Pirates host Warner in Thursday night clash
by Lea Lessley - Sports Writer
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Gore hosts longtime rival Warner in a District A-6 homecoming contest at K.G. Horn Stadium Thursday night as the Pirates try to remain unbeaten for the season and in league play.

The Pirates are 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the district, along with Central and Talihina, who meet Friday night at Central's Tiger Field.

Warner is 2-2 for the season and 1-2 in the league after beating Keota 28-8 last week.

Quarterback Jed Baker (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) is a key part of the Eagles' offense. Last week the senior scored three touchdowns in Warner's victory over Keota.

Other offensive standouts for the Eagles are linemen Matt Jones (6-3, 265, senior), Colten Purdom (5-8, 225, sophomore), Josh Reese (6-2, 225, sophomore) and Dakota Hamm (5-11, 200, sophomore), running back Dalton Hawkins (5-11, 165, junior), tight end Matt Denton (6-1, 240, senior) and skilled players Ray King (5-8, 170, junior) and Glen Norton (5-10, 180, sophomore).

"They'll spread it out on offense and run trips to one side," Gore head coach Brandon Ellis said. "They'll run a lot of motion and pass the ball a little bit and spread you out. Their two dangerous players on offense are (Dalton) Hawkins and (Jed) Baker.

"On defense we have to stay home, penetrate, don't bite on the fakes and create turnovers. We want to put pressure on their quarterback and force him to make bad decisions."

Denton, a defensive end and tackle, is one of the key players on defense for Warner, along with Baker and Chase Ross (5-8, 180, sophomore).

"We think they'll run a 3-3 stack on defense when we're in the spread, and when we have a tight end they'll be in a 4-4 and bring the house," Ellis said. "No turnovers and ball security are two keys for our offense. If we have the line play that we had last week I think we'll be fine."

Gore defeated Pocola 35-14 last week. The Pirates' 4-0 record matches the 2005 squad's mark to start a season. Gore has not been 5-0 since 1996.

The Pirates boast a strong ground game, led by T.J. Baker. The senior tailback leads Sequoyah County in rushing with 616 yards and eight touchdowns on 60 carries.

Quarterback Logan Andrews has passed for 371 yards and nine touchdowns while completing 17-of-38 passes. Jake Dwyer has caught six of those for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

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