MONROEVILLE, Pa. — The Gateway Gators (5-3) defeated the Woodland Hills Wolverines (2-5) 40-21 at Antimarino Stadium in Monroeville on Friday, Oct. 15.
Gateway opened the game strong, marching down the field on back to back drives. The Wolverines defense stood tall in the red zone, forcing junior kicker Cole Plaskon to make field goals of 25 and 34 yards.
The Wolverines responded with a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jahshawn Pringle to receiver Louis Callaway.
Gateway drove down the field in turn, and sophomore quarterback Bradley Birch threw to running back Jaquon Reynolds to reestablish their six point lead.
Woodland Hills athlete Deontae Williams, who has offers from Kent State, Akron and West Virginia made a pair of big plays on the next drive, reeling in a deep pass from Pringle before scoring a 24 yard touchdown on the ground. Gateway blocked the kick to keep the score tied.
Then it was Gateway’s Patrick Body Jr., a Cincinnati commit, with a deep catch of his own to set the Gators up in the red zone. Woodland Hills strip sacked Birch, and Body made a touchdown saving tackle on the return.
Gateway defensive lineman Chirstopher Horton intercepted Pringle to end the scoring threat, and Birch led another surgical drive just before the half before Williams baited him into an interception with 8.3 seconds remaining.
The Gators scored next, Reynolds finding the end zone on a five yard rush. The Wolverines then drained much of the third quarter with a long scoring drive. Backup quarterback Austin Wells came in and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Callaway, then lateraled to OL Julian Jeffries to take a one point lead on a two point conversion try.
Gateway responded with a touchdown drive of their own, Birch throwing to RB Jermir Harber. A failed two point try made it 26-21.
Pringle came back in the game on the next drive, and Gators defensive back Elijah Heller intercepted a pass at the Wolverines 36-yard line. Birch threw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Body to take a 12 point lead with 8:02 to go.
Body then added two interceptions to his highlight reel, returning the second one 65 yards to stretch the lead to 40-21.
