Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Pee Wee Team 3rd In Tourney

By JOHN MILLER

Gurdon's pee wee football team entered the post-season tournament with fire in its eyes.

The end result was a third place finish as the First State Bank team posted a 32-0 shutout of the Arkadelphia Green team.

The Little Devils started punishing the Green team early and continued throughout the game.

In the first quarter, Davion Williams broke the scoreless tie by bulling his way into the end zone. Anthony McPeak made it 8-0 with the two-point conversion.

Gurdon's defense made sure the Green offense never got going, as rushers were swarmed and the Green boys had to punt.

It didn't take long for the purple people eaters to score as McPeak made it 14-0, with Williams taking the bow for a two-point conversion and a 16-0 lead.

The Green team's problems were compounded on their next possession as Eric McCuistion picked off a pass.

Gurdon's offense was at full speed as Mikey Benson found Marcel Johnson with a pass. The Little Devils marched steadily toward the promised land for a third time, but fell short when Hunter Johnson was brought down at the four as time ran out.

The second half was no better for the Green team than the first half had been.

Even though the Green squad got the opening kick to start the second half, the Gurdon defense forced them into a fumble situation as Hunter Johnson stripped the ball from a rusher and fell on it.

When the Gurdon offense took the field, he completed his task by scoring the touchdown. McPeak added the two-point conversion and Gurdon led 24-0.

Another two points were added to the Little Devil score as the Green quarterback was sacked in the end zone by Hunter and Marcel Johnson. This put the purple squad up 26-0.

And, Gurdon got the ball back after the safety. Runners moved downfield behind solid blocking.

The final score came when Benson kept the ball and crossed the plane of the goal. The try for two, though, failed after Gurdon was flagged for a five-yard penalty.

Again, the defense was immovable and forced the Green team to give the ball up.

A trick play netted Marcel Johnson 20 yards, but Benson's pass was intercepted, giving the ball to the Green team.

Not that it mattered as Gurdon's defense held with time running out.

In the pee wee team's first year of existence, it finished third in the league and third in the tournament.