As Gatewood continues its summer workouts ahead of preseason practice, the Gators know they won’t have much time to ease into the 2026 season.
Following a productive month of strength and conditioning work, 7-on-7 camps, and team development in June, Gatewood now turns its attention to the 2026 schedule.
The slate features three consecutive road games to open the year, multiple playoff contenders, and the return of several familiar district rivalries.
Longtime head coach Jeff Ratliff believes the demanding schedule will provide an early measuring stick for a team looking to establish itself before district play begins.
“We’ve got a very big challenge right out of the gate with three straight games against three incredible opponents,” Ratliff said. “We’ll know a lot about ourselves after those first three weeks, but the challenge is there, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Before the regular season begins, Gatewood will scrimmage Edmund Burke and First Presbyterian Day in a jamboree, then wrap up preseason play against Central Fellowship Christian.
Ratliff said those contests will give his team valuable opportunities to evaluate itself before the games begin to count.
The regular season opens Aug. 14 with a trip to Tattnall Square, where Ratliff will square off against longtime mentor Barney Hester, who returned to the Trojans last season.
“I know we’re going to get a very, very good version of Tattnall,” Ratliff said. “It’ll give us a chance to play a bigger program, someone that’s fundamentally sound and just really does things right. Hopefully, it’ll allow us to see where we have some strengths and where we have some weaknesses as we start getting into district play.”
The challenge only intensifies a week later when the Gators travel to Briarwood Academy. Although the Buccaneers are no longer in Gatewood’s district following GIAA realignment, Ratliff expects them to once again contend for a Class AA state championship.
“Briarwood’s still going to be a playoff team and a contender for the AA state title,” Ratliff said. “Coach (Bo) Fleming does an excellent job, and they’re led by his son at quarterback. It’s going to be a physical football game.”
The opening stretch concludes with another road test at Brentwood School, the defending two-time GIAA state champions.
“Many folks say they may be the best team in the entire league regardless of classification,” Ratliff said. “We’ve got a very big challenge right out of the gate.”
An early open week follows, allowing the Gators to evaluate where they stand before returning home to face Southland Academy and traveling to Riverside Military Academy to finish non-district play.
“That’ll be good,” Ratliff said of the bye week. “We can kind of go back and see where we’re at, what’s working, what’s not, and where we need to be.”
District play begins with Trinity Christian, which has defeated Gatewood in each of the past two regular-season meetings.
“They’ve been a playoff team the last few years,” Ratliff said.
The Gators then travel to Flint River Academy before returning home to face Windsor Academy.
Flint River has won each of the last two regular-season meetings between the schools, while Ratliff expects another physical battle this fall.
“They’re big and physical,” Ratliff said. “Hopefully, by seeing some of these early opponents, we’ll be ready for that.”
Windsor, meanwhile, returns after reaching the playoffs last season with an up-tempo offensive attack.
Following a second open week, Gatewood closes the regular season with a trip to Covenant Academy before renewing one of its longest-running rivalries against Piedmont Academy.
Ratliff said Covenant remains one of the biggest unknowns on the schedule after transitioning from eight-man football to the traditional 11-man game.
“They’re a complete wild card as far as I’m concerned,” Ratliff said.
The regular-season finale brings Piedmont back onto Gatewood’s schedule after a two-year hiatus.
“Gatewood and Piedmont have a lot of history,” Ratliff said. “It’s a very intense rivalry. I’m sure they’ll be ready for us, but we’ll be ready for them as well.”
While the schedule features defending champions, perennial playoff teams, and longtime rivals, Ratliff said his team’s approach remains unchanged.
“We take every opponent seriously,” Ratliff said. “We don’t look down at the schedule. We’ve got a lot of work to do before we even worry about that first game. We’ll get ready and take it one game at a time.”