Gatewood is off to a disappointing 0-3 start this season after falling 26-14 to Loganville Christian Academy (2-1) on the road last Friday.
Still, “the game was much closer than the score indicates,” Gators head coach Jeff Ratliff stated in his weekly post-game address to team parents and boosters.
“On offense, we had several chances to close the gap and take the lead. We were in the red zone three different times in which we didn’t score,” Ratliff said. “Defensively, we played outstanding all but two plays and one crazy fumble return.”
Unfortunately, each of those three plays resulted in long runs for the hometown Lions and ended with touchdowns against the Gators.
Despite the loss, Ratliff saw his team making progress, too.
“It is easy right now to look at what we did wrong, but the team played better on Friday night,” he said. “The offensive line had their best game thus far, and the defense was really good. We took a step forward, but we came up short on the scoreboard.
“The key right now is to continue to work; the results will come. We just need to keep our heads up and keep working,” the veteran coach insisted. “Trust me, no one around the league feels sorry for us. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves either. We must continue to work, knowing that the work will pay off with results.”
The Gators’ next chance to turn their season around comes this Friday night in Americus, where they will take on the Southland Academy Raiders (1-2). Following big losses to Deerfield-Windsor and Westfield to start the season, the Raiders rebounded with a 40-18 win at Marion County last Friday.
“Southland is big and fast. On offense they run the Wing-T, and defensively they are very aggressive and swarm to the ball,” Ratliff said.“Coach (Chancelor) Jones does a great job and will have his team ready to go. I expect another close, hard-fought contest.”
Following this week’s third away game in a row, the Gators will return to the friendly confines of Eatonton’s Sammons Field next Friday, Sept. 12, for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Mount de Sales Academy, out of Macon.
That game will end Gatewood’s non-region play for the season, followed by a bye week and only playoff-bound region games remaining on its regular-season schedule.