Calling all former Gateway Football Players...

The coaching staff is working on compiling a list of all former Gateway football players that went onto to play college football at any level - Division I, I-AA, II, and III. If you know of anyone from your year or surrounding years, and where they went on to play college level football, please email us the info.


Two new photo galleries

  »Photos from the 2007 season (new photos)
  »Photos from the Feb. 7, 2008 Letter of Intent day @ Gateway


2008 Football season - updated player recruiting info & new videos

Corey Brown has over 20 Scholarship offers, Dorian Bell has over 30 offers, Colin Rodkey has 4 offers and BJ Stevens one.

Videos added 3/10/2008:
   BJ Stevens #21 DE - Junior
   Eric Warning #77 OL - Senior
   Ryan Lichtenstein #16 K - Junior
   Cameron Saddler Career Highlight Video (video shown before press conference)
   2007 Season Highlight video (short version)


New Store Items added March 2008!

Justin King Career Highlights DVD (Revision 2) - from 2004
Now Available again!
2007 Gateway Football Highlights DVD 2 disc set
2007 Gateway Football Highlights - Short Version - 1 DVD


Former Gators star Justin King performs strong at NFL Combine

King, who graduated from PSU in only 3 years, was part of the biggest pool of talent at the combine - the defensive backs.

In the 40-yard dash, Justin ran a 4.31 which tied another DB for tops among DB's, and second fastest overall. Justin also had a 10 foot 7 inch broad jump which was good enough for 7th best among DB's. Now its a waiting game until the NFL draft...!


Lots of news updates...

More news than we can keep up with for a normally slow offseason!

1) Gateway Offensive Coordinator Harvey Smith takes the Head Coaching job at Kiski (Read)

2) Gateway moved to the new FOOTHILLS conference. This is a throwback to the 1980s and will see Gateway take on teams it used to regularly play... a nice change of pace. Erie McDowell to play against Foothills teams for the next two years. New conference: Connellsville, Gateway, Hempfield, Latrobe, McKeesport, Norwin, Penn-Traford

3) 2008 Schedule set - except for Game 1:
Week 1 - TBD
Week 2 - non conf. Baldwin @ Gateway
Week 3 - @ Latrobe
Week 4 - Penn Trafford
Week 5 - @ Norwin
Week 6 - Hempfield
Week 7 - @ Erie McDowell (in Erie, PA)
Week 8 - @ Connellsville
Week 9 - McKeesport

4) Rumors about Week 1: Gateway and Central Catholic are finalizing plans to play in a six-team classic in Wheeling, W.Va., over Labor Day weekend. It is likely that Gateway or Central Catholic will be matched up against Florida power Lakeland, which was ranked No. 1 in 2005 and 2006 by USA TODAY.

01/23 2008 AAAA Schedule Grid (PDF) (OTHER)

01/23 WPIAL sets new football alignment (Trib)

01/22 WPIAL realigns football conferences (PG)


Shayne Hale to Pitt!

Gateway LB Shayne Hale became the second Gator in a month to committ to Pitt. Read articles under the NEWS tab...

   Watch the video of his announcement


2007 individual player highlight videos

For your viewing enjoyment... our Junior & Senior individual player highlight videos.
   Dorian Bell #25 - Junior
   Cory Brown #2 - Junior
   Jack Charles #72 - Junior
   Jeff Parrish #12 - Junior
   Julian Senior #22 - Senior
   Ray Mitchell 42, Julian Senior 42, Anthony Grover 38, Steve Cuccaro 17
   Chris Lammie #73 - Junior
   Colin Rodkey #76 - Junior
   Brian Williams #32 - Junior
   Eric Livsey #28 - Senior
   Aaron Sukay #50 - Senior
   Bill Kemp #75 - Senior
   Corey Burnside #58 - Senior
   Jim Wilson #4 - Senior
   Jon Pryor #6 - Senior
   Leon Green #3 - Senior
   Steve Horvath #33 - Senior
   Tudor Cisliou #26 - Senior
   Shayne Hale #45 - Senior
   Cameron Saddler #5 - Senior


Cameron Saddler to Pitt!

Cameron Saddler committed tonight to play for the University of Pittsburgh. Read articles under the NEWS tab...

