Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff isn’t about to make excuses for his team’s 47-7 loss to Tattnall Square Academy last Friday night in Macon.
Simply put, the Gators didn’t play the way their coach believes they can play.
Tattnall Square, where Ratliff spent his high school years, fielded a talented team with elite speed and plenty of athleticism. But after reviewing Gatewood’s seasonopening performance, the veteran coach said his biggest disappointment was not necessarily the final score, but his team’s execution.
“We just didn’t play well,” he stated. “I just can’t take getting beat when I don’t feel like we played our best football game.”
Two Gatewood turnovers played a major role in the outcome, leading directly to a pair of Tattnall Square touchdowns. The Gators also reached the Trojans’ 10-yard line twice without scoring.
Ratliff said his team’s mistakes went beyond turnovers, however. The Gators missed blocking assignments, failed to execute option responsibilities, and struggled with tackling and defensive angles.
They also found themselves challenged by Tattnall Square’s speed in a way Gatewood had not experienced in two preseason scrimmages. That speed exposed problems in Gatewood’s defensive pursuit, including players running past ball carriers or taking poor angles that allowed big plays to develop.
The heat and humidity also was a factor as the game progressed. Ratliff said his players “wilted a little bit” late in the contest.
“We’re a long way from being in shape,” he said. “But again,the official comment from me: I was disappointed in our execution.”
Still, there were some positives, Ratliff added.
Freshman quarterback Bennett Haley stepped in after starter Blake Brannen was forced to leave the game early with an illness. Ratliff said Haley handled the opportunity well, showing poise and throwing the ball effectively despite two fumbled pitches in the option game.
“Bennett has some good football sense and overall he had a good game,” Ratliff said. “There’s a bright spot.”
Ratliff also praised senior Jack Wooten on his performance at guard, calling him a “huge, huge bright spot” on the offensive line. Junior Brady Haley also contributed several tackles on defense and a solid performance at running back, while senior Sean Bennett showed flashes of talent with a big seam-route reception that helped move the Gators inside the 5-yard line.
Still, Ratliff recognizes individual performances are not enough.
“We’ve got to play better as a unit,” he said. “I mean, it is what it is, we got beat by a good team, but we can be better, too.”
Gatewood now faces a trip to Warrenton this Friday to take on region rival Briarwood Academy. Briarwood beat Gatewood last year, helping knock the Gators down the playoff bracket, a result Ratliff is looking to reverse this time around.
“We’ve got to refocus and basically forget about what happened last Friday night,” he said. “Knowing that we’re a better football team than that from an execution standpoint, now we’ve got to show it on the field.”
For Ratliff, the goal isn’t simply to avoid another lopsided loss. He believes Gatewood has to prove the opener was an aberration.
“We’re a better football team than that,” he said. “We’re not 40 points worse than Tattnall Square, I can assure you.”