Gore heartbroken by state championship loss

EDMOND – Goreʼs Pirates went to Edmond Saturday with high spirits before the Class A State Championship game, expecting a winning end to their magical season. Unfortunately, that outcome was not to be, losing in a heartbreaker to the Fairview Yellowjackets, 32-28, at Chad Richison Stadium on the University of Central Oklahoma campus.

The Pirates never stopped fighting during all four quarters against a talented and physical Fairview squad.

Gore head coach Brandon Tyler had to be happy with the effort displayed by his experienced charges on the night, as well the effort they all put forth this season that led to them playing in the championship game.

The Pirates received a wakeup call from the beginning with the Yellowjacketsʼ odd kickoff style, that could best be described as a waist-high watermelon kick. It was apparent from the start that the title game was going to require some next-level play. After the Pirates successfully fielded that opening kick, Fairview held Gore to three and out.

Then the Yellowjackets went to work, converting twice on fourth and one, then going for it on a fourth and 12. Fairview quarterback Jax Bernard completed an 18yard pass to Reed Martins to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Bernard kept the ball on a 14-yard run into the endzone to score on Fairviewʼs initial possession, making the score 7-0 with 6:40 left in the first quarter.

After another Fairview watermelon onside kick attempt, the Piratesʼ Gunner Dozer made himself known by rushing 57 yards for a touchdown that, combined with the PAT, tied the game at 7 with 5:32 left in the first.

Gore stopped the Yellowjackets with multiple tackles for a loss in the next series, forcing Fairview to punt on fourth and 15 from their 14 yard line to begin Goreʼs next series.

The Pirates started at their 44 yard line, and on second and 12, Piratesʼ quarterback Noah Cooper threaded his throw to wideout Liam Edwards for a 37-yard gain to Fairviewʼs 17 yard line. On the next play, Cooper found an opening up the middle to fight his way into the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown. With Christian O’Connor’s PAT kick, the Pirates owned a 14-7 lead with 2:16 left in the opening quarter.

Gore kicked the ball to Fairview’s Bryce Ramay, who was immediately surrounded by a swarm of Pirates. From the blur of green helmets and jerseys, Gore’s Hunter McGee emerged with the football after forcing the Yellowjackets to mishandle the kick.

The Pirates worked their way toward the endzone before Fairview stopped them eight yards shy of a touchdown, and O’Connor’s 15-yard field goal attempt sailed wide, turning the ball over on downs.

The Yellowjackets started their next drive from their 20 yard line, but Gore stopped Fairview on the 42 yard line, ending the first quarter by forcing them to punt on their first play of the second stanza.

“It’s frustrating,” Tyler recalled. “In the first half we got opportunities, we had chances to go to 21-7 after we stripped the ball on the kickoff. We had a guy wide open in the endzone on a pass play, and instead we missed a blocking assignment, couldn’t get the pass off and Cooper got sacked. Then we turned around and missed a field goal, losing a chance to be up 17-7.”

The Pirates suffered a reversal of fortunes on Fairview’s punt to start the second quarter when the deep man for the Pirates had a last-second change of heart, deciding not to field the punt. But Jackson Duke touched the ball and created a live ball situation, and the Yellowjackets recovered the ball near the 20 yard line. A few plays later, Fairview got in the endzone, tying the game at 14 with 11:34 left in the half.

The Fairview defense went to work after that, shutting down Gore’s offense, partially due to the Pirates changing their game plan when workhorse Dozier was forced to the sidelines when he lost feeling in his wrist from a tweak to an injury received earlier in the season.

“So Gunner getting hurt was big,” Tyler explained. “That put Jackson carrying the load for us again. He was trying to play a lot on defense. With the way their fastpaced offense was, he was getting gassed. Noah stepped in. I thought Noah did a tremendous job again of running our offense. I’m proud of our team.”

The Yellowjackets managed to get within field goal distance with about 3:30 left to play in the first half, putting three points on the board to give Fairview a 1714 edge going into the locker room.

The Yellowjackets received the ball to start the second half, but Gore stopped them. Once the Pirates had the ball, they scored a touchdown off a pass play, putting seven on the board in the third quarter.

There were questionable calls that seemed to upset the crowd and coaches, especially pass interference calls after halftime.

Using a hurried offense, the Yellowjackets were able to get snaps off just fast enough to throw off Gore’s defense. As the second half passed, the Pirates’ defense exhibited signs of getting tired. Fairview moved the ball easier, both in the air and on the ground.

Fairview had no issues with going for the first down on fourth-down plays, which ultimately made the difference in the game. With a minute left and Gore with no timeouts left, the Yellowjackets needed a yard to win the game.

Fairview got that yard plus a couple of inches by fighting Gore’s defensive line for what seemed like an eternity.

“The turnovers, you can’t turn the ball over against a good team and expect to win,” Tyler explained. “Especially a state championship game. But we continued to battle. I told my wife we gave ourselves a chance to win and that’s all you can ask is to have that chance. We had the chances, we just didn’t capitalize on it.”

The Gore offense was led by Cooper with 20 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. Cooper also completed 12 of 14 passes for 167 yards, finding Wyatt Marrel and Dayne Perryman for a touchdown each. Dozier had nine carries for 62 yards and a TD, and Duke had five carries for 28 yards The passion and intensity Gore brought to the championship game and made the whole season special erupted when the realization that they’d lost the state championship game sank in from the coaches, parents, fans and, especially, the players. It was the team’s first and only loss of the season, as well as the last football game ever for many of the 21 seniors that made up this unique team.

While it was heartbreaking to see how devastated the Pirates were after the game, they quickly composed themselves and were the well-mannered representatives of their school and community that they had been all year. They have every reason to be proud of their accomplishments, because they earned it in every way.