Read this excellent article by Kevin Gorman on the last few days of Cameron's recruiting

   Watch the video of the Press Conference
  »View photos from Cam's signing

FOUR NEW VIDEOS... - last ones in our archives from the 2007 season
   In-depth feature on Cameron Saddler (HHSR)
   Terry Smith interview before the USC playoff game
   Gateway/USC playoff Game highlights (HHSR)
   1985 Co-Champion Football team induction (Nov. 11, 2007) - 45 minutes


Game-tying play wins ESPN Greatest Play of the Month

The Gators dramatic game-tying "hook and lateral" won the ESPN "Greatest Play of the Month" by popular vote, topping the NFL record 109 yard missed FG return 44 percent to 42 percent in a nationwide poll - results were announced Friday, November 30!

We'll have the short video from ESPN announcing the results posted soon...
   Watch the ESPN video of the play here


Cameron Saddler to announce college choice Dec. 5

Gateway’s Cameron Saddler has set the date for his official announcement for selecting his college of choice. The date will be Wednesday December 5th at the Gateway LGI at 6pm.


Wratcher signs with YSU

Gateway Senior Robbie Wratcher has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Youngstown State University. Robbie is a two-year letter winner in baseball and plays centerfield. He was voted the Gators MVP last season, leading the team in batting average and stolen bases. Robbie has also played varsity football since his freshman year and has earned four letters. He is the second Gator in the last few years to earn an athletic scholarship at Youngstown State, following Mike Barlak (class of 2004) who is currently on the football team. Rob is the first player recruited by newly hired Youngstown State baseball coach Rich Pasquale. The Penguins play in the Horizon Conference of the NCAA Division I.

  »View photos from Robbie Wratcher's signing


AAAA game to be re-televised Wednesday

The WPIAL Class AAAA football championship was so good that FSN Pittsburgh television is giving fans an opportunity to watch it again. FSN Pittsburgh aired the Central Catholic-Gateway game live Friday night and will show it again Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Central Catholic won the title with a thrilling 35-34 overtime victory. The contest is being called one of the greatest championship games in WPIAL history. Gateway fell behind, 28-13, with 1:02 left before coming back to force overtime.

   Gators / PCC highlights (Ch. 2)
   Gators / PCC highlights (Ch. 4)
   Gators / PCC highlights (Ch. 11)
   Gators / PCC highlights (Highmark High School Report)
   Gators / PCC game discussion (Action Sports Sunday)
   Gators / PCC quick highlight from ESPN


Gators season comes to a close

The Gators were defeated 35-34 in overtime by Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Congratulations to the Gateway Gators players on a most memorable season.

  »View photos from the Gators/PCC game
  »View photos from the last practice before Heinz


Gators defeat NA in overtime 28-27

The Gators successfully defended a 2 point conversion attempt by QB Greco and upset the #2 ranked North Allegheny Tigers at the Wolvarena on Friday night. The Gators were trailing 21-7 with a little over 8 minutes left in the game and stormed back to tie the game with 1:00 left on the clock. The Gators are now on the road to Heinz and will play Pittsburgh Central Catholic next Friday in the AAAA Championship game.

Trailing by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, the Gateway Gators battled back to tie this contest at 21 with 1:00 remaining, and then held off the Tigers in overtime to advance to Heinz Field with a 28-27 win. North Allegheny struck first with a big play, a 74-yard TD pass from QB Mike Locke to WR Brian Austin with 3:25 left in the first quarter. Austin would leave the game after being injured on a kickoff late in the first quarter.

The Gators would tie things up in the second quarter, with an impressive 8 play 98-yard drive that featured Cameron Saddler. Saddler carried the ball ever play on the drive, which included a 15-face mask against the Tigers. Saddler carried the ball on 17 consecutive plays in the first half. NA had the answer in Carl DeCiantis. DeCiantis capped the ensuing drive with a 4-yard touchdown run which gave North Allegheny a 14-7 lead at halftime. DeCiantis, who finished the game with 103-yards on 20 carries, had tallied a touchdown in every game this season for North Allegheny.

