Foreman 42.

Three rushes moved the pigskin to the Gator 13 before Toland missed connection with Hatley. A screen to Charles put the ball at the eight on second down and the Toland/Hatley combine misfired again on third down.

Facing a fourth and goal, the Devils lined up for their first field goal attempt of the year. The snap, though, was high, fielded by Griffin, who was sacked at the 22.

The Gator offense did a short dance and gave the ball back to Gurdon at the 1:38 mark.

Starting at the Foreman 36, it only took the Devils two snaps to increase their lead.

Hughes gained five on first down, with the Toland/Hatley connection finishing off the touchdown play.

Foreman was flagged for a facemask, but it was declined with Gurdon preferring the six points.

Gurdon made the PAT attempt interesting. The Devils lined up as if to kick the ball. Toland took the snap and tried to pass the ball.

The pass was batted with Toland catching the pigskin, rolling to his right and throwing the ball again, only to see it go incomplete.

A flag was thrown, but picked up because a receiver can't be interfered with if the ball is tipped. Still, Gurdon led 31-0.

The period ended with the Gators going nowhere.

However, Pace began substituting heavily as the fourth quarter began.

This didn't help Foreman much as the Gators still had to punt after running six plays.

The punt was also an interesting trip into officialdom. Keon Brewer was back to field the kick at the Gurdon 34.

As he was looking up at the ball the Foreman defenders were hurtling toward him. The ball and a defender arrived at the same time, with Brewer being knocked back to the 32.

A flag was thrown and the head official signalled interference against Foreman. However, the ball was placed at the Devil 32 and the penalty never assessed.

Pace kept subs in on offense as well, but the second string didn't fare too well against Foreman's first string defense.

So, after three plays, the Devils were forced to punt. But, the Gators managed to break th