Gateway prepared to defend WPIAL Class 5A championship

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 | 9:48 PM

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The Gateway football team had one of its biggest seasons in program history last year as it won the WPIAL Class 5A championship – its first WPIAL title in 31 years – and made it all the way to Hershey for the state title game.

As much excitement and memories as that run created, coach Don Holl said it’s time to turn the page and focus on the 2018 campaign.

While several big names moved on because of graduation, other major performers return. And with still others ready to step in to spots left vacant on both sides of the ball, Holl said there is optimism Gateway can take another shot at WPIAL and PIAA gold.

“I saw a quote recently that we’ve kind of taken to heart. It’s ‘This year doesn’t care what you did last year.’ ” Holl said. “At the end of the day, this is a whole new group with a whole new identity. Every team starts the year wanting to be the state champion. If we get better every day and work together the way we can, why not us?”

Gateway finished its 2017 season 14-2 overall. It bounced back from a conference loss to Penn-Trafford to top the Warriors for the WPIAL title at Heinz Field. It then scored wins over Hollidaysburg and Manheim Central in the state tournament before falling to Archbishop Wood, 49-14, in the PIAA final.

“The bad news is we got beat up in the state final,” Holl said. “The good news is that we got beat up in the state final, and that gave us the taste in our mouth to come out with a lot of motivation in the off-season. It left a lot of the guys with an unsatisfied sort of feeling. They turned that into some productive work all the way to now.”

Gateway will fully turn the page Aug. 24 when it visits Class 6A Mt. Lebanon for a Week Zero game.

Last year’s 35-23 Week Zero triumph over Woodland Hills got things started for the Gators.

“That Week Zero game is a great way to showcase the program and get your feet wet for the rest of the season,” Holl said. “Since it’s been an option, we’ve made sure we’ve taken advantage of it.”

Gateway said goodbye to quarterback Brady Walker, now a freshman on the West Virginia Wesleyan football team. Walker set school, WPIAL and PIAA records for yards or touchdowns last year. He now ranks as the second-leading passer in WPIAL history with 8,816 career yards. Last year, he threw for a WPIAL record 4,657 yards and added 45 touchdowns.

The job now is in the hands of senior Brendan Majocha, who completed 5 of 7 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in limited action last year.

“Being behind Brady taught me a lot,” Majocha said. “It’s my time, and I think I’m ready.”

“Brendan’s a little different from Brady in terms of his skill set, but he’s really talented and athletic,” Holl said. “He’s a bright kid who can do a lot of things at that position.”

Majocha will have several weapons at his disposal, including senior Courtney Jackson, a Syracuse commit who caught 96 passes for 1,916 yards and a state-best 24 touchdowns in 2017. Senior Jeremiah Josephs, a Miami (Ohio) commit, added 53 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns.

“We all believe in Brendan,” Josephs said. “He really knows the system. He’s a great quarterback who we’ve been playing with for a while now.”

Derrick Davis had a breakout freshman season and got on the radar of several Division I programs. He rushed for 439 yards and eight touchdowns on 83 carries and added 480 receiving yards and two scores.

“Derrick has shown maturity for his age all along,” Holl said. “He’s so talented physically and can do so many things well. He put that all together and had an amazing season. I think he’s just going to continue to get better and better.”

Others back to lead the offense are all-conference performers up front in seniors Tomi Woodson (guard) and Bryce Washington (center) and junior tight end Tui Faumuina-Brown.

Washington returns from an ACL injury suffered in the fifth game last year.

“Getting Bryce back is huge,” Holl said. “He’s such a leader who is physical and tough. He’s exactly who you want in at center and the anchor of the line.”

Holl said there is depth along the offensive line with seniors Amir Wahid and Zach Davis, juniors Pete Zlokas and Jalen Chavis and sophomores Jacques Taylor and Josh Wade.

“That group is always tells you how far you can go,” Holl said. “There is a variety of veterans and younger guys. I think it’s going to be a good group.”

Holl said others in the backfield will include junior Jordan Stancovich and juniors JaQuan Thomas and Jay Johnson with additional pass-catching weapons in seniors Ethan Frenchik and Jerrell Thomas.

The Gators defense only lost two to graduation, and Holl said he is excited to see what the mix of speed, strength and leadership can produce.

Stancovich, at linebacker, led the team in tackles last year with 191 (75 solo). He added eight sacks.

Faumuina-Brown produced seven sacks from his linebacker post.

Josephs, a defensive back, picked off a team-best seven passes, forced three fumbles and had three fumble recoveries.

Also back as defensive starters or major contributors are Jackson (corner), Majocha (safety), Davis (linebacker), Johnson (linebacker), Washington (linebacker), Woodson (defensive line), Jerrell Thomas (defensive line) and sophomore Kelvon Nelson (defensive line).

Class 5A expanded in the offseason from 18 to 24 teams, from two to three conferences and from a playoff field of eight to 16.

The WPIAL title game is set for the weekend of Nov. 24 at Norwin High School.

Gateway will do battle in its conference with Connellsville, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, McKeesport, Penn-Trafford, Plum and 5A newcomer Albert Gallatin.

“We’re confident we have the ability to beat anybody in 5A and win this thing again, but we know there are a lot of teams with the ability to beat us and win the whole thing,” Holl said. “I think it’s going to be a dogfight all the way to November.”

Schedule

Coach: Don Holl

2017 record: 14-2, 7-2

All-time record: 413-211-13

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, at Mt. Lebanon, 7:30 p.m.

8.31, Penn-Trafford*, 7 p.m.

9.7, at Plum*, 7 p.m.

9.14, Latrobe*, 7 p.m.

9.21, at Ringgold, 7 p.m.

9.28, North Hills, 7 p.m.

10.5, at Franklin Regional*, 7 p.m.

10.12, Albert Gallatin*, 7 p.m.

10.19, at Connellsville*, 7 p.m.

10.26, McKeesport*, 7 p.m.

*Class 5A Foothills Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Brady Walker*

299-470, 4,657 yards, 45 TDs

Rushing: Walker*

123-736 yards, 6 TDs

Receiving: Courtney Jackson

96-1,916 yards, 24 TDs

*Graduated

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-388-5825, mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MLove_Trib.

Tags: Gateway