CAMDEN — By JACKIE BEVILL
Staff writer
BEARDEN---Playing before a large crowd on Homecoming night, the Gurdon Go Devils Fernando Garcia kicked a 35-yard field goal with 2:50 left in the game to beat the Bears 10 to 8, before Homecoming Queen Jamie Barker and Maid-of-Honor, Destiny Johnson and the rest of their Royal Court at Rogers Field.
With the win, Gurdon improved to a 2-1 record while Bearden falls to 0-2 on the season. After the game, Bearden coach Trey Outlaw said he was proud of the Bearden defensive effort as they recovered four fumbles by the Go Devils and twice stopped the visitors on fourth downs at the Bearden three and twenty-yard lines to keep Gurdon out of the end zone.
Outlaw said that this week the Bears will try to fix their turnovers in practice since the Go Devils recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes in the game. Because of turnovers and penalties, both teams missed several scoring opportunities.
Bearden put the opening kick-off in play at its own 40-yard line but on first down the Bears fumbled the ball away and Gurdon took over. Facing a fourth-and-six, Garcia missed a 21-yard field goal that sailed wide right due to a hard push by the Bears defensive linemen. The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie.
Midway through the second quarter, Gurdon scored on a 42-yard touchdown run by Caleb Radfore and Garcia kicked the PAT to make it 7-0, which would be the score at intermission. During the half-time break, both bands entertained the crowds with their on-the-field programs.
In the third quarter, both teams’ defenses controlled the play. Going into the fourth quarter, Gurdon still led 7 to 0. Early in the final period, Bearden quarterback, Cohen Word hit Javion Robinson and the speedy receiver went 25-yards to the end zone for the Bears first touchdown of the game. Robert Miller ran the two-point conversion to give Bearden an 8 to 7 lead to the delight of the Homecoming crowd.
A short Bearden punt gave Gurdon the ball at the Bears 35-yard line and the Go Devils moved downfield to face a fourth-and- eight and Garcia, after missing a field goal in the first quarter, redeemed himself by kicking a 35-yarder to put Gurdon back on top, 10-8 with 2:50 left in the ball game.
On the ensuing kick, the Go Devils recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock, happy to leave with a 10-8 victory.
On defense, Bearden was led by Josh Tyler, C.J. Quarles, Cohen Word and Kendrick Juniel, all with fumble recoveries, and Garrett McWhorter, Scott Graves and Marquis Nelson. Bearden made nine first downs and had seven penalties for 45-yards while Gurdon made eight first down and drew eight penalties for 85 yards in the game. Gurdon will play Dierks at home Friday night while Bearden will open district play at Rogers Field against the Fordyce Redbugs with a 7 p.m. kickoff.