When the 2024 GIAA football season schedule came out, head coach Jeff Ratliff and his Gatewood Gators were pleased to see their prescribed bye week smack dab in the middle of a 10-game schedule.
And with a 3-2 record representing three straight wins, it seemed a perfect break to reset, rest up, and repair any nagging, minor injuries before completing the final five contests before the playoffs.
Now, Ratliff and his team have been idle for three straight weeks, victims of Hurricane Helene's aftermath. The hurricane gratefully caused little damage to the Gatewood campus in Eatonton but wreaked havoc on some of their rivals’ homes and facilities across the state.
Gatewood was scheduled to return to action on Sept. 27 at Augusta Prep Day, but Hurricane Helene's arrival the night before damaged that school and many of its students’, teachers’, and coaches’ homes, so the game was canceled without any intention of getting it back on the schedule.
Then, the Gators were set to host Thomas Jefferson Academy last Friday in what was to be Gatewood’s Homecoming game; however, damage from the storm to the Jaguars’ stadium and homes in Louisville precluded their travel to Eatonton. That game has now been rescheduled to end the regular season Nov. 1 at Gatewood’s Sammons Field, a week later than originally planned.
“First of all, our thoughts and prayers are with all those communities. And I’ve had a chance to talk with some of these coaches and their areas are just devastated. So, our thoughts and prayers go with them,” Ratliff said. “I mean, I’m 100% football coach and obviously those thoughts [about the effect on his program] have run through my head, but when you’re dealing with a situation like this, it has to take a backseat. We all just feel for all those people who were affected.”
This Friday, Gatewood will return to action against an undefeated Briarwood team in Warrenton.
“I’m going to go back to something my old football coach used to say: ‘You’ve got to be mentally tough to play this game.’ And in a situation like this, here’s a prime example,” Ratliff said of his approach to Friday’s match-up. “We can use it as an excuse if things don’t go well, but no, that’s not who we are. No. We’ve got to stay mentally tough and know that we’re going to be focused and ready to go on Friday night.”
Ratliff also explained that Helene’s wrath has affected the playoff picture for the No. 4 Gators. The GIAA had to alter its planned play-in format, which pitted the 7th through 10th-ranked teams on a final weekend to determine the final two playoff positions.
The top six enjoyed a locked-in off week before entering elimination games.
“That’s gone now,” Ratliff said. “So now you just have to make sure you’re in the top eight and you’re guaranteed a playoff spot. So, the rankings are actually going to come out a week later, but the top eight get in, makes no difference.”