Gurdon at Magnet Cove
MAGNET COVE — Gurdon proved that its first meeting against Magnet Cove before moving into the
2A-5 conference next season would be something to remember as the Go-Devils took a 34-17 win over the Panthers at Kenneth W. Hammons Stadium Friday night and advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time since 1988.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw Gurdon
(10-3) take a 20-17 lead, the Panthers (11-2) could not get their offense going in the second while battling penalties.
The Panthers had a 39-yard drive to start the second half, moving the ball down to the 21 where kicker Alex Ordonez had a 38-yard field goal attempt that fell short, but a penalty against the Go-Devils moved the ball down to just shy of the 21 for fourth and 1. The Panthers picked up their second penalty of the night, and on fourth and 5, Tyler Hodges’ pass to Levi Horton was long, turning the ball over.
The Go-Devils responded with a 11-drive, 79-yard touchdown drive that saw running back Jameson Threadgill run the ball in from the 7 to push out a 10-point lead with 2:58 left in the third quarter after Fernando Garcia’s kick.
Magnet Cove’s second drive was cut short as a pass from Hodges was tipped by Julius McClellan before being intercepted and run back 8 yards by Jamal Williams with 2:11 left in the period. Five plays and 44 yards later, Gurdon quarterback D.J. Anna connected with Garret White on a 28-yard strike to the front corner of the end zone with 2.4 seconds left, setting the final.
The Panthers garnered just 44 yards on their next two drives, using just 5:10 off the clock before turning the ball over on downs on both. Magnet Cove’s defense appeared to have a huge play as Bentley Garibay picked up a fumble and ran it down to the Go-Devil
20, but his knee was down as he picked up the fumble, leaving the Panthers with the ball at their own 15.
Magnet Cove looked strong from the start as Landon Stone ran the ball 80 yards into the end zone on the Panthers’ first play from scrimmage after a touchback by the Go-Devils. The kick by Ordonez was good for the early 7-0 lead with 3:56 off the clock.
Gurdon responded with Anna finding Armando Harper on a 12-yard pass to the end zone to cap a sixplay, 61-yard drive with 5:36 left in the opening period. The kick by Garcia left the game tied at 7-all.
Halfway through the second quarter, Ordonez pushed the Panthers ahead once again with a 26yard attempt with 6:38 remaining in the half before Threadgill found a seam and broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run 42 seconds later for the Go-Devils’ first lead of the game, 14-10.
Stone punched the ball in from the 2 with 1:32 left in the half to close out a 10-play, 51yard drive, but Royrick Anderson ran the ball in from the 1 with 17 seconds left to force the final lead exchange of the night as Garcia’s kick was blocked by Jack Harmon.
Threadgill dominated the field offensively with 183 yards and two touchdowns on
31 carries and a 36-yard reception while Stone, the top rusher in the state, was limited to
167 yards and two scores on 21 touches and one catch for 15 yards.
Anderson added 64 yards and a TD on eight carries, and Anna was 5-for-7 passing for
108 yards and two touchdowns. White had two catches for 35 yards and a score, Emmanuel Marks added 25 yards on a reception, and Harper had a single
12-yard catch for a TD. Hodges was 10-for-23 passing for 86 yards on the night with one interception, and he had 10 carries for 62 yards. Horton had three catches for 33 yards to lead the receivers corps, and McClellan had four catches for 30.
The Go-Devils will travel to Junction City to take on the Dragons next Friday night at Paul Muse Stadium.