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Muskogee Phoenix Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
Pigskin Preview
Pirates are loaded in coach’s silver season, but gold is sought By Nick Hampton Phoenix Correspondent Going into his 25th year of coaching, most things become routine. But Gore’s Brandon Tyler faces something new. “This is the first time in my career when I’ve had everyone returning from the previous Tyler year,” said the veteran coach. “And being able to have a spring and summer program this year has really helped put us ahead of the game at this point.” The Pirates return 21 players from last year’s team that went 8-1 and advanced to the third round of the Class A playoffs which should make them one of the top ranked teams in the class this year. Leading the way is quarterback Zane Craighead, a 2019 transfer from Vian, who rushed for over 1,000 yards and passed for 682 more with 12 touchdowns last year after taking over the signal calling chores when Weston Shanks was injured early on. “Weston really pushed me hard last summer before he won the job and I think that helped me prepare, but I was still nervous the first couple of games and everyone
could tell it,” said Craighead. “But by the fourth or fifth game, I started feeling pretty comfortable.” Craighead is surrounded by talent in the backfield with All-Phoenix running back Gunner Dozier, who ran for 1,217 yards, and fullback Dayne Perryman. Junior stalwarts Gabe Dozier and Garrett Douthit anchoring Duke a returning offensive line. On the defensive side where the Pirates averaged giving up just 14 points a game last year, Tyler welcomes back leading tackler Lynden Manning, who had 97 tackles last year, as well as All-Phoenix selections Jackson Duke, who had seven interceptions, There’s also Noah Cooper, the All-Phoenix Newcomer of the Year, who had 61 tackles and will be Craighead’s understudy at quarterback, and linebacker Dayne Perryman, who recorded 88 tackles last year and says he wants to get over 100 this year. The Pirates even return their kickers in Perryman who punts, and junior Christian O’Connor who was 5-for-5 in the field goal department last season. So what concerns, if
any, does the head coach have about the upcoming season? “First and foremost is complacency,” said Tyler. “That was the first thing we talked about when summer practice started. I told them about the 2013 when I was at Vian and we went 13-1with a junior-heavy team and made it to the state semifinals. The next year I had most of Perryman those guys back and we went 8-4. So you’ve got to stay healthy, have a little luck, and above all don’t get complacent. “The other thing we have to concentrate on is conditioning and mental toughness because being experienced isn’t always enough. I remember a game against Haileyville when I was playing where we had over 500 yards of offense and they had about 40. But we turned the ball over 10 times and lost the game 14-13. We got a taste of success last year so this year our goal is to be playing in December. If we stay healthy, this could be one of the best years ever for Gore football.” And yet Gore returns all of these guys mentioned here except Craighead in 2022. Not what Class A needs to hear.
GORE PIRATES Record in 2020: 8-1, lost in 2nd round Head coach: Brandon Tyler, 5th year Staff: Eric Douthit, defensive coordinator, offensive line, outside linebackers; Robert Clark, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks, running backs and linebackers; Tyler Capps, special teams, receivers, defensive backs. Returning starters (11 offense, 11 defense, 3 specialists): Zane Cooper Craighead, QB/DB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Gunner Dozier, RB/LB, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Wyatt Marrell, TE/ H/LB, 5-11, 195, Jr.; Journey Shells, WR/DB, 6-3, 175, So.; Keigan Reid, WR/DB, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Blue Steward. WR/LB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Tyler Lane, WR/DB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Jesus Thomas, DB/WR/RET, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Layne Ward, OL/DL, 6-0, 215, So.; Gabe Dozier, OL/DL, 6-2, 250, Jr.; Garrett Douthit, OL/DL, 6-3, 270, Jr.; Nick Wolf, OL/DL, 6-0, 250, Jr.; Cas Moore, OL/DL, 6-2, 260, Jr.; Christian O’Connor, K-WR/DB, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Jackson Duke, DB/RB, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Noah Cooper, LB/TE/QB, 6-2, 190, So.; Lynden Manning, LB, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Dayne Perryman, LB/FB/P, 5-11, 185, Jr. Others to watch: Ben Kirkpatrick, WR/DB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Liam Edwards, Craighead WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Hunter McGee, WR/DB, 5-8, 150, So.; Gage Grant. OL/DL, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Mike McAlister, TE/DL. 6-1, 210, Jr.; Blane Barnes, WR/DB, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Aiden DIckerson, TE/LB, 6-2, 175, Jr.; Chester Abercrombie, WR/DB, 5-11, 150, So.
