Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils Enjoy Homecoming Feast of Gators

By JOHN MILLER

Simply put, Gurdon owned Foreman Friday night.

The Go-Devils literally did what they wanted in trouncing Foreman 41-0 in Gurdon's homecoming game.

The score could have been even more lopsided had Gurdon not been penalized 14 times for 140 yards.

Festivities began early at Gus Brown Stadium as the homecoming queen and her court were paraded onto the field, escorted by members of their family and the team.

This was followed by the beginning of the end for the Gators as Gurdon won the opening coin toss and took the ball.

Mario Charles fielded the kick at the 15, returning it to the 44 where Gurdon set up shop. Three plays later, the Devils had a 6-0 lead.

Josh Thomas carried to Foreman's 48, before M. Charles put the finishing touch on the scoring drive in two more carries.

Gator defenders blocked the point after, but it really didn't matter.

The ensuing kick sailed deep into the end zone, giving Foreman the ball at its 20.

Three running plays failed to give the Gators a first down and forced a punt.

Tonio Gatlin took the kick at his 40 and was stopped at the Gator 46.

Again, the Devil offense wasted little time in putting points on the board, with the second scoring drive requiring seven plays.

Thomas, M. Charles and Terry Cornish shouldered the load, with Charles going in from the 3 with 4:23 left in the opening period.

The Devils attempted a two-point conversion, but Jared Toland's pass to Keon Brewer was just wide, leaving Gurdon ahead 12-0.

Foreman got good field position after the kickoff as Marcus Cursh fielded the boot at his 17, returning it to the Gator 36.

Still, the Devil defense was solid forcing the Gators to punt after three plays.

Gurdon took control at its own 47, moving to the Gator 43 before losing the ball on a fumble with 0:37 left in the period.

The Gators managed a three-yard gain on the final play of the first quarter -- their seventh offensive snap of the contest.

Three plays later, however, the Devils again had possession of the ball after a fake punt resulted in an incomplete pass.

With the ball on the Foreman 49, the Devils began marching again, only to be forced to punt after three plays.

Unfortunately the snap was fumbled and the Gators recovered at Gurdon's 48.

Foreman's offense woke up and started marching toward Gurdon's sacred goal line.

The Gators ran five plays before signalcaller Edward Epps was picked off by Eric Allen at Gurdon's 25. Allen took the interception to the 34, but the Devils were flagged for clipping and lost 15 yards, with 6:16 left in the half.

Gurdon utilized a ball-control offense, eating up all but 32 seconds on the drive.

M. Charles got the Devils away from the shadow of their own goal on first down with a 13-yard run to the 32.

Thomas carried twice, moving the pigskin to the 41, before a reverse by Kenny Hughes came up just short of a first down on third down. Thomas bulled his way to the 43 on fourth down to keep the drive alive.

From there, Chauncey Charles took over, moving the line of scrimmage into Foreman territory on two carries to the Gator 44.

The march continued with a spectacular play from M. Charles who brought in a Toland pass and was smacked by a Foreman defender at the same time.

The impact knocked M. Charles off balance, but he managed to stumble to the 3 before going down.

A pair of running plays gained a yard before Thomas went in from the two, only to see it called back because of a motion penalty.

With the ball at the 7, M. Charles took the pitch from Toland and raced into the corner of the end zone, giving Gurdon an 18-0 lead.

Again the Devils tried for two, but Toland's pass to Eric Hatley was incomplete.

The Gators got the ball to open the third quarter, but were unable to garner a first down.

Lining up to punt, the Foreman kicker booted the ball, but was hit late by a Gurdon player. This, needless to say, brought more laundry from the zebras and gave Foreman a first down.

Two plays later, Gurdon was flagged for grabbing a facemask and kept the Gator hopes for a score alive as the ball was placed at the Devil 46.

Fortunately, the defense responded positively and forced a fumble T.J. Eckert recovered at the Gator 47.

However, the Gurdon offense stymied itself with penalties stopping a promising drive and forcing not one, but two punts.

The first punt rolled dead at the Foreman 6, but was called back because of a motion penalty.

Punt No. 2 was fielded by Andy Henderson at the Gator 20 and returned to the 27.

Foreman's offense showed brief signs of life as Todd Baker carried to the Gurdon 47 on first down.

This woke up the Devil defense, which stiffened and returned the ball to the Gurdon offense four plays later at the 43.

Three plays later, C. Charles took the ball on a sweep from the 31 and scored with 1:57 left in the period.

For the third time, the Devils went for two. This time, instead of Toland attempting a pass, he kept the ball on a quarterback sneak and went in, giving Gurdon a 26-0 lead.

Foreman got the ball back at its 20 and moved to the 33 before the buzzer sounded ending the third period.

The Gator march continued as the fourth quarter opened with Epps connected with J.W. Billingsley to the 44.

Foreman was aided by another facemask call, moving the ball to Gurdon's 42.

However, on the next play Epps was whacked and lost the ball. K. Hughes picked up the fumble and raced the length of the field for the touchdown.

With 10:55 in the game, the Devils went for a standard PAT try, which split the uprights giving Gurdon a 33-0 lead.

Again Foreman started at its 20, ran three plays and punted.

Penalties slowed Gurdon's offense as the Devils were flagged for clipping on first down, nullifying a 12 yard run by C. Charles and moving the ball back to Gurdon's 45.

Nick Hughes returned to his accustomed spot at fullback and carried to the Foreman 49 on first down.

Before Gurdon could call a time out, they were hit with more laundry for delay of game. The team was also charged with the TO as well with 7:40 left.

The option to C. Charles wound up with the ball on the ground, but he managed to recover the loose pigskin for no loss on the play.

Allen had replaced Toland under center. On third down, he dropped back and let one fly to Brewer at the Gator 25.

A Foreman defender had arrived early, but Gurdon declined the penalty because the reception netted more yardage.

The Devils were nailed with another clipping call which proved to be the end of the drive as they could only get back to the Gator 28.

Didn't matter.

Foreman did