Jeff Ratliff

Gatewood lineman Sawyer Adkinson (30) had a strong showing for Gatewood on both sides of the ball against Brentwood, earning him Player of the Week honors from head coach Jeff Ratliff. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood lineman Sawyer Adkinson (30) had a strong showing for Gatewood on both sides of the ball against Brentwood, earning him Player of the Week honors from head coach Jeff Ratliff. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Brentwood beats Gatewood; playoffs up next

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Gatewood’s regular season came to a somewhat predictable end Friday night in Eatonton, as top-ranked Brentwood (9-1, 5-0) won 48-10 over the hometown Gators (3-7, 2-3).
Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff knows his team faces a big challenge in taking on defending state champion Brentwood this Friday, but feels that preparation, effort, and the boost of an enthusiastic hometown crowd could deliver a win. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff knows his team faces a big challenge in taking on defending state champion Brentwood this Friday, but feels that preparation, effort, and the boost of an enthusiastic hometown crowd could deliver a win. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators take on tough opponent Friday

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Gatewood (3-6, 2-2) made the trek to Waynesboro last Friday and headed home after suffering a 20-0 shutout by Edmund Burke Academy (6-3, 3-1). It marked the fourth straight win for the Spartans over the Gators.“I know you have heard the expression, ‘Mama said there would be days like this.
Gatewood juniors Drew Burke (77) and Sean Bennett (12) share a moment during a break in play against Augusta Prep last month at Sammons Field in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/File photo

Gatewood juniors Drew Burke (77) and Sean Bennett (12) share a moment during a break in play against Augusta Prep last month at Sammons Field in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/File photo

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Gatewood seeks bounce back after Briarwood loss

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Gatewood dropped a hard-fought 23–14 decision at home to Briarwood Friday night in a region game that head coach Jeff Ratliff called “a hard-nosed battle between two playoff teams.”The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Gators, who fell to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in the region.
Gatewood senior Ben Brannen put in a consistent performance for the Gators last Friday night in Louisville. IAN TOCHER/File photo

Gatewood senior Ben Brannen put in a consistent performance for the Gators last Friday night in Louisville. IAN TOCHER/File photo

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Gatewood gets third-straight win

Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Gatewood Gators (3-4, 2-0) continued their midseason resurgence Friday night in Louisville, where they earned a decisive 34–18 road victory over Thomas Jefferson Academy (1-7, 0-3).
Filling in for injured quarterback Blake Brannen, sophomore Brady Haley (5) has been performing well, contributing a rushing touchdown against the Cavs, and shown here completing a handoff to junior running back Sean Bennett. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Filling in for injured quarterback Blake Brannen, sophomore Brady Haley (5) has been performing well, contributing a rushing touchdown against the Cavs, and shown here completing a handoff to junior running back Sean Bennett. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators dominate Cavs for first region win

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
It took less than two-and-a-half minutes for Gatewood (2-4, 1-0) to score its first touchdown Friday night against Augusta Prep (1-5, 0-1), and from that point on, the game was never in jeopardy.
Gatewood senior linebacker Mason Sinclair (left) helps clear a path for junior running back Landon Moreno on one of many carries he had, including two touchdown runs in a 13-10 win Friday night in Eatonton. CONTRIBUTED

Gatewood senior linebacker Mason Sinclair (left) helps clear a path for junior running back Landon Moreno on one of many carries he had, including two touchdown runs in a 13-10 win Friday night in Eatonton. CONTRIBUTED

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Gators break into win column

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
The weight of four straight losses to open the season finally lifted last Friday night as Gatewood picked up its first win this year in front of a Gold-Out home crowd. The Gators beat Mount de Sales Academy 13-10 with a late score by junior Landon Moreno.
Gators head coach Jeff Ratliff said he’s seen steady improvement throught this season’s first four games from sophomore quarterback Blake Brannen, and expects his prgression to continue. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gators head coach Jeff Ratliff said he’s seen steady improvement throught this season’s first four games from sophomore quarterback Blake Brannen, and expects his prgression to continue. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators lose close one, but coach is encouraged

Ian Tocher
Thursday, September 11, 2025
The Gatewood Gators almost pulled off a big upset Friday night in Americus, but Southland Academy capitalized on some big runs and late mistakes to hold on to a 28–25 victory at home.
Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff still believes in his team after its 0-3 start. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff still believes in his team after its 0-3 start. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gatewood suffers 26-14 loss to Lions

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
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.
Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff said sophomore Blake Brannen is already showing more patience and poise in his decision making as the team’s new quarterback. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff said sophomore Blake Brannen is already showing more patience and poise in his decision making as the team’s new quarterback. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gatewood coach continues to believe in team

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Gatewood fell 24-6 to the Trinity Christian Crusaders (1-1) last Friday to remain winless after two games. Still, head coach Jeff Ratliff said he saw things he liked in his team despite a slow start to its 2025 season.“It’s never easy. It’s hard, but we’re going to continue to get better as a team.
Gatewood quarterback Blake Brannen is somewhere in the middle of the crowd as he gets pushed across the goal line by teammates for the Gators’ lone score on Friday night. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood quarterback Blake Brannen is somewhere in the middle of the crowd as he gets pushed across the goal line by teammates for the Gators’ lone score on Friday night. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gatewood falls to Flint River in season opener

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
The new-look Gatewood Gators got off to a rough start Friday night, falling 20-6 to the visiting Flint River Academy Wildcats out of Woodbury.
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