QUARTERFINALS
Panthers geared up for Go-Devils matchup
MAGNET COVE — Tonight marks the first of at least three meetings between Gurdon and Magnet Cove before the end of the 2021 season as well as the final game at Kenneth W. Hammons Stadium for the 2019 season.
The 2A-5 conference champion Panthers (11-1) have outscored their opponents 448-205 since the team’s 30-28 loss to Mountain View, marking the team’s longest consecutive winning streak as well as its first quarterfinal appearance since the 2012 season. The 2A-7 conference runner-up Go-Devils (9-3) have reached the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2011 season when they fell 13-12 to eventual Class 2A state runner-up Carlisle.
“Both schools have a great football tradition,” Magnet Cove head coach Caleb Carmikle said. “Like you said, it’s been a couple years since either one of us have been playing after Thanksgiving. I know we’re excited, and I know they are, too. I think both of our communities are rallying around the kids. It should be a great atmosphere on Friday night.”
Although it has been eight years since the Go-Devils have made it this far into the playoffs, head coach Kyle Jackson feels that his team has gotten a rough draw several years, running up against the top teams early in their playoff run.
“Ever since 2011, in my mind whether it’s right or wrong, I mean we’ve had two or three teams here that realistically were probably the top four the state, but just you know, get a hard, hard matchup there in the second round,” he explained, referencing losses to 2012 state runner-up Bearden, 2013 state champion Junction City and last year’s state runner-up Hazen which all defeated Gurdon in Week 12. “You know, we’ve had some really good good
teams; it’s just for bad luck or whatever you want to call it ran into somebody really good or the state champion or state runner up in the second round.”
With more rain forecast for tonight’s game, the two teams will be looking to force their opponents to the air while trying to use a dominant ground game. Gurdon, using the Wishbone, has tallied
3,000 yards on the ground, led by junior running back Jameson Threadgill (142 carries, 1,4443 yards, 19 TDs), and Carmikle said that his team is excited to face off against a team that will be joining the 2A-5 next season.
“They’re a very fundamentally sound, well-coached football team,” he said. “They play with a bunch of energy and aggression, and they’re fun to watch. … Offensively, they’re a ground-andpound football team, kind of like us, but in a different way. They’ve got a pretty good running back, the Threadgill kid. He hits a crease, and he can score, so we’ve got our work cut out for us for sure Friday night.”
Limiting the yardage for Threadgill will be key for the Panthers. “If you run upfield and give him a crease, he’s going to score,” Carmikle said. “He’s probably the fastest kid we’ve seen this year, a very talented running back. … The biggest key is to fly to the ball, and if we get a chance to force a turnover with the wet conditions that they’re predicting, we’ve got to take advantage of it.”
While the Go-Devils have only attempted 88 passes on the season, junior quarterback D.J. Anna is 43-for-84 passing (51.2%) for
921 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“They’re not going to throw it unless you make them,” Carmikle noted. “Obviously the people that have stopped them some have forced them go to the air more than they’re comfortable with, but they do have a decent passing game. Their play-action game is really good off of the stuff that they do just because their offense forces you to load the box … so we’ve got to be locked in on the back end.”
Magnet Cove, running a Wing-T offense, has tallied 3,915 yards with junior running back Landon Stone (244-2,579, 28 TDs) and senior quarterback Tyler Hodges (96-1,060, 22 TDs) leading the way.
“Obviously everybody knows about the Stone kid, the running back,” Jackson said. “When you’ve rushed for over 2,500 yards, you’re a good hand. To me the quarterback’s just as dangerous. … Up front, they’re not necessarily huge, but I think as a whole, they’re the best offensive line we’ve seen, as far as all five guys doing their job and just solid offensive linemen.”
Carmikle said that his team is in good health going into tonight’s game.
“We’re good to go,” he said. “Everybody’s healthy. It’s probably the healthiest we’ve been.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Kenneth W. Hammons Stadium.