By Gore football standards 2024 was not a great year. They did make the playoffs but fell out after the first round which was not characteristic for a team that is used to a deep playoff run including a close loss in the state championship game in 2022. So senior and VYPE TOP 100 pick Bladin McCartney has his sights set on getting the Pirates back into the deep playoff mode in 2025. On offense he’s part of dynamic duo of running backs for the Pirates along with Devon Mannon. McCartney rushed for 1246 yards and 12 touchdowns last year and says he’s shooting for 1500 yards this year and more touchdowns. Coach Brandon Ellis describes Bladin as a hammer-meets-nail kind of runner. “He’s a hard worker and tough as nails. He has great speed which has been helped by being in wrestling. He runs with hate in his heart and while he has the ability to juke around you, he’d just as soon run you over.” On defense, Bladin plays linebacker where he had 51 tackles and six sacks last year. So which side does he prefer to play on? “That’s a really tough decision but I have to pick offense because I like running down the field for a touchdown with the ball in my hands and I like making first downs on a third or fourth down situation. There’s not a better feeling than making that first down.” As he thinks about key games in his Gore career, Bladin looked at a key rivalry. “I always think about playing Talihina. They’ve always been a big rivalry for us, and we beat them bad two years ago and they licked us pretty good last year, so I look forward to that game and to the Sallisaw Central game because they’ve beaten us the last two years and I’m ready to get a win.” A senior leader this year, Bladin lets his work ethic be an example of good leadership. “I want to show good character and play hard and give it everything you’ve got on every play but also show them as a leader I care about them.” After graduation, Bladin plans on going into welding.
