CHOUTEAU — The Gore Pirates took care of two things with their 40-28 road win over the host Chouteau-Mazie Wildcats last Friday night.

The first thing was they rebounded from a rough home opener the week before in losing 27-22 to the Keys Cougars.

“It was good,” Gore coach Brandon Ellis said. “We needed it. I think the kids were hungry for it. They played well. We still have to clean some stuff up, but it was night and day from what it was the week before (vs. Keys).”

The second thing last Friday night’s road victory did was send the Pirates (2-1) into their bye week on a high note as they will not play until their District AI-3 opener Sept. 27 at Mounds.

“We have to sit basically for two weeks,” Ellis said. “It’s better to sit for two weeks with a win taste in your mouth versus a loss.”

Quarterback Tate Brooksher had two touchdowns runs of 2 and 3 yards, Bladin Mc-Cartney had two rushing TDs on carries of 52 and 1 yards and Keeton Rowe had a 4-yard touchdown run. Brooksher had three twopoint conversion runs, while McCartney had the other two.