GHS FOOTBALL
The Gore Pirates almost had the perfect season in 2022, going through undefeated until the Class A state title game — in which they lost 32-28 to Fairview.
Despite losing 23 players from that team, Gore coach Brandon Ellis, starting his second stint with the Pirates after being most recently across the county at Muldrow, believes his team can be just as successful in 2023.
“We know we’ve got two different targets on our backs,” Ellis said. “We’ve got one where we’ve been district champs the last three years. Two, there’s a target on our backs because we lost 23 players (from last year’s Class A state runner-up team). I’m sure people are chomping at the bits (to get us), and I love playing that underdog role. That doesn’t change what we’re trying to learn here or change our motivation. We’re just going to play Gore football — and leave it at that. We had 100 percent attendance all summer pride. That in itself is a testament to the kids. They know what it takes. You don’t have to motivate these kids. These kids walk in and do their job.”
Ellis said that having such a successful season that ended with bringing the silver ball back to the trophy case in December can only help the team come this new season.
“It always gives us motivation when you have a successful season,” he said. “The reality is we have a whole new set of guys. We’ve got two returning starters, (senior lineman) Layne Ward and (senior wide receiver/defensive back) Journey Shells. That’s two returners on offense and zero returners on defense, but these kids have been through the grind. They know what it takes to win. That’s a big positive on our side. There’s no motivation needed. These guys who have been pushed around on the practice dummies, it’s their time to go. They’re eager and ready to go. That’s motivation. Gore has always been a traditional football school. and will be long after I’m gone. It’s a football town. The town is unbelievably supportive. The administration is supportive.”
For 2023, everything offensively will be keyed by sophomore quarterback Tate Brooksher.
“Tate Brooksher is going to allow us to do more things,” Ellis said. “He’s a great runner, thrower, very shifty and smart football wise. He’s got a lot of qualities about him that reminds me of a kid I had at Panama in Andy Burris. They’re built the same. Their mentalities are the same. They’re just football players.”
Brooksher will have several running backs to whom to hand the ball.
“We’ve got some running backs,” Ellis said. “We’ve got a senior in Hunter McGee. He’s kind of our lightning guy. He’s quick and smart. He’s a senior, so he’s a veteran. We’re going to move him around from slot position to tailback/H-back. Then, we have (Bladin) Mc-Cartney, who’s a sophomore. He’s more of our thunder guy. He’s a bruiser. He’s got great speed and very strong. We’ve got a freshman tailback that we really like in (Devon) Mannon. We’ve got some more H-backs as well. Ayden Cox is another one that is going to be able to help us out in that H-back position.”
Ellis is pretty high on his receiving corps.
“We’ve got a veteran guy out there in Journey Shells,” he said. “He’s a senior. He’s a big target. He’s smart with his routes. He has a very high football IQ. He catches anything near him. On the other side, we have two guys that are going to split some time. Senior Chester Abercrombie will play for us, as well Bryon McDuffie, who will be a junior. Both of them are really good athletes. They’re neck and neck, so we’re going to split (playing) time with them. Our slot receiver (position), we’re going to have two guys we really like. I’m really excited about freshman Keeton Rowe. Keaton is real smooth on (running) his routes, and has good hands and speed. Then we have James Brasuell — who is a sophomore. Brasuell is real smooth on (running) his routes. He’s got good hands.”
The offensive line has some untested players.
“Up front, we’re going to be kind of veteran, but young,” Ellis said. “This is one of our other returning starters — Layne Ward is anchoring the line. He’s a fouryear starter, so he’s been in it before. He knows what it takes. Right now at both guards, we’re looking at freshmen Kaydin McCartney and T.J. Abercrombie. Those guys can go. They’re big-time strong. They’re picking up things (the system) really well. We’ve got guys who can back them up, too — and again, these backups might win a starting job also with Maden Smith and Marcus Scott. On the edges at tackles, we’ve got Caden Cowan that came over from Sallisaw, so he’s got a lot of playing time at the (Class) 4A level. Then, we’ve got Antonio Parker as left tackle, who’s a sophomore — who gets after it. He’s quick. We really like where he’s at.”
Some of those offensive linemen, and others, will be counted upon to be two-way players when it comes to the defensive side of the ball.
“Some of these guys are going to be twoway starters,” Ellis said. “That’s why the No. 1 priority is getting these guys in shape. It’s a little bit different from (Class) A ball to (Class) 3A or 4A ball, where I was at last time (Muldrow) for a couple of seasons. You can afford to rest some guys. We will be able to get to do that a little bit. We have a really deep rotation in the defensive line. We really like where we’re at. We’re going to be able to have the ability to switch guys in and out for breathers. Our depth there is really good.”
Ellis also likes his linebacking corps.
“We’re going to start a true freshman at one of them, Devon Mannon,” he said. “We’ve got Jagger Moore at another inside linebacker. At our outside linebackers, we’re looking at Ayden Cox and Bladin McCartney right now. Ayden brings that really good intelligence — he’s going to be at the right spot at the right time. Bladin is going to bring the pound-fast (facet) to it. Those will be our two outside guys. (Assistant) Coach (Matt) Hawkins really likes where they’re at right now.”
The defensive backfield likely will be Gore’s defensive strength.
“Those will be kind of our skill guys,” Ellis said. “We’ve got Chester Abercrombie at one cornerback right now. We’ve got Bryon McDuffie at the other corner right now. We’ve got Journey Shells and Hunter McGee at safety. Basically, we have three seniors in the back end and one junior, so we ought to be solid back there.”
Here are the members of the 2023 Gore Pirates football team. Front row, from left — Tate Brooksher, Luis Schyktanz, James Brasuell, Keeton Rowe, Bryon McDuffie, Keiden Denton and Devon Mannon. Second row — Bladin McCartney, Duane Hunt, Hunter McGee, Ayden Cox, William Morris, Jagger Moore and Cruz Ward. Third row — Ball boy Weston Cunningham, manager James Raines, Chester Abercrombie, Gabe Hefley, Kaydin McCartney, Caden Cowan, Layne Ward, Kyler McGee, ball boy Trenton Cunningham, coach Brandon Ellis and coach Matt Hawkins. T.J. Ambercrombie. Back row — Coach Ethan Hutson, Marcus Scott, Drake Cowart, Shelby Raines, Antonio Parker, Brendon Keith, Maden Smith, Dane Gates, Landon Johnson, Journey Shells and coach Jimmy Blackburn. Not pictured — Landon Johnson.
