Andean’s Dylan Gore has the skill set for a quarterback.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound sophomore also has the demeanor.

“Dylan has that quarterback moxie,” 59ers coach Chris Skinner said. “Sometimes you can just tell that guys get what it means to be a quarterback — their presence and also their responsibility. You have to be the most knowledgeable one on the team. You have to study. You have to ask questions. You have to watch film.

“And you have to have confidence in what you’re doing, but not in a way that’s excessive. I just describe that as moxie, the ‘it’ factor, and Dylan has that ‘it’ factor, for sure.”

Gore confidently contributed Friday night as Andrean beat visiting Southmont 52-32 in a Class 2A regional game.

Continuing to share reps with senior Brady Elish, Gore completed 12 of 15 passes for 114 yards for the 59ers (11-1), who have won back-to-back regional titles and five in seven seasons, and he also ran for 21 yards.

“The ball was slippery, but I got the ball to the guys I needed to, and we made some plays,” Gore said. “We put some points on the board.”

Andrean quarterback Dylan Gore (1) and his teammates listen to coach Chris Skinner after a win against Southmont in a Class 2A regional game in Merrillville on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

Gore entered the game having passed for 706 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown for the 59ers (11-1), who are ranked No. 4 in the 2A state coaches poll and will play No. 1 Adams Central (13-0) at home in a rematch of a 2024 semistate game they lost.

“This is what we wanted,” he said. “We’ve been working for this every week. A lot of preparation goes into it. Nothing we didn’t expect.”

Elish complemented Gore at quarterback, obviously, but also complimented Gore’s performance.

“He’s good,” Elish said. “He’s just a good player. I’ve watched him develop since last year. It’s fun watching him play out there and just knowing what he can do the next two years when I’m gone.”

Gore has appreciated Elish’s role in that development.

“He’s a great mentor, great guy,” Gore said. “He’s helped me a lot. It’s great to be under his wing.”

Elish also excelled against Southmont (10-2). He completed 6 of 7 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown — a 63-yarder to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Vo — and ran for 64 yards and a touchdown.

“The way they approach this two-quarterback system, it speaks to the character of both of those individuals,” Skinner said.

Vo had another big game, catching 10 passes for 156 yards.

“Great receiver,” Gore said. “Great guy on and off the field. Super smart. Super athletic. He’s a baller.”

Junior Ethan Reyna, sophomore Javier McCoy and junior Brady Stovall each had a rushing touchdown, highlighting Andrean’s balance in the game.

“Our offense was ready to play,” Elish said. “We were repping a bunch of different stuff in practice, had a bunch of guys in different positions. It worked. Fifty-two points, that’s pretty good.”

Senior Gavin Jones also returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, and McCoy added an interception return for a touchdown, as the 59ers scored in an assortment of ways.

“We try to play a variety of guys on offense and defense, rotate different personnel groupings, use a handful of guys to try to keep guys fresh,” Skinner said.

Andrean’s next opponent, Adams Central, won the 2A state title last season after losses to Indianapolis Lutheran in three straight 1A state finals.

Elish said that matchup will provide a chance for the 59ers to “get a little bit of redemption.”

“Not many people get this opportunity,” Gore said. “It’s something remarkable.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/2a-football-southmont-andrean-dylan-gore/