TALIHINA — The Gore Pirates found out the hard way why the Talihina Golden Tigers, the Class A, Division II defending state runners-up, just why they are the No. 1 in the state.

The Golden Tigers jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 61-7 victory over the Pirates in last Friday night’s District AII-3 game at Doc Robinson Stadium.

After the Golden Tigers (5-0 overall, 2-0 in district play) jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter, the Pirates (2-3, 1-1) scored their lone touchdown on a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tate Brooksher. Nick Eklund hit the extra point to bring Gore to within 21 points at 28-7, but that was as close as the Pirates got as the Golden Tigers scored their fifth TD of the opening period to take a 34-7 lead after a quarter. A 27-point second period upped Talihina’s lead to 61-7 at halftime.

“They (Talihina) are a good ball club,” Gore coach Brandon Ellis said. “They’re a really good ball club.”

The Pirates will return home to meet the Tulsa Regent Prep Rams (3-2, 1-1), who got their first district win of the season last Friday night at home with a 28-18 win over the Central Tigers, at 7 p.m. this Friday at K.G. Horn Stadium.

Ellis said there is still a lot to play for despite the lopsided district road loss to Talihina.

“We have a lot of our season left,” he said. “We have half our season left.”