GATEWAY PANTHERS

2015: 7-4 record, 2nd in 8A District 7

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015, eliminated in first round.

Head Coach: Marlin Roberts, 32-38 record

Key Returners: RB Pat Kelly (149 carries for 1,249 yards, 10 TDs), ATH Tywan Pearce (26 receptions for 358 yards, 3 TDs, 2 kickoff return TDs, 3 INT), DT Dennis Briggs (56 TKL, 7 SACKS), LB Davion Green (106 TKL, 3 FF)

The Scoop: Gateway is coming off their first playoff berth in school history, and while they have a majority of their starters returning, they are notably missing their star athlete Henry Miller.

Quotable: “Offense and defense we didn’t really lose that much people, except Henry Miller, that’s it. People don’t think we can go that far because we don’t got Henry but I don’t believe that.” – running back Pat Kelly.

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The Gateway Panthers have no more excuses.

“We should have all the young guy mistakes out of the way,” said Coach Marlin Roberts. “I know in the past I have always said we are a young team but that excuse is out the door now.”

Out the door thanks to a senior laden squad with over twenty 12th graders suiting up at Gateway. Only problem is, one of the few names missing is a big one. Henry Miller was last season’s star quarterback and corner, now playing for Pitt.

“Offense and defense we didn’t really lose that much people, except Henry Miller, that’s it,” said rising junior running back Patrick Kelly. “People don’t think we can go that far because we don’t got Henry. I don’t believe that, we can still go, we can still get there and we have a lot of momentum going for next season.”

That faith comes thanks to an evolution at Gateway. Henry might have started it but over the last season or two, he hasn’t been the only playmaker on the field.

“Replacing Henry is big but some of the guys like Patrick Kelly, his brother Tywan Pearce are stepping up,’ said Coach Roberts.

It’ll take every one on the team stepping up to keep the ball rolling. Last season the Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in the school’s 30-year history. This season? Their goals are three-fold. District champs, beat Osceola, and get past the first round of the playoffs.

It’s a tall order for Gateway, but the Panthers are putting in full effort to get it done.

 

2016 Schedule

8/19: @ Marco island Academy

9/2: @ Harmony

9/9: @ East Ridge

9/16: Haines City

9/23: Cypress Creek

9/30: @ George Jenkins

10/7: Colonial

10/13: Osceola

10/21: @ Ridge Community

10/28: Poinciana

11/4: St. Cloud