MINERAL SPRINGS, Ark.-Gurdon came out on top 33-24 over Mineral Springs Friday night in a 7-2A match up.
Despite a strong two-touchdown lead after the first quarter, the Hornets struggled to gain yardage in the second frame and to hold back the Go-Devils who turned a 12-point defecit into a 14-point lead going into halftime.
Jameson Threadgill led Gurdon rushing with 22 caries for 202 yards.
As a team, the Go-Devils surpassed the Hornets on the ground by 205 yards.
Gurdon had an explosive second quarter, stacking up 26 points on four trips into the end zone.
Antonio Dickens broke the ice on a 2-yard plunge. Less than a minute later Markell Pollins fell on a blocked punt in the endzone to give the Go-Devil's its first lead, 13-12.
Threadgill added the next touchdown on a 77-yard sprint, and Isaiah Harper tacked on Gurdon's final score of the first half, a 32-yard interception return with a good kick by Fernando Garcia-26-12 Go-Devils.
Mineral Springs was able to get within eight points just before the close of the first half when the Hornets scored on a pass from Peyton Hadden to Braiden Williams that Williams lateraled to DJ Anna for a 42-yard dash for six.
Terrel Fricks led the Hornets rushers with a single carry for 47 yards and Cameron Lee added three carries for 29 yards.
Jayden Williams was Hadden's go-to receiver with five receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown.
At the start of the second half Gurdon recieved the opening kick off and Mineral Springs held them back until Ernest Young intercepted the Go-Devil pass to give the ball back to the hosts. The Horent's following drive went 58 yards, including a 24-yard hook-up between Hadden and Anna, before giving the ball back to Gurdon afer a turnover on downs.
Hicks contributed three catches for 36 yards.
A second blocked punt, blocked by Remi Williams, stole the Hornet's first half moment after it was swallowed up in the end zone by Dickens for the touchdown; 33-18 Gurdon.
The Hornet's shortened the distance again in the final score of the game-a 16-yard pass from Hadden into the back corner of the end zone where Braiden Willams brought down the ball with three Go-Devil players sounding him-with 6:42 left to play.
Mineral Springs defense held during Gurdon's next possession, only giving up 13 yards and one first down before forcing the punt.
The Hornets began its final drive with 3:22 left to play but was unable to move the ball down field resulting in two costly sacks that kept the clock running till Mineral Springs was pressured to surrendered the ball with less than a minute to play.
Gurdon 0 26 7 0 - 33
Mineral Springs 12 0 6 6 - 24
First Quarter
MNS-Jayden Williams 17 pass from Peyton Hadden (kick failed), 8:05.
MNS-Terrel Fricks 99 fumble recovery (pass failed), 3:08.
Second Quarter
GRD-Antonia Dickens 2 run (Fernando Garcia Jr. kick good), 9:53.
GRD-Markell Pollins 17 punt block return (kick failed), 8:43.
GRD-Jameson Threadgill 77 run (run failed), 4:03.
GRD-Isaiah Harper 32 interception return (Garcia kick), 0:28.
MNS-DJ Anna 42 run (pass failed), 0:19.
Third Quarter
GRD-Dickens punt block recovered in end zone (Garcia kick), 2:50.
Fourth Quarter
MNS-Braiden Williams 16 pass from Hadden (pass failed), 6:42.
Gurdon Mineral Springs
First Downs 15 11
Yards Rushing 54-293 16-88
Yards Passing 16 172
Passes A-C-I 4-1-1 29-13-2
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-0
Penalties 5-40 7-55
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Gurdon, Dickens 13-40, Threadgill 22-202, Anna 5-8, Earnest Young 9-22, Harper 1-(-1), Radford 3-17. Mineral Springs, Ladarrius Hicks 5-17, Devon Swopes 1-1, Fricks 1-47, Cameron Lee 6-29, Hadden 3-(-6).
PASSING-Gurdon, D.J. Anna 1-4-1-16. Mineral Springs, Peyton Hadden 13-29-2-172.
RECEIVING-Gurdon, Threadgill 1-16. Mineral Springs, Rayshawn Sanders 1-10, J. Williams 5-93, B. Williams 3-32, Swopes 1-1, Hicks 3-36.