By Patrick Kays | Photos by George Mitchell
JENKS: Gore has never been here.
A semi-final under the bright lights of the magnificent Allan Trimble Stadium at Jenks High School was uncharted territory for the Class A No. 2 Pirates, save for their head coach, Brandon Tyler, who had played in a few state semifinals and state championship games during his time in Vian.
That inexperience from Gore was nowhere to be found as they dominated the undefeated No. 3 Hominy Bucks, 48-12, en route to their first state championship appearance in school history.
Resilience outshone any inexperience.
“That’s just the way we are,” Tyler said. “We want to step on the gas and play 48 minutes. That’s what we preach to our children.”
The Pirates were leading 13-0 midway through the second quarter and needed that dress. With her defense on the field and her feet in her endzone, Hominy faced the third goal at Gore’s 1-yard line and was trying to take the lead.
Two opportunities were hit with a green wall, sending the Pirate loyalists into a frenzy with a gut punch to the Bucks and returning possession to the Pirates.
Pirate defensive tackle Garrett Douthit knew this was the turning point in the competition.
“All the guys on defence, we sat there and said before that game that that was going to decide that game,” Douthit said. “That game would decide whether we would be able to go to (Edmond, for the state championship game).”
Noah Cooper, the Pirates quarterback and linebacker, credits the team chemistry he’s built since he’s been playing pee-wee football since kindergarten to his ability to assert himself.
“His mentality, strength, coming together as a unit,” Cooper said. “I’m just looking forward to next week.”
Strength seems to be a pirate strength.
Cooper and running back gunner Dozier dominated the rushing game and seemed impossible to trip as they rushed for 295 yards together.
“It’s all the weight room. We’re just strong,” said Dozier. “Every single day since freshman year.”
The two crowned each of their two class drives in tandem to open the competition.
After a hominy turnover on downs, Cooper’s 11-yard touchdown run capped a seven-play 68-yard touchdown drive that gave Gore a 7-0 lead.
Two games later, hominy player TK Sutton’s fumble was recovered by Cooper, resulting in a five game 29-yard drive topped by a 4-yard Dozier score.
Cooper finished 6-of-7 passing for 93 yards and rushed 17 times for 126 yards and a TD.
Dozier had three goals on 17 carries for 169 yards.
Jackson Duke also conceded some fun as he rushed five times for 54 yards and three touchdowns.
Hominy’s two points came from quarterback Jaxon Woods late in the contest on two 1-yard points.
He was 15 of 24 passes for 153 yards and rushed 25 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
For Hominy, the season ends in the semifinals with a 13-1 record.
Gore meets Fairview for the Class A state title on Saturday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Douthit says the feeling cannot be described.
“I can’t even explain it,” Douthit said. “I would say it’s butterflies, but it’s more than that.”
