Gatewood and Piedmont Academy will put their postseason hopes on the line Friday night in Eatonton, when the Gators host the Cougars in a game that guarantees the winner a playoff berth.
With no automatic path to the postseason, the losing team will have to hope its final MaxPreps ranking places it among the top-eight teams within its classification to qualify for playoffs. The stakes add significance to a matchup that also marks Gatewood’s Senior Night.
“This is essentially a playoff game,” Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff stated in his weekly address to team parents and supporters. “We must play our best football.”
The game also renews a rivalry that has been on hold for two years.
“There is not much love lost between the two schools, but that makes it all the more fun,” Ratliff suggested.
Gatewood returns to action after two consecutive open weeks, during which the Gators focused on practicing fundamentals, addressed areas for improvement, and got some much-needed rest and recovery. Now, Ratliff just wants his players to focus on their upcoming performance against Piedmont.
“There will be a lot of chatter back and forth,” he said. “We must ignore the noise and blot out any potential distractions.”
Despite a 3-6 record, Ratliff stressed that Piedmont should not be taken lightly. The Cougars have defeated Flint River, St. Andrews, and Trinity Christian, and Ratliff noted all but one of their losses came against teams ranked in the top three of their respective classifications.
Offensively, Piedmont can stretch the field but prefers to attack opponents on the ground, the coach added. He said he expects the Cougars to be physical and intent on establishing their running game and imposing its will at the line of scrimmage.
“They want to play bully ball,” Ratliff said.
Piedmont also brings size to its defensive front, with solid linebacker play and athleticism in the secondary, he added. Gatewood will need to execute consistently against a defense capable of challenging both the running and passing games, Ratliff said. With a postseason opportunity at stake, the Gators face a test of execution and composure. Ratliff knows the atmosphere will be intense but insists his players must remain focused on the task at hand: winning and guaranteeing a playoff berth.
“This will be a war,” Ratliff predicted. “Rivalry games are different. We must rise above the distractions and keep the main thing the main thing.”
Friday’s game will also honor Gatewood’s six seniors – Sean Bennett, Drew Burke, Drew Love, Landon Moreno, Will Rainey, and Jack Wooten – who will each be recognized before kickoff. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the ceremony, with gametime set for 7:30 p.m. at Sammons Field in Eatonton.