Gatewood had its chances to take control last Friday night in a rain-soaked Homecoming matchup against Windsor Academy. However, missed scoring opportunities and secondhalf turnovers proved costly as the Gators fell 30-17 to the visiting Knights from Macon.
Gatewood struck first with a touchdown and the extra point early in the first quarter and led 14-7 at halftime. However, the visitors took control after the break, scoring on their second possession of the second half to tie things up.
Near the end of the third quarter, Windsor scored again, then added a two-point conversion for a 22-14 lead heading into the final 12 minutes. The Knights repeated the drill again in the final quarter to reach 30 points while the Gators managed to add just a field goal to reach the final tally.
For Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff, the loss came down to a lack of execution rather than a result of bad weather or Homecoming distractions.
“No excuses,” he stated shortly after the game. “The deciding factor was Windsor did what they needed to do to win, and we did not.”
His Gators had several opportunities to build a more comfortable first-half lead, Ratliff pointed out, as they reached the Windsor 40-yard line or deeper four times without converting any of those drives into points. Gatewood also had opportunities in the second half, he added, but again struggled to finish drives.
Windsor, meanwhile, found its rhythm after halftime and took advantage of Gatewood mistakes. The Gators dropped passes and fumbled several times in a soggy second half, giving the Knights repeated opportunities to take control.
“When you turn the ball over, that’s usually a recipe for getting beat,” Ratliff said. “And we got beat.”
The rain probably contributed to Windsor’s reliance on its running game, too, led by quarterback Heath Woodard, who ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns. The Knights finished with 281 total rushing yards, with Woodard completing just four of nine passes for 30 yards.
Windsor arrived in Eatonton after winning their last five games, while the Gators entered on a four-game winning streak. The Knights left with a 6-1, 2-0 record, while Gatewood (4-4, 2-1) has just one game left in its regular season.
And though the rain remained throughout the game, Ratliff refused to use the conditions to justify or explain the defeat. He said Gatewood’s Sammons Field held up well and emphasized protecting the football required greater concentration in the wet conditions.
“You’ve got to protect the ball. You’ve just got to focus a little more when it’s like that,” he said.
The loss was particularly frustrating because Gatewood had demonstrated its potential during a four-game winning streak that included a 27-21 overtime victory over Flint River Academy the previous week. Ratliff insisted he remains confident his players are capable of competing against strong opponents; however, they must be able to turn opportunities into points. “We’ve still got high aspirations,” the veteran coach stated. “And I would tell you, we’re still a dangerous team.”
Since Covenant Academy dropped its football program before the season started and Gatewood was unable to secure a replacement opponent for this Friday, the Gators now have two weeks off to prepare for a regular-season-ending showdown with Piedmont Academy Oct. 30 in Eatonton.
Ratliff said his team will use the extra time to heal any nagging injuries, correct past mistakes, and prepare for the Cougars (2-5, 1-1).
“We don’t need to overlook Piedmont,” Ratliff said. “That’s the next game and that’s where we’re going to put our focus.”
Ratliff also expressed confidence in his players and their ability to respond.
“I love my kids and I know they’re going to continue to work hard,” he said. “We’ll all learn from this loss. I mean, our season is not over by any stretch of the imagination. We all just have to focus on getting better.”