Former Shanley Deacon Johnny ‘Scores’ Gores Reflects on First NDSU Touchdown

JOHN GORES SCORED HIS FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN THE NDSU BISON FOOTBALL HOME OPENER.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –The North Dakota State Bison football team welcomed in Tennessee State for their home opener on September 7. The Bison walked out with a dominant 52-3 win and multiple players scored their first career touchdowns. One TD in particular took social media by storm.

It is not uncommon for high school athletes from the Fargo-Moorhead area to go on to suit up for the NDSU football program. In fact, 24 players from North Dakota alone are on the 2024-25 roster. One of those players, John Gores, found the endzone in the home opener and it quickly became one of the best stories of the young season so far.

“Honestly, I don’t even remember much,” said Gores on his 12-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. “I almost like I blacked out. It was just a great experience. Got the adrenaline rush from scoring, all the fans cheering, all that. It was just awesome.”

Listed at 5’6″ on the Bison roster, Gores is the shortest player in the entire Missouri Valley Football Conference. That, coupled with the fact that he was a walk-on for the program following his 2022 graduation from Shanley High School in Fargo, led to people having their doubts on what he can do in Division I football.

“Football is a beautiful game,” said head coach Tim Polasek. “Guys that show up and work and work and continue to push and the world tells them they’re too short…I said he’s too short…[offensive coordinator] Jake [Landry] said, you know, man, he’s not rangy. It just sometimes doesn’t matter.”

It did not matter on Saturday. Gores scored the 12-yard touchdown and made key plays on special teams, including a 67-yard punt return that he almost broke for another touchdown.

It is no surprise that Gores said after the game his phone was blowing up.

“A lot of text from friends, family, former teammates and coaches,” said Gores. “Just seeing the love and support that I got was pretty awesome.”

The love Gores teammates have for him was evident on Saturday, and they respect what he can do on the football field.

“You saw the way the team reacted,” said Polasek. “That tells you a lot about the way a guy works. We have to be resilient. John Gores is resilient, and he’s got some play making ability. He’ll do the best he can, and we can count out on him.”

Senior Quarterback Cam Miller shared high praise for Gores in the post game press conference.

“John Gores is what Bison pride is all about,” said Miller. “You talk about a local kid, walk-on, kid is five foot five, maybe. To see a kid like that understand his role…that’s what Bison pride is. John Gores has been making plays in practice for the last two years. It was a matter of time when that was going to show up in a game, and it happened.”

From scoring touchdowns at Shanley High School for the Deacons, to scoring them at the FargoDome for the Bison, Gores is continuous proof that hard work pays off.

“I definitely had to work my way [to the field],” said Gores. “That is always how it goes. You have to prove yourself. “There was a point in high school when I didn’t even know if I would be able to play at this level. The fact that I’m here doing it now…it means a lot to me.”

With the touchdown tally now at one, John secured the nickname ‘Johnny Scores’.

“I definitely like it,” said Gores. “I mean, it’s a good nickname. There is not much else to say than that.”

Head coach Tim Polasek said in the pregame press conference for the NDSU Bison week 3 game vs. East Tennessee State that Gores is in the mix for carving out a role with the team, especially with starting punt returner and wide receiver, Raja Nelson, dealing with injury.

So, do not be surprised to see Gores continue to impact the Bison throughout the season.

NDSU at East Tennessee State kicks off at 4:30 P.M., September 14.