Gateway to follow veteran offensive linemen to success in Class 5A

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, August 8, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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No matter which quarterback Gateway starts behind center or which running back carries the ball, the Gators know their success is on the line.

As in, the offensive line.

The Gators have some new faces in the backfield, but all five blockers are returning starters. That experience should be a strength for an offense in transition. Having five veterans up front can help to steady any team breaking in a new QB.

“That is absolutely true, but that’s only one of many (benefits for the team) when those guys are experienced,” coach Don Holl said. “We talk about them setting the pace in the no-huddle, because you can only go as fast as your linemen.”

That hurry-up speed depends on how fast they can move, but more importantly, how quickly they keep up mentally. Having an offensive line with all returning starters gives Gateway a head start entering preseason practice.

“This group isn’t learning anything for the first time,” Holl said. “We’ve got a chance to be ahead of a lot of preseasons.”

The offensive line includes center Roberson Louis-Jeune (6-0, 270), left guard Chase Gabriel (6-1, 275), left tackle Kaiyen Mbandi (6-3, 250), right guard Elijah Fisher (6-0, 220) and right tackle Maleek Anderson (6-4, 265).

Gabriel and Fisher are seniors, while the others are juniors. Juniors Grady Dunsmore and Sena Agbodzie will also see playing time.

The linemen say they’re ready to be relied on.

“It’s an amazing feeling, knowing that we’re all confident in our ability to be able to take over a game,” Louis-Jeune said. “Knowing that we can get chunk play after chunk play, just running the ball and taking time off the clock.”

Three of the five starters earned first- or second-team all-conference honors last season, when the Gators went 5-0 in the Big East.

“We’ve got some big guys, and we can push a lot of people,” Mbandi said. “I already think our pass game is perfect, but I think we need to use the run game more.”

Overall, the Gators return seven starters on offense and five or six on defense. They were often tabbed as preseason contenders in recent summers, but start this fall with a lower profile that they’re OK with. The team went 5-6 overall last season, losing its playoff opener.

“We were the No. 1 team over and over and over coming into Week Zero,” Louis-Jeune said. “Now, all of a sudden, teams are really paying us no mind. … Hey, let’s just play and have fun. We’ve got nothing to worry about but winning.”

Gateway returns one of the WPIAL’s top pass-catchers in Kenny Lewis, a senior who had 51 receptions for 890 yards and scored 11 touchdowns last year. Senior Dyson Harper, who had 14 catches, also returns as a starter, and junior Shawn Moorefield adds experience at receiver.

But the Gators entered August undecided about who’d throw them the ball this season. The quarterback spot opened up when three-year starter Brad Birch graduated. Three QBs were competing for the job: senior Sid Bryant, sophomore Jakson Smith and freshman Elvis “Dino” Koutsakis.

The top option at running back is senior Amari Gans. He’ll work to replace Jaquon Reynolds, who scored 15 touchdowns as a senior.

A skilled secondary leads the defense, starting with Lewis and junior Carlos Diggs as the cornerbacks. Both were starters on defense a year ago and have Division I college offers. Among the others returning starters are senior linebacker Marc Knight and Louis-Jeune on the line.

“We could have a good start if we can be productive on offense right out of the gate, take advantage of our experienced group up front and get stops on defense,” Holl said.

Holl chose to take a hands-on approach with the offensive line this fall. Along with head coach and play caller for the offense, Holl added offensive line coach to his responsibilities.

He’ll have a tight-knit group to work with.

“We have good communication,” Mbandi said of the offensive linemen. “We practice a lot with each other. We lift a lot with each other. Go out together with each other. We all have a good chemistry.”

Gateway

Coach: Don Holl

2023 record: 5-6, 5-0 in Class 5A Big East Conference

All-time record: 461-230-13

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 State College, 7

8.30 at North Allegheny, 7

9.6 at Plum, 7

9.13 at Kiski Area*, 7

9.20 Franklin Regional*, 7

9.27 at Armstrong*, 7

10.4 Penn-Trafford*, 7

10.11 at Woodland Hills*, 7

10.18 Latrobe*, 7

10.25 Hempfield, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Brad Birch*

125-243, 2,214 yards, 21 TDs

Rushing: Jaquon Reynolds*

151-657 yards, 15 TDs

Receiving: Kenny Lewis

51-890 yards, 11 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Gateway is 40-7 in conference games under coach Don Holl, entering his ninth season. His record is 69-26 overall in that span.

• Returning players Chase Gabriel (G), Kaiyen Mbandi (OT) and Kenny Lewis (DB) earned first-team all-conference honors. Roberson Louis-Jeune (C) made the second team, while Marc Knight (LB) and Carlos Diggs (DB) earned honorable mention.

• Lewis lists Division I college offers from Robert Morris, Bryant, Marshall, Temple and UNLV. Diggs has offers from Akron and Marshall.

• Gateway (2017, ’19) and Pine-Richland (2020, ’22) are the only teams with two WPIAL Class 5A titles. The classification was added in 2016 when the sport expanded from four classes to six.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Gateway