Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff knew facing three successive weeks versus top-ranked Briarwood, Edmund Burke, and Brentwood would be tough on his Gators following an imposed three-week layoff created last month by Hurricane Helene’s nearly statewide mayhem.
He called it as tough a schedule as almost any team could face.
Still, after suffering losses in the first two games, he retained high hopes on his way to face Brentwood on Friday. A few hours later, however, Ratliff said, he and the team were heading back home after a 45-27 loss, which was a closer game than the score suggested.
“The loss to Brentwood hurts, but I left Sandersville with a positive feeling,” Ratliff insisted in his customary post-game email to team parents and supporters. “I am convinced that we can play with anybody in the state, and if we play to the level that I know we are capable of playing, we can still win it all.”
Gatewood kicked off to start the game, and the War Eagles scored on their first possession after starting from their 35-yard line. However, they missed the point after giving the ball to Gatewood, who eventually was forced to punt.
However, Ratliff stressed that opening the Gators’ possession could have turned out differently. He described Hunter Johnson making a great catch and streaking down the sideline on a 40-plus-yard run before being called for holding and bringing the ball back for a penalty.
“They called him out of bounds, but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t out of bounds. He would’ve scored a touchdown, but they called holding, so we got behind the chains and we had to punt,” Ratliff told The Eatonton Messenger on Monday night. “It was unfortunate, but that was the call.”
Another Brentwood touchdown came late in the quarter, but a two-point try failed, making it 12-0 for the home team as the first quarter ended.
Brentwood added another rushing touchdown, followed by a successful two-point attempt about half through the second quarter for a 20-0 lead. The Gators finally got on the board with a passing score late in the period to make it 20-6 after a failed two-point attempt.
That set off a flurry of scoring before halftime, as Brentwood responded immediately with a passing touchdown followed by another two-point play to go up 28-6 with less than a minute left in the half.
Despite being pressed for time, the Gators headed into halftime down 28-13 after quarterback Ames Johnson connected on a pass to junior wide receiver Ben Brannen for a touchdown in the final minute of play before freshman Connor Mitchem kicked the extra point.
A last-second field goal for Brentwood sent the teams into halftime with the visitors trailing 31-13.
Ratliff said he felt “pretty good” about his team’s first-half effort and results, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it.
“Let’s start with what went right. I thought we played hard. I thought we showed a lot of fight, and when adversity hit us this time, I thought we kept playing, and we played through it,” Ratliff said. “The elephant in the room, if you want one, is we didn’t stop them. They scored, I think, on pretty much every possession.”
Somewhat surprisingly, the third quarter passed scoreless, but early in the final period, Brentwood struck early and tacked on the extra point to go up 38-13. Gatewood responded immediately with a 69-yard passing play to make it a 19-point deficit before failing on another two-point try.
Halfway through the final quarter, Brentwood scored its last touchdown plus a successful PAT before Johnson completed another pass to Brannen for the Gators’ final score of the game.
Gatewood will wrap up its regular season this Friday at home on Seniors Night against Thomas Jefferson Academy (1-8, 1-3). Currently fourth in the region standings, Ratliff explained that the team will not know its official playoff position — or whether it will start at home or on the road — until computer rankings establish final seedings.
If placed fourth or fifth, the Gators’ opponent would be Trinity Christian, which they beat 28-12 in August; however, if dropped as far as sixth, Gatewood would be forced to start on the road against Briarwood.
Regardless, Ratliff said he remains confident in his team.
“I think we can play with anyone, but we’ve got to do some things better if we expect to do anything in the playoffs,” he acknowledged. “But right now, we’re going to try to finish the regular season off right with this rescheduled game against Thomas Jefferson.”