Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mistakes Haunt Go-Devils As Stamps Posts Victory

By JOHN MILLER

Mental mistakes and turnovers proved too much for Gurdon to overcome Friday night as the Devils fell 28-15 to Stamps.

The Devils turned the pigskin over a total of six times, each stopping what looked to be a promising drive toward the Yellow jacket goal line.

Statistically, Gurdon won the contest, but statistics don't count when the final buzzer sounds. Only points on the board.

This dropped Gurdon to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

While it's still possible for the Devils to make post season play, they will have to win almost every remaining game in order to be in the top four of the conference.

This means the Devils will have to post wins over teams such as Lewisville, Foreman, Murfreesboro and Horatio as the season winds down.

The 'Jackets won the coin toss Friday night, deferring until the second half. This gave Gurdon the ball to start the contest.

Keone Penney fielded the kick at the 15, taking it to the 25.

However, before the first snap could be made, the Devils were forced to call a time out. Time was running down on the play clock and there was no fullback on the field.

The situation failed to get better as the Devils were flagged for illegal motion, again before the first play was underway.

Josh Thomas was able to gain a yard on the initial play, but the Devils committed their first turnover on second down.

Jared Toland dropped back to pass, was harassed and winged the ball. The oblong spheroid was tipped at the line of scrimmage, batted high into the air and caught by Jaquet Guilbeau, who returned it to Gurdon's 14 with 11:04 left in the first period.

Two plays later, Stamps enjoyed a 6-0 lead, which went to 7-0 following a successful point after attempt.

Vernon Joseph scored for the 'Jackets on a 17-yard romp.

But there was plenty of time left in the contest for Gurdon to come back.

Mario Charles, returning from an injury, took the ensuing kick, giving Gurdon field position at its 26.

The Devils drove down field, moving to the Stamps 34 before turning the ball over on downs at the 6:44 mark.

Charles carried the ball six straight times on the drive, before Toland's pass to Kenny Hughes fell incomplete on fourth down.

Gurdon's defense didn't bend, break, fold or get mutilated as the 'Jackets were forced to punt after three plays.

The Devils took over on their 24, moving backwards on two plays to the 17, as the Stamps defenders were able to penetrate the offensive line to tackle Gurdon ball carriers behind the line.

On third and 17, Toland again dropped back to pass. As he let the ball go, he was hit and the ball was picked off by Harold Martin, who met D. Deaton up close and personal as Deaton tried to bury Martin at the Devil 23.

Despite the great field position, Stamps was unable to breach the Gurdon goal, turning the ball over on downs on an incomplete pass from Bryan Sanders to Jason Nelson.

Taking over at its 21, the Devils again started to drive. Thomas burst through the line and rambled for 25 yards to the 46 before being brought down.

Unfortunately, disaster struck again as Chauncey Charles fumbled going through the line,

Nelson recovered the ball for Stamps at Gurdon's 45.

Mitch Dockery was stuffed on first down, but Nelson hit Allen Hampton at Gurdon's 25 to end the first period.

Joseph then rambled to the nine before being stripped of the ball by Eric Hatley. Gurdon recovered the loose pigskin at its own 11.

Not that it mattered as the Devils lost the ball two plays later when M. Charles fumbled and Stamps fell on it at the 15.

It took the 'Jackets six plays to finally penetrate Gurdon's defense and score the second touchdown of the night. The PAT, however, was wide, leaving Stamps with a 13-0 lead.

M. Charles took the kick at his 14, taking it to the 28 where the Devils offensive unit started.

Again, Gurdon was able to move the ball, but turned it over on downs a second time deep in 'Jacket-land on the 26.

The big play in the drive was a counter to K. Hughes, which gained 36 yards to the Stamps 27.

Still, though, the 'Jacket offense couldn't break the Gurdon "D" and was forced to punt after three plays.

Hatley fielded the kick at his own 45, taking it back to the Stamps 41 where the Devils set up shop.

This time, the Gurdon squad wasn't to be denied, though it was close.

K. Hughes took the ball to the 34 on a reverse. Two plays later, Gurdon was at the 35, going the wrong direction.

Toland then pitched back to K. Hughes who flung the ball down field, only to see it picked off by LaPatrick Seamster.

At first it appeared as though the Devils had turned the ball over again. However, there was a yellow hankie on the field and Stamps was flagged for a late hit.

This allowed Gurdon to keep the ball and move closer to the 'Jacket end zone.

In fact, after the zebra team picked up the flag, Toland connected with M. Charles on a slant for the score.

Gurdon lined up for a two-point conversion, and saw another flag fall to earth as Stamps had jumped offsides. This moved the ball closer, but the Devils still couldn't punch it over.

The half ended with the score 13-6 Stamps.

Because of the deferral in the first period, Stamps took the kick to start the third.

Guilbeau took the kick at his 12, returning it to the 40 before being brought down.

Though both teams were able to move the ball in the third, neither could sustain a drive. Penalties kept either squad from being effective in the period, with the exception of one Gurdon scoring drive.

The Devils had taken a punt at the 28, moving to the Stamps 13 before more laundry halted their forward progress.

Facing fourth and 10, Coach John Pace sent out the field goal team. Thomas' big foot connected with the ball, sending it between the uprights and narrowing the gap to 13-9 at the end of three.

The bottom fell out for Gurdon in the final 12 minutes as Stamps was able to score twice.

Stamps had been stopped and forced to punt with 11:07 to go in the contest. However, Hatley fumbled the ball at the Gurdon 30, with the 'Jackets recovering at the Devil 21.

This, while hurting Gurdon because of the loss of time, didn't result in a score as Josh Griffin sacked Sanders on fourth down, giving the Devils the ball on downs at their own 27.

Three plays later, Gurdon found itself at its 24 and lined up to punt.

The ball was snapped to Thomas on a play that had been successful against Dierks the week before. But Stamps was ready and stopped the big fullback at the 28, well short of a first down.

It took the 'Jackets four plays to post their third touchdown of the game, as Joseph went in from 11-yards out.

The try for two was good and Stamps led 21-9 with 6:10 to go.

This was still plenty of time for Gurdon to score twice, especiall