The Tigers would capitalize on a fourth Gator turnover, when Alex Calder stole the ball from Leon Green at the Gateway 10-yard line. Two plays later, Locke would find Geoff Greco with a 10-yard scoring strike, and 5-yards into the fourth quarter, the Tigers lead 21-7. That’s when the comeback began. Halfway through the quarter, Green capped of a 59-yard drive with a 6-yard run, after the Tigers chose to go for it on fourth down instead of punting. After a Greco punt resulted in a touchback, the Gators started at their own 20-yard line with 6:20 left on the clock. Gateway was faced with a 4th & 9 with 2:20 remaining, when a pass interference call against NA gave the Gators a first down at the Tiger 49-yard line. On third and 11, sophomore quarterback Rob Kalkstein ran for a crucial first down. Kalkstein then hit Jonathon Pryor with a 27 pass to the Tiger 12-yard line. Saddler, who left the drive early with leg cramps, returned and ran for 4-yards and capped off the drive with an 8-yard run with a minute left. Ryan Lichtenstein nailed the extra point and the game was tied at 21-21. NA would drive near mid-field before time ran out in regulation.

The Stop
Greco is stopped! View from the NA sideline.

Gateway had the first opportunity in overtime and scored first. Saddler carried three times and despite an illegal motion penalty against Gateway, found the end zone for the third time from three yard. Lichtenstein’s point after made the score 28-21. North Allegheny wasted little time in answering, when Locke found Greco from 10-yards in almost an exact replay of their earlier touchdown. While the Tigers were lined up to kick the extra point, Gateway was penalized for an illegal substitution, which moved the ball a yard-and-a half away from the goal line. NA head coach Art Walker called time out and the Tigers decided to go for the win. Greco lined up at quarterback, took the direct snapped and jumped towards the pile at the line of scrimmage. His second effort was also thwarted by the Gators defense, and Gateway came away with a one-point victory. The loss was the first in twelve games for the second seeded Tigers. Gateway, the third seed in the WPIAL Quad-A tournament, improved to (11-1). Saddler, who finished the game with 34 carries for 240-yards, now has 28 touchdowns on the season. The Gators will face top-seeded Pittsburgh Central Catholic on Friday in the AAAA title game. The Vikings defeated McKeesport 24-13 to improve to (12-0). The trip to Heinz Field marks the first championship appearance for Gateway since 2004, when they lost 28-0 to Central. (Article from MSA SPORTS)

   Gators / NA highlights (Ch. 2)
   Gators / NA highlights (Ch. 4)
   Gators / NA highlights (Ch. 11)
   "The Stop" - SLOW-MO - angle 1
   "The Stop" - SLOW-MO - angle 2
   Art Walker Jr. pre-game interview
  »View photos from the Gators/NA game
  »View photos from the Pep Rally


Gateway Sports Hall Of Fame Banquet

Congratulations to the 2007 inductees to the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame: Jim Fritchman, Ernie Chadderton, Joe Ritter, Andresa Snyder, 1970 WPIAL & PIAA Champion Boys Swimming 200 Yard Medley Team (Mel Nash Craig Simpson Corky Semler Rob Creagan), 1985 Boys WPIAL Co-Championship Varsity Football Team, Ron Davis, Joe Zaccari

  »View photos from the Hall of Fame Banquet here


Gators top USC 32-20

The Gators got their first victory against USC in over 33 years Friday night in a come-from-behind 32-20 game. The Gators rolled off 26 points in 5 minutes late in the 3rd quarter into the 4th quarter.

  »View photos from the Gators/USC game
   Gators / USC sidelines highlights
   Gators / USC highlights (Ch. 4)
   Gators / USC highlights (Ch. 11)


Historical rematch - Gators vs. Upper St. Clair

The Gators will take on 2006 PIAA-AAAA Champion Upper St. Clair in only their second matchup in over 3 decades. Despite being two of the most successful WPIAL programs, these two teams rarely matchup. The last two matchups - 1988 - a 21-0 playoff win by USC, and the 1974 WPIAL Championship game that ended in a 6-6 tie were the two previous meetings in over 30 years.

The game will take place at NORTH ALLEGHENY on Friday night.

   Gators / PT sidelines highlights
   Leon Green big hit
   Cameron Saddler 48 yd TD run


Gators 45 - Penn-Trafford 14

The Gators defeated Penn-Trafford on Friday night to advance to the quarterfinals against 2006 PIAA AAAA Champion Upper Saint Clair.
Video coming later this week. See the NEWS tab for the latest articles.

  »View photos from the Gators/PT game


2007 news archives | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

name: Cameron Saddler

jersey: #5 (CAPTAIN)

position: RB/CB

height (wt): 5-8 (170)

year: Senior

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