Gore handles Pocola in key District A-8 game

POCOLA–Friday‚s District A-8 showdown at Pocola never materialized as unbeaten Class A No. 2 Gore led 47-0 at the half on its way to a convincing 61-14 victory over the Indian at John Carter Field.

The Pirates (6-0 overall and 2-0 in the district) host rival Central (4-2 and 2-1) on Thursday night while Pocola (4-3 and 2-1) travels to Panama (4-2 and 2-0).

“Just really, really proud of the kids and the way they responded to a big game on the road,” Gore head coach Brandon Tyler said. “Pocola‚s a good football team but I thought our kids had a great week of preparation and it showed Friday night when we got off the bus and they were locked in and ready to go.

“Just very proud of our defense. We didn‚t give up a touchdown with those guys. They had a fumble recovery and then scored there late on our young guys but just very proud of our defense and the way they rose to the occasion.

“Offensively we did what we always do, just line up and run the football until they stop it and throw some play-action off it and we had a lot of success doing that as well. I thought Gunner (Dozier) and Noah (Cooper) had a great game and our offensive line and defensive line dominated up front and that‚s where it always starts. Those guys got it done up front and just very proud of those five guys and our D-line got after it.

“Just a total team effort all the way around, and offense, defense and special teams were clicking. Just very proud of them.”

Gore received the game‚s opening kickoff and the Pirates quickly took the lead when Gunner Dozier ran for a 21yard touchdown to cap the six-play, 55yard scoring drive. The Pirates led 7-0 following Christian O‚Connor pointafter kick with 9:37 remaining.

The Pirates‚ offense started its second series from the Pocola 34 after Jackson Duke partially blocked a punt and on fourth-and-2 from the 26 quarterback Noah Cooper crossed the goal line following a 26-yard run.

Later in the first quarter Cooper pitched to Dozier on an option play and the senior running back raced 31 yards into the end zone to make the score 20-0 with 3:44 left in the first quarter. A key play in the scoring drive was a 13-yard completion from Cooper to Dayne Perryman on a screen pass.

The Indians registered their initial first down of the contest moments later when quarterback Austin Hardwick completed a 5-yard pass to wide receiver Garrett Scott but a 1-yard run and three straight incompletions ended the drive at the Gore 33.

Eleven seconds into the second period Dozier rushed for a 13-yard touchdown to put the Pirates in front 26-0 and three key plays in the sixplay, 67-yard scoring drive were runs by Dozier (24 yards), Cooper (10) and Duke (6).

After Gore defensive back Tyler Lane returned an interception 10 yards to the Pirates‚ 44 Perryman‚s 38-yard reception took the visitors to the Pocola 15, and two plays later Dozier crossed the goal line following a 14-yard run after being hit in the backfield. O‚Connor‚s point-after touchdown with 8:29 to go before the half gave the Pirates a 33-0 advantage.

The Pirates started their next offensive series at the Pocola 24 after Duke partially blocked another punt and on first down Cooper threw a 24yard touchdown pass to Perryman at the 6:27 mark. Gore led 40-0 following O‚Connor‚s kick.

Back-to-back receptions by Gore wide receivers Liam Edwards (21 yards) and Ben Kirkpatrick (23) moved the Pirates to the Pocola 14 before Cooper completed a 14-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Blue Steward with 2:27 to go before the half. O‚Connor‚s PAT ended the first-half scoring and gave the Pirates a 47-0 advantage.

Early in the third stanza Scott returned a fumble 55 yards for a Pocola touchdown to put the Indians on the board.

Dozier‚s fifth touchdown of the game, a 14-yard run, came with 7:18 left in the third and the Pirates led 54-6 after O‚Connor‚s kick.

On the last play of the third quarter Gore defensive back Keigan Reid intercepted a pass at the Pirates‚ 48. Duke found the end zone after a 10-yard run with 11:19 to go in the final frame and O‚Connor‚s successful point-after kick made the score 61-6.

Almost midway through the period Scott ran for a 9-yard touchdown to end the scoring.

Gore‚s leading tacklers in the game were Duke (9 total tackles), Steward (7), Gabe Dozier, Hunter McGee, Lane and Perryman (6 each), Gunner Dozier (5), Jagger Moore and Reid (4 apiece) and Cas Moore (3).

Lane and Reid each intercepted a pass and registering tackles for loss were Gabe Dozier (4), Gunner Dozier (3), Steward and Duke (2 each) and Perryman (1). Gabe and Gunner Dozier recorded two sacks apiece.

Gunner Dozier was the game‚s leading rusher with 178 yards and five touchdowns on 17 carries and also running the ball for the Pirates were Cooper (10 carries for 62 yards), Duke (6 for 50), Bladin McCartney (3 for 7), Lane (1 for 5), Perryman (1 for 1) and Alex Hallum (2 for minus 1).

Cooper completed 6-of-11 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns to Perryman (3 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown), Kirkpatrick (23), Edwards (21) and Steward (14 and a TD) and Lane (7 yards) caught a throw from Duke.