Kickoff at Alvin Powell Field is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Gore is 3-4 in the league and 3-5 overall after the Pirates stopped Pocola, 26-0, last Thursday night. The victory was Gore's second-straight and second consecutive shutout.
The Pirates have not been eliminated from the playoff hunt. Gore must defeat Keota (3-3 in the district)) and Talihina (3-3) must lose their final two district games (at Keys and at home against winless Warner) for the Pirates to grab the fourth spot in the league behind Vian, Keys and Panama.
Keota is 3-4 for the season and the Lions enter Thursday's game riding a two-game winning streak. Keota did not play last week, but the Haskell County school defeated Pocola (22-13) and Warner (12-6) the previous two weeks.
Bill Brown is the first-year head coach of the Lions, and some of his key players are quarterback /defensive back Kyle Jackson (5-foot-10, 160-pound junior), fullback/linebacker Wes Carry (5-7, 210, senior), tailback Chuck Blankenship, running back Dow Maxwell and offensive lineman Tyson Cardell (6-1, 300, senior).
Carry scored two touchdowns on runs of 5 and 2-yards against Pocola, and Blankenship ran for a 44-yard touchdown and led the Lions in rushing with 92 yards on 11 carries.
Other key players are linebacker Nathan Seyler (5-10, 175, senior), defensive end Cody Thomas (5-10, 205, senior), defensive lineman T.J. Hearton (5-10, 210, senior) and safety Daniel Drummonds (5-10, 165, senior).
Hearton had nine total tackles for Keota in the Pocola game, while Thomas and Drummonds had eight and six tackles, respectively.
"They run the I-(formation) like we do, and basically their best ground-gainer is their quarterback," Gore head coach Richard Moseley said. "He is quick and shifty, and we have to contain him or he can cause some damage. Their second threat is their tailback, so basically they give it to their quarterback or their tailback. They throw the ball a little bit.
"(Defensive tackle) Heath Spears had six unassisted tackles in their (Pocola) backfield last week and he had a real good game. (Inside linebacker) Robby Summerlin was also one of our leading tacklers."
Gore safety Patrick Cheater intercepted two passes last week, and cornerback Chayson Anderson and outside linebacker Jordan Andrews each intercepted a throw.
"Our secondary has made the biggest improvement," remarked Moseley. "We moved Patrick (Cheater) to safety, and our cornerbacks are making them throw underneath. We're doing a whole lot better."
Moseley said Keota's defense was similar to his team's.
"They run a 4-4, like we do, and against Keys they did a super job against their offense," said Moseley. "If we execute like we have been we can move the ball, but we have to finish it off and get in the end zone."
Andrews, Gore's tailback, rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns (two, seven and 19 yards) against Pocola, and Z-back Damon Sheffield ran for 72 yards and a 51-yard TD. Cheater had a 40-yard punt return in the contest.
Moseley likes the progress his team has made this season.
"We're real pleased with the way things are going," Moseley said. "We hope to win-out and go 4-4 in the district Friday night."
