BRANDON ELLIS
6-5
OFFENSE
Immediately after the Pirates ship docked early in 2024 with a first round exit from the Class A playoffs, head coach Brandon Ellis and his players began mapping out their plans for more in 2025.
“We have a lot of veteran guys back on both sides of the ball,” said Ellis, now in year two of his second stint at Gore. “The kids have bought in on what we are trying to accomplish. Without question they have matured physically and mentality and with the experience they gained last year, the speed of the game is starting to slow down for them.”
The Pirates ground game remains strong with a pair of three year veterans including VYPE Top 100 pick Bladin McCartney (5-10, 180, Sr.) who ran for 1,246 yards including 12 trips to the end zone joining forces Devon Mannon (5’10, 170, Jr.) who scored 11 times while gaining 887 yards rushing. Tate Brooksher enters his third season at quarterback with 2000-plus yards passing and 1000-plus rushing yards combined in his first two campaigns taking snaps. “With the experience of this trio we can be more uptempo,” said Ellis, who also expects Kadin McCartney (5-10, 245, Jr.) to provide a bullish style runner while Treydan Daughtery (6-2, 230, Fr.) will impact the action at tight end. The ability to win control of the line of scrimmage will be anchored by Antonio Parker (6-2, 240, Sr.), Marcus Scott (6-0, 230, Sr.), Zach Comer (6-1, 230, Jr.) and Madden Smith (6-2, 290, Sr.).
DEFENSE
“7-11” is the defensive game plan for the Pirates defense that welcomes the experience of seven returning starter who will lead the aggressive and attacking with 11 helmets to the football on every snap. After leading the tackle charts for a second straight season including 106 stops with four sacks and two interceptions, Devon Mannon, a VYPE Top 100 defensive choice returns at linebacker joined by Bladin McCartney, who recorded six sacks among his 51 tackles and Zach Comer (6-2, 215, Jr.). The multi-front scheme designed to allow the Pirates to play in space and fly to the football will rely up Kadin McCartney, who made 47 tackles including six sacks last year to dominate play on the line of scrimmage along with Antonio Parker, Marcus Scott and Treydan Daughtery, who Ellis calls a promising “future star” wherever he lines up. Twin brothers Weston (6-0, 160, So.) and Trenton Cunningham (6-0, 170, So.) who displayed their speed and talent as freshmen as state qualifiers in track will patrol with physicality and quickness in the secondary.
8-29 – vs. Wilburton
9-5 – at Keys
9-12 – vs. Chouteau
9-19 – OPEN
9-26 – vs. Mounds
10-3 – at. Talihina
10-10 – vs. Regent Prep
10-16 – at Wewoka
10-24 – at Liberty
10-31 – vs. Central Sallisaw
11-7 – at Allen
