After dropping the first two games this season, Gatewood heads into a mid-season bye week with a winning 3-2 record after defeating Mount de Sales 46-20 last Friday night.
The Gators' head coach was content with the win but wished the team was undefeated at this point of the season.
“I’m a little greedy. I wish we were 5-0, but we’re playing good football, and that’s the main thing,” Jeff Ratliff said. “After five games, I do think we’re playing better. And I think we’re at a point where we feel pretty good about where we’re at, but we’re still nowhere near where we need to be.”
Gatewood was up 26-0 at halftime. Both teams scored 13 points in the third quarter, and each added a touchdown with the extra point in the fourth quarter.
Gatewood senior Hunter Johnson was the undisputed star of the game, rushing for 325 yards on 20 carries and scoring five touchdowns for the Gators. Quarterback Ames Johnson totaled 96 rushing yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. The senior also completed 4-of-13 passes for 39 yards, with a touchdown pass to wideout Ben Brannen on a rainy night in Macon.
“Hunter was outstanding, there’s no question about that, but man, give credit to our offensive line,” Ratliff said. “That doesn’t happen if the guys up front aren’t getting it done. So, hats off to our line of scrimmage.
“And Ames, he made a lot of good decisions. Of course, we run the option, and your quarterback needs to be a good triggerman for that, and he made some nice reads.”
Linebacker Mason Sinclair led the way defensively for the Gators with 11 tackles and a blocked punt, with fellow junior Colt Jenkins also making 11 stops against the Cavaliers.
“I thought fundamentally we played sound again, our pad level was great, and we finished blocks,” Ratliff said. “That’s one thing we’ve been preaching all year, and that’s to finish. And they found a way to finish.”
With a week off scheduled, Ratliff said his team will use it to heal some aches and bruises while practicing in helmets and shoulder pads to prepare for a second-half push.
“We just want to focus on the fundamentals and get better at our scheme and what we do. We’re not going to focus on any particular team. And we’re definitely not going to look past the next opponent,” the veteran coach said. “We know what we need to do, how we need to do it, and now we just need to get it done.”
Region play begins Sept. 27 at Augusta Prep Day, with four of the five remaining regular season games against league opponents. Ratliff emphasized that winning each game will be crucial to making the playoffs.
“We have a little motto that says champions produce daily. I told them after the game that we’re doing exactly what we need to do, and we’re where we need to be, but if we rest or settle, we’re not going to achieve what we want, which is ultimately a state championship,” he said. “So, we still have a long way to go, but I’m happy going into open week. I’m not going to lie to you; I’m happy. I think we’ve got some things we can still work on and get better at, and hopefully, in the second half of the season, we can put it all together and make a run at this title.”