2004 Gateway Gators vs. McKeesport Tigers - Pre-Game Warmup

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Game #9:
Gateway (7-1, 5-0) vs. McKeesport Tigers (7-1, 5-0)
QUAD SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
When: Friday, October 22, 2004 @ 7:30pm
Where: Antimarino Stadium, Monroeville, PA


Gator Bits:

• This Friday's game is the biggest game in the WPIAL. An overflow crowd and all major Pittsburgh news stations are expected to cover the game.
• Gateway's victory against Trinity was the 300th win in school history. Gateway’s first season was 1958.
• Gators star RB/CB Justin King is questionable for Friday's game. King twisted his knee in the 10/15/04 game against Trinity. "If he's not 100 percent, it's not worth the risk," Gateway coach Terry Smith said. "If he's questionable at all, he won't play."
• McKeesport coach George Smith expects King to play Friday night. In speaking about the play in the Trinity/Gateway game in which King was injured, McKeesport coach George Smith said "I don't really believe that. I watched the play, and he did limp a little bit leaving the field, but I don't think he was hurt that badly."
• Gator Justin King is 29 yards away from the 4,000 yard career rushing yardage mark
• In a relief effort for King against Trinity, Gateway had two 100 yard rushers. Justin Colbaugh - 129 yards, and Joe Martin - 104 yards. The last game in which two Gators exceed 100 yards rushing was Oct. 31, 2003 against Ringgold in the 1st round playoff game, where King (253) and Colbaugh (171) rushed for over 100 yards.
• McKeesport is the highest scoring WPIAL team with 380 points, and Gateway is second with 347 points
• McKeesport's "Triple Option" rushing attack is lead by RB Travis McBride and QB Dan Kopolovich. The pair have combined for 1,701 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. McBride has 959 yards and nine TD's and Kopolovich with 742 yards and 10 TD's on 80 carries
• Gateway's diverse offense is led by SR RB Justin King, JR QB Aaron Smith, and SOPH WR Jon Ditto. King, who has rushed for 1,352 yards and 23 TD's also has caught 6 passes for 165 yards and 3 TD's. Versatile QB Aaron Smith has 940 yards passing and 13 TD's, in addition to rushing for 284 yards and 6 more TD's. WR Jon Ditto has 13 catches for a whopping 432 yards (33 yard average) and 5 TD's.
• The Gators "D" is led by JR LB Dan Loheyde, SR Mike Barlak and SR Ryan Kwaitkowski. The three have combined for 225 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 4 interceptions
• The Gators are now ranked #25 in the USAToday Super 25 prep. This marks the first time since 1988 that the Gators were nationally ranked.
• With Gateway at #25 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 11-7 against McKeesport
• Gateway's record in the 9th game of the season between 1982 and present is 8-13-1
• The last meeting between Gateway & McKeesport was in 1999, a 27-26 Gateway victory
• The Gateway - McKeesport matchup history is filled with streaks... From 1982 to 1989, Gateway was 8-0 vs. McKeesport. From 1990 to 1994 McKeesport was 5-0 vs. Gateway. Gateway won 2 in a row in 1995 and 1996, and McKeesport took 1997 and 1998.
• The 1994 McKeesport team won the WPIAL AAAA and state PIAA AAAA title

View the Stats from Week 9 here

Rankings (as of 10/19/2004):

Gateway: #2 in WPIAL AAAA (Post-Gazette) #2 in WPIAL AAAA (Trib) #2 in PA AAAA (PA Football News) #2 in MSN Sports AAAA #25 in USAToday Super 25

McKeesport: #5 in WPIAL AAAA (Post-Gazette) #5 in WPIAL AAAA (Trib) #5 in MSN Sports AAAA

Head-to-head matchups dating back to 1982

Date W/L/T Gateway Score McKeesport Score Gateway Season Record Notes 2003 did not play 9-2 2002 did not play 9-3 2001 did not play 2-8 2000 did not play 5-4-1 1999 W 27 26 7-4 1998 L 17 32 2-8 1997 L 14 35 3-7 1996 W 17 14 5-5 1995 W 27 7 5-5 1994 L 0 17 2-8 McKeesport WPIAL and PIAA AAAA Champs 1993 L 14 30 4-6 1992 L 0 37 2-8 1991 L 6 34 1-9 1990 L 0 28 0-10 1989 W 28 6 4-4-1 Last year of Coach Antimarino's era 1988 W 21 16 9-1-1 1987 W 35 21 8-3 1986 W 14 0 13-0 Gators / WPIAL AAAA champs 1985 W 28 7 11-1-1 Gators / WPIAL AAAA Co-Champs 1984 W n/a 9-3 1983 W 21 20 5-6 1982 W 19 14 6-4

News Articles relating to this game:

• King-less Gateway stymies McKeesport (Trib) 10/23/2004
• WPIAL Playoff Clinchings (PG) 10/23/2004
• Gateway plays without King, still claims conference ... (PG) 10/23/2004
• HOW TOP 20 FARED: 10/23/04 (PG) 10/23/2004
• TOP RUSHERS: 10/23/04 (PG) 10/23/2004
• TOP PASSERS & TOP RECEIVERS: 10/23/04 (PG) 10/23/2004
• Defense is quiet assassin of McKeesport's success (McKN) 10/22/2004
• THE PROFESSOR: McKeesport won't save its best for last (McKN) 10/22/2004
• The Fumbler (PG) 10/22/2004
• Focus: High schools rely more on freshmen (PG) 10/22/2004
• PG South: Gateway RB King concerns McKeesport (PG) 10/22/2004
• PG South: High School Football Scouting Report (PG) 10/22/2004
• PG North: High school football scouting report (PG) 10/22/2004
• PG East: High school football scouting reports (PG) 10/22/2004
• Chicks Picks - Week 9 (MSA) 10/21/2004
• Gators-Tigers set for title tilt (TES) 10/21/2004
• Gators, Tigers battle for title (McKN) 10/21/2004
• Justin King's status will affect conference crown (Trib) 10/21/2004
• Week 9 high school football capsules (Trib) 10/21/2004
• Picks eyes big matchups (Trib) 10/21/2004
• King, McBride: A cut above the rest (McKN) 10/20/2004
• WPIAL Big Game Hunting: Week 9 (MSA) 10/20/2004
• Playoffs take shape (Trib) 10/20/2004
• Gators' King could be out for game vs. Tigers (McKN) 10/19/2004
• McKeesport may be a better team (McKN) 10/19/2004
• Trib Rankings Week 8 (Trib) 10/19/2004
• King still questionable for Friday (Trib) 10/19/2004
• High School Notebook (PG) 10/19/2004
• Super 25 football regional rankings (USAT) 10/18/2004
• Super 25 football rankings (USAT) 10/18/2004
• 2004 PA Football News rankings - Week 8 (PFN) 10/18/2004
• PG High School Football Rankings, Standings week 8 (PG) 10/18/2004
• MSA Sports Top 10 - Football (MSA) 10/18/2004