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2004 Gateway Gators vs. Penn Hills Indians - Pre-Game Warmup

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Game #12:
Gateway Gators (10-1) vs. Penn Hills Indians (10-1)
WPIAL AAAA Semi-Final Game
When: Friday, November 12, 2004 @ 7:30pm
Where: Norwin Stadium, Irwin, PA

Gameday weather forecast:

AM Showers
Clearing PM		 43° high
24° low
30° gametime		 5 mph winds 30 % chance of rain

The Gators will take on long-time rival and nemisis Penn Hills this Friday, November 12, 2004 (7:30pm) at Norwin High School. The #2 Gators (10-1) will take on the #3 Indians (10-1) in a highly anticipated matchup. The only loss for each team was to the #1 Central Catholic Vikings.

Tickets:
Tickets to the game will be available both at Norwin Stadium prior to the game, and at the Gateway High School athletic office, in the Gateway Sports Complex. The athletic office is open 9 to 4 daily. For more information, call the office at 412-373-5750. Due to WPIAL restrictions, we cannot sell playoff tickets online.

Radio:
The game will be on WBGG: Fox Sports Radio 970

Read the story about the last matchup between the Gators & Indians...

Gator Bits:
  • A huge crowd is expected this Friday at Norwin Stadium. The game will be covered by all major Pittsburgh news stations and will be webcast on the internet by MSASports.
  • Gateway's victory against Woodland Hills was the 303rd win in school history. Gateway’s first season was 1958.
  • Gators star RB/CB exploded for 215 yards and 4 TD's against Woodland Hills last week.
  • In last year's game against Penn Hills, King had 23 rushes for 133 yards and 2 TD's.
  • Justin King needs 74 yards to move into 3rd place in all-time WPIAL AAAA rushing, currently held by Lavar Arrington
  • Penn Hills' RB Kenny Lewis racked up 238 yards rushing and 4 TD's against North Hills last week.
  • Penn Hills standout Offensive Tackle/DL James Cole is ineligible to play in this game after being ejected from last weeks game against North Hills.
  • Penn Hills' Power-I rushing attack is lead by Seniors Kenny Lewis and Ed Collington, who have combined for 2,510 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.
  • Penn Hills passing attack is led by senior QB Bryan Moore, who has thrown for 907 yards and seven touchdowns, to senior David Harvey (32 catches, 530 yards and 7 TD's) and to fellow senior Tony Mitchell (21 receptions, 387 yards and 3 TD's).
  • The Gators passing attack is led by junior QB Aaron Smith, who has thrown for 1,075 yards and 15 TD's. The leading receivers for Gateway are sophomore Jon Ditto (14 catches, 439 yards and 5 TD's), and junior David Williams (11 catches, 278 yards and 6 TD's)
  • "Collington and Lewis are two dynamic running backs," Gateway head coach Terry Smith said. "They each have a different running style, but both are equally explosive. The different styles will be a challenge to prepare for. We have to be disciplined and keep our assignments. It will be a physical game. We have to be ready for their power-I out of the backfield."
  • Penn Hills Coach Gordon on Gateway - "Their offense has unbelievable speed. They can get to the outside or throw it deep. They can also pound it inside with fullback's Mike Barlak and Dan Loheyde. When they want to give King a rest, Justin Colbaugh can come in and hurt you. Their offensive line is big, strong and deep. They can beat you a number of different ways." Gordon also pointed out the depth and speed of the Gator defense. They make no mistakes. There's talent all over the place."
  • After losing 13 games in a row to Woodland Hills, the Gators now hold a three game winning streak against the Wolverines
  • The Gators are now ranked #21 in the USAToday Super 25 prep. This marks the first time since 1988 that the Gators were nationally ranked.
  • With Gateway at #21 and Pittsburgh Central Catholic at #7, marks the first time since 1987/1988 that two WPIAL teams have been nationally ranked.
  • Since 1982, Gateway is 6-15-1 against Penn Hills
  • Penn Hills is one of only three teams that Gateway has played this season that have a winning record against them since 1982. The other teams are Central Catholic (6-11-1) and Woodland Hills (4-14).
  • The last meeting between Gateway & Penn Hills was the first game of the 2003 season, a 32-26 overtime loss for the Gators.
  • Gateway's last win against Penn Hills was in 1997. Prior to that, the last victory was 1988 under Coach Antimarino.
Rankings (as of 11/10/2004):
Gateway:
#2 in WPIAL AAAA (Post-Gazette)
#2 in PIAA (AP)
#2 in PA AAAA (PA Football News)
#2 in MSN Sports AAAA
#21 in USAToday Super 25
 Penn Hills:
#7 in PA AAAA (PA Football News)
#5 in PIAA (AP) #3 in WPIAL AAAA (Post-Gazette)
#3 in MSN Sports AAAA

Head-to-head matchups dating back to 1982

Date
W/L/T
Gateway Score
Penn Hills Score
Gateway Season Record
Notes
2003
 L 26 32 9-2 One overtime
2002
 L 3 28 9-3
2001
 L 12 19 2-8
2000
 T 14 14 5-4-1
1999
 L 0 20 7-4
1998
 L 0 8 2-8
1997
 W 7 2 3-7
1996
 L 0 51 5-5
1995
 L 11 27 5-5
1994
 L 0 48 2-8
1993
 L 0 28 4-6
1992
 L 6 33 2-8
1991
 L 23 30 1-9
1990
 L 6 33 0-10
1989
 L 24 35 4-4-1 Last year of Coach Antimarino's era
1988
 W 16 10 9-1-1
1987
 W 19 0 8-3
1986
 W 35 6 13-0 Gators / WPIAL AAAA champs
1985
 L 10 21 11-1-1 Gators / WPIAL AAAA Co-Champs
Only loss of the year
final game of the regular season
1984
 W 13 10 9-3
1983
 W 7 0 5-6
1982
 L 8 24 6-4


News Articles relating to this game:

Background on the last meeting of the Gators and Indians:
In the first game of the 2003 season, the Indians & Gators met at Penn Hills' Andrew Yuhas Stadium. The Gators stormed to a quick 14-0 lead behind a 30 yard Justin King TD run, and a 54 yard Mortty Ivy to Jai Wilson pass. Penn Hills then struck back by driving the ball down the field and scoring on a 1 yard Kenny Lewis TD run. The Gators took the ensuing kickoff and marched down the field, ending in a 21 yard Ivy to Wilson TD pass, to make the score 20-7 with 6 minutes left in the first half.

That's where things started to go downhill for the Gators. With an enormous severe rain & lightning storm approaching the stadium, on the Indians next possession, the Gators held the Indians and forced them to punt. Instead of fielding the punt at about the 15 yard line, the ball was allowed to bounce and roll all the way to the Gateway 6 inch yardline. On first down from the 5 inch line, Mortty Ivy fumbled the snap and fell on the ball in the endzone for a safety. The score was now 20-9 with 2:30 left in the 1st half. Gateway then had to kickoff back to the Indians, and after a poor kickoff, the Indians started on the Gateway 45. After several plays, including a dropped interception by Eric Wofford, Penn Hills was able to punch the ball in on a 2 yard TD run by Kenny Lewis. After a missed extra point, the score at halftime was 20-15.

In the 4th quarter, after a rain delay, the Gators came out and were able to drive downfield and score on an 8 yard TD run by Justin King, to make the score 26-15. A failed two point conversion attempt would prove crucial for the Gators as the pass attempt for 2 points was incomplete. At that point the storm and lightning became very heavy and the game was stopped to let the weather clear. The Indians were then able to drive and score on a 12 yard TD run by Ed Collington. Penn Hills then tried for a 2 point conversion and were successful, cutting the score to 26-23. The Gators then took the ensuing kickoff and were unable to hold the ball long enough to kill the clock and end the game, and instead had to give the ball back to the Indians.

Indians QB Anthony Morelli then led the Indians down into Gators territory to lead to a last minute field goal to tie the score at 26. In the overtime period, Penn Hills scored on a 10 yard run by Kenny Lewis. The Indians then decided to go for a two point conversion due to the horrible weather and field conditions, but failed, and the score remained 32-26. Gateway then had their turn in overtime but failed to make their way into the Indians end zone.