Gore beats Porter Consolidated in battle of Pirates, entertain Fairland in Class A playoff opener

PORTER — In a battle of Pirates last Friday night, Gore handled Porter Consolidated 41-6 in the 2023 regular-season finale and the final District A-8 game of the year.

Gore (8-2 overall, 5-2 in district play) finished in a three-way tie for second place with Panama and Pocola. However, since the Pirates have more district points, they are the second-seeded team from District A-8 and will entertain the Fairland Owls at 7 p.m. this Friday night at K.G. Horn Stadium in the opening round of the Class A playoffs.

A 20-yard touchdown run by Devon Mannon, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Tate Brooksher to Jagger Moore, and a 17-yard TD run by Brooksher got Gore 14 points in the first quarter.

The biggest play came on the final play of the first half when Brooksher hit Journey Shells on a 22-yard touchdown pass, which was followed by Bladin McCartney’s two-point conversion run.

Gore had a hat trick of scores in the third quarter, most of which came compliments McCartney as he scored on a 13-yard TD run and recorded a safety. Brooksher scored twice as he ran it from 13 yards out and scored the two-point conversion after McCartney’s touchdown. After Brooksher’s TD run, Luis Schyktanz kicked the extra point.

The Pirates recorded their second safety of the night, this time thanks to Dayton Smith in the final period.

For the game, McCartney led Gore with 143 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Brooksher rushed for 54 yards and two TDs — with each scoring a two-point conversion. Brooksher passed for 48 yards, which included his 45-yard touchdown pass to Shells. All total, Gore had 273 yards of offense and five TDs.

Defensively, Mannon led the way with five tackles, two solo, and two tackles for loss, followed by Smith with four tackles, one solo, and a safety and McCartney with four tackles, one solo, a quarterback sack and a safety.