2005 Gateway vs. Bethel Park Blackhawks - WPIAL PLAYOFFS 1st ROUND - GAME PREVIEW

Game #10:
Gateway Gators (AAAA) (6-3) vs. Bethel Park Blackhawks (6-3)
WPIAL PLAYOFFS 1st ROUND
When: Friday, October 28, 2005 @ 7:30pm
Where: Antimarino Stadium, Monroeville, PA

Of note for this game:

• The Gators are 2-0 against Bethel Park since 1980
• Although the Gators and Blackhawks have scrimmaged for the past several years in the preseason, it has been since 1986 that the teams last played. In fact, the teams have only met twice since 1985, both in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, and both at Gateway's Antimarino stadium. When Bethel Park visits Gateway this Friday, it will be the third consecutive time the teams have played each other at Gateway, all in the first round of the playoffs.
  
  In 1986, the Gators defeated BP in the 1st round of the playoffs by the score of 35-8. The Gators then went on to win the WPIAL AAAA Championship under the leadership of QB (and now head coach) Terry Smith. In 1985, the Gators defeated BP 33-0 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on their way to becoming the WPIAL AAAA Co-Champions.
• Bethel Park's record since 1999 is 48-27 (.640 winning %) - 1999 (8-3), 2000 (5-5), 2001 (6-5), 2002 (8-3), 2003 (8-4), 2004 (7-4), 2005 (6-3)
• Gateway's record since 1999 is 48-26-1 (.640 winning %) - 1999 (7-4), 2000 (5-4-1), 2001 (2-8), 2002 (9-3), 2003 (9-2), 2004 (11-2), 2005 (6-3)
• This is the first time Gateway has lost three games in the regular season since 2001
• At WPIAL AAAA bracket seed #8, this is the lowest seed of Coach Terry Smith's tenure at Gateway
• Bethel Park opened the season 5-0. Since the 5-0 start, BP has lost 3 of their last 4 games, including two consecutive losses coming into the playoff game with Gateway (Mt. Lebo 7-18, North Hills 15-27).
• Bethel Park lost to Upper Saint Clair (37-0), Mt. Lebo, and North Hills this season
• The Gators defeat at McKeesport and subsequent #2 status in the Quad SouthWest snapped the Gators 3 year run as conference champions
• The Gators have twice allowed 40+ points in two losses this year, 48 to Woodland Hills, and 47 to McKeesport
• Coming into the game, the Gators have lost two of their last three games
• Gateway has scored 266 points in 9 games, an average of 29.6 PPG
• Gateway's defense has allowed 196 points in 9 games, an average of 21.8 PPG
• Bethel Park has scored 213 points in 9 games, an average of 23.7 PPG
• Bethel Park's defense has allowed 184 points in 9 games, an average of 20.4 PPG