Pirate seniors wanting to end careers in state finals

When they were freshmen, Gore senior quarterback Tate Brooksher and senior left guard Marcus Scott were a part of a Pirates team that played for the Class A state title in 2022.

While the pair of three-year starters for Gore have been to the playoffs as sophomores and juniors, the Pirates have not made it back to the state title game. The senior duo hopes that changes in their final season to be Gore Pirates.

“That would mean a lot, not just for the team but for the community as well, to show everyone that we deserve to be there — and that we’re the right team to be there,” Brooksher said.

“That (winning state) would be the best way to go out,” Scott said.

Being their senior season would make that goal even more memorable.

“We’re just trying to cherish every moment we have left of our final season (as Gore Pirates),” Brooksher said. “We want to go as far as possible.”

“It went so fast,” Scott said. “I want to see how far we make it this year.”

The first step in getting back to the state championship game for the first time in three years for the Pirates will begin with their Zero Week season opener against the Wilburton Diggers at 7 tonight at K.G. Horn Stadium. Both seniors believe the Pirates are ready.

“I’m feeling good about it,” Scott said. “We’ve had a good couple weeks of practice. We’re all just moving together.”

“We’re ready,” Brooksher said. “The whole team knows the offense. We’ve practiced a lot. We’ve put in the hard work. We’re not going to overlook them just because it’s the first game. Everyone can get better every year. We’re going to take each step on the road (to the Class A, Division II state title game). We’re going to see where it takes us.”