GORE – The A-I Pirates stayed with 2A Keys but just couldn’t quite pull off the win Friday night at Gore.

With the score 14-0 just before the half, the Pirates got within 6-points with :42 remaining with a touchdown and 2-point conversion to go into the lockers trailing 14-8.

The Cougars opening drive in the third quarter took up 4 minutes and resulted in a 10-yard rushing touchdown to put Keys up 21-8.

With 5 minutes remaining in the third the Pirates Bladin McCartney rushed for a 15-yard score and a Tate Brooksher to McCartney pass was successful for the 2-point extra try to bring the score to 21-16 Cougars.

Late in the fourth quarter, with 2 minutes remaining, Devon Mannon punched it in from the 2-yard line to give the Pirates their first lead in the game 22-21, but the 2-point conversion failed.

Just one minute later the Cougars scored on a long pass to go back in the lead 27-22.

Gore had just one chance left, but with 1:10 remaining on the clock, the Cougars Ashton Meyer intercepted a Pirate pass at the Keys 44-yard line to end the Gore drive and nail down the victory.

The Cougars(1-0) will return home next week to take on the Stilwell Indians and Gore (1-1) travels to Chouteau-Mazie to challenge the 0-1 Wildcats