Pirates hope to lock up playoff berth with Senior Night win over Allen
The Gore Pirates hope to do two things in tonight’s regular-season finale against the visiting Allen Mustangs when the two teams meet at 6 p.m. at K.G. Horn Stadium. The more important of the two things will be to secure a Class A, Division II playoff berth with a win to snatch the fourth seed from District AII-3.
The Gore Pirates hope to do two things in tonight’s regular-season finale against the visiting Allen Mustangs when the two teams meet at 6 p.m. at K.G. Horn Stadium. The more important of the two things will be to secure a Class A, Division II playoff berth with a win to snatch the fourth seed from District AII-3.
It the Pirates (5-4 overall, 3-3 in district play) win, they will be the fourth-seeded playoff team from the district. However, if the PIrates lose and Liberty upsets Central, Liberty will snatch the fourth playoff spot while the Pirates will be on the outside looking in.
“It’s a big one,” said Gore coach Brandon Ellis, who hopes to send his seniors out winners on Senior Night. “Everybody is upbeat and ready to go. Everybody is healthy. Things are good. We’ve had good practices. We went over what we want to do, and I like our game plan. We just have to go play.”
The Mustangs (1-8, 1-5) have lost four straight district games since winning their lone district contest and only win of the season — beating Mounds 32-30 on Oct. 4.
“Anytime you face a 1-8 team, you’re either going to get their best game or their worst game,” Ellis said. “They may leave everything out on the line and play their hearts out. Trust me, we’re not overlooking them one bit. We’re preparing for it just like it’s another game.”
Ellis said the Pirates will need to have some better success offensively than in recent weeks.
“We can’t play behind the chains (long distances on second and third downs),” he said. “We can’t afford to turn the ball over. We just have to play sound football. If we play sound football, and don’t have any mistakes, I like our chances. If you limit turnovers, you’re always in the ball game.”
Despite last week’s loss to Central, the Pirates got to get starting quarterback Tate Brooksher back from his injury suffered in the second quarter of the Week 7 game against Wewoka.
“Knowing that he’s healthy, it gives the defense something else to look at,” Ellis said. “There is that pass threat when he gets in there. It (Brooksher’s presence) adds another wrinkle to what we do.”
