MONROEVILLE, Pa. — Brad Birch and the Gateway Gators dominated Norwin on Friday night 42-10. The Gators claimed a win on “Senior Night,” and clinched their playoff spot in the process. This win not only helped the Gators clinch a playoff spot but helped them get back on-track after their disappointing loss to McKeesport last week.
This offense is led by junior quarterback Brad Birch who managed to throw four touchdowns in the victory over Norwin. He completed passing touchdowns of 95-yards and 64-yards, while also completing touchdowns to four different “recievers.” Birch distriputed the ball at such a high-level that even the left tackle Matthew Brooks hauled in a 14-yard touchdown.
Pittsburgh Sports Now caught up with Birch after their victory and he described his and the teams performance. “It was a good game. Everybody was doing what they had to do. But, we just got to worry about next week and the playoffs”
Gateway has one remaining game against Pittsburgh Central Catholic before their run in the playoffs begin.
The talented quarterback has already won a WPIAL Championship when he was a freshman at Jeannette. When he transfered to Gateway before his sophomore season, he brought far more than his skills to the team. He brought a championship mentality to the locker room. He knows how to win and what it takes to get the job done.
The one area that Birch believes the team can strive to improve is mental preperation. “We just gotta come out here and want it, really want to win and really want all of [what comes with] it,” is how he desribed it.
While the team is taking each week as they come, Brad Birch is peeking ahead to the greater goal, a championship. “In my vision, we should definitely win WPIAL’s.”
In 2021, Birch was offered his first Division 1 offer by Oregon and then-assistant coach Joe Moorhead. After Coach Moorhead accepted the head coaching job at Akron, Birch recieved his second Division 1 offer. While the recruiting trail has not been on fire for Birch recently, he is confident in himself and the future, “I know wherever I go I am going to do great and I just know that I am going to have bright future in what I do.”
The young quarterback who is only in his junior season should expect to hear from more Division 1 programs soon. Especially if he keeps adding to an already impressive resume that includes a championsip and two All-State awards